MOTOR RACE AT WIGRAM

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27226, 18 December 1953, Page 3

MOTOR RACE AT WIGRAM

EFFORTS TO BRING BRITISH DRIVERS A.A.C. PROMISES SUPPORT The Motor Racing Club has asked the Automobile Association (Canterbury) for financial and moral support in the club’s endeavour to bring British racing drivers who are to compete in the Auckland Grand Prix on January 9, to Christchurch for a race at Wigram on February 20. In a letter to the council of the association, received at yesterday’s meeting, the club said it had been able to obtain the entry of British drivers for the race at Wigram, but that they required the support of the association and the motor trade to meet the cost. “It is one of our objects to support competitions and we would be quite in order to give it support,” said the president (Mr W. R. Carey). Since the race was on a closed circuit at Wigram and not on public roads, the association’s support could be given. The opportunity to bring such well known cars as the 8.R.M., the Ferrari, and the Maserati to Christchurch was too good to lose, said Mr W. Scott. The drivers all had to be paid and a considerable amount of money would be required. The lessons of car-handling to be learned from the overseas Grand Prix drivers would help local drivers, many of whom “simply hurl into it with bulldog strength and ignorance,” Mr Scott said. The club needed to raise about £l6OO to make the venture 1 a success, he said.

“They will get some money from the public,” said Mr Twyneham. On the motion of the president it was decided to give up to 100 guineas to .the club for the race.