MOTOR RACES AT MAIREHAU TODAY

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27576, 5 February 1955, Page 10

MOTOR RACES AT MAIREHAU TODAY

The Canterbury Car Club will begin its annual programme of road races on the Mairehau circuit at 10 a.m. today. For weeks midnight oil has been burnt in many Christchurch garages and workshops. Last evening feverish work was still going on in some, but in others proud enthusiasts stood back to survey their latest mounts. All the work that has been done (and that has not been done) will be put to the test today. The main event on the programme will be the C. W. F. Hamilton Trophy race of 75 miles, to start at 2.45 p.m. No overseas drivers have entered, but the best of New Zealand’s driving talent will be present. On the scratch mark, giving away up to 15 minutes on other competitors will be the most modern grand prix racing car in New Zealand, the 1948 model 4CLT Maserati owned by P. M. Hoare, of Christchurch. The low-slung red car arrived in New Zealand froiji Italy less than a fortnight ago. So far Mr Hoare has not had a chance to drive it and the practice period this morning will be of even greater interest to him than to the thousands of spectators expected to assemble. Driven by Ascari Originally the Maserati was raced for the factory by Ascari and Villoresi. Later it was bought by the Scuderia Ambrosiana and modified to 1950 specifications. Its last race was the French grand prix at Rheims. To repair many dents in the light bodywork, made during its shipment from Italy, and to prepare it for today’s race. Mr Hoare and his crew have worked 12 hours a day for the last week. One serious handicap weighs down Mr Hoare and his crew. The car has arrived, but so far there are no spare parts. In its present form the car is fitted with the highest back axle ratio produced by the Maserati company and is definitely unsuited to the Mairehau circuit. Had the race been at Wigram or another airfield circuit the ratio would have been more suitable. But Mr Hoare says that the car makes a big noise and that he will be out to see what it can do. R. Roycroft, of Auckland, will drive his now well known P 3 2.9 litre Alfa Romeo. He has a handicap advantage of three minutes on the Maserati. Since Roycroft bought the Alfa Romeo from L. Moore, of Christchurch, he has been a consistent race-winner all over New Zealand. Overseas drivers at the Ardmore international grand prix presented too much of a problem for the ageing car to master, but is still as fast as it was and is still driven with the same verve and accuracy. The Maserati and the Alfa Romeo are the only factory-designed grand prix cars in the race. Not Entered John Horton, of Auckland, has an English H.W.M. which was driven with success at both Ardmore and Wigram last year by Tony Gaze. But he is not starting. F. Zambucka, another successful North Island driver, is also the owner of a grand prix Maserati. The car is old, but fast, and Zambucka has not entered. Next in order of speed, according to the handicapper’s placings, is M. F. Stanton (Christchurch) driving his own Stanton special, This car, which by the irreverent has been likened to a dinosaur, by reason of its stark bodywork, is powered by a de Havil-

land Gypsy Queen aircraft motor. Another, more affectionate, name for the remarkable creation is “The Crop Duster.” It is very fast and Mr Stanton is known as a driver with initiative. F. Shuter (Christchurch) is again an entrant with his Edelbrock special. He starts on the 4jmin mark, giving three-quarters of a minute to his old rival, H. Green (Christchurch). Green has been performing notably on the Aranui speedway circuit with his rearengined R.A. Most of the failures and defects which have so far generally dogged his progress have apparently been eradicated. J. F. Tutton (Rangiora) has had three Weber carburettors fitted to his Type C XK 120 J aguar which he bought Jast year from English racing driver, Peter Whitehead. Tutton’s car is extremely fast. World Speedway Champion Because of recent reports of his forsaking motor-cycles on the speedway for hopes of cars on the grand prix and sports car race circuits of Europe, much interest will follow the performance of Ronnie Moore. He will drive a Cooper 1000 in the big race and will also compete in the 15 mile scratch race. Moore has been given a handicap of 6min, half a minute better than his father, L. C. Moore, who will drive a Kieft 1000. R. J. N. Archibald (Christchurch) entered motor racing only recently but has since his appearance performed more than remarkably. His XKI2O Jaguar has now been fitted with full Type C modifications and with Mr Archibald’s driving should be a worthy contender for the main prize. A brace of Coopers come next on the handicap list. S. H. Jensen is better known as a motor-cyclist. (He once represented New Zealand in the Isle of Man T.T. races). With his Cooper he drove very well at Ardmore and at Ohakea last year. Close company for Jensen during the race today will probably be provided by the Wellington pair, R. W. A. Frost and Arnold Stafford. Only fractions of minutes will separate these three drivers at the start and all are mounted on almost identical cars. After the Coopers comes C. A. C. Ransley (Christchurch) in his Ransley Riley, a veteran competitor in motor racing. Then follows a brace of Triumph T.R.2 sports cars. Considerable success has followed the efforts of these cars in Britain and on the Continent. It will be interesting to see their performances on the Mairehau circut. Other Races Altogether 25 drivers have entered for the main race of the day. The programme will begin, after practice, with the J. F. t Tutton Trophy scratch race of 30 miles. All sorts of cars have entered, including Hoare’s Maserati, Roycroft’s Alfa Romeo, Stanton, Green, Shuter, Jensen, Frost and Stafford, and W. K. Macdonald (Amberley) who this year has forsaken his Jaguar for a Zephyr convertible. This car is reported to be capable of better than 95 miles an hour and Macdonald is a most interesting driver. The next race will be at 11.25 a.m.: the 15 mile under 1500 c.c. scratch race. Sixteen drivers have entered. Another 15 mile race, for sports and saloon cars, will begin at 1.30 p.m. and at 2 p.m. a 20 mile invitation motorcycle race will begin. Twenty of the best-known riders of Canterbury have agreed to race in this event.