Sportsman’s Notebook FERRARI ALMOST CERTAIN OF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28620, 24 June 1958, Page 10

Sportsman’s Notebook FERRARI ALMOST CERTAIN OF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

With its fine victory in the 24 hours endurance race at Le Mans at the week-end, the Italian Ferrari factory has almost made certain of winning the world spurts car championship for the third year in succession. Against strong opposition from Porsche (Germany) and AstonMartin (Britain), as well as the formidable British Jaguar which has five wins at Le Mans to its credit, Olivier Gendebein, of Belgium, and Phil Hill, of the United States, brought the Maranello factory its fourth win in five starts in the championship.

Although much of the interest in this year's championship was lost by the” withdrawal of Maserati, the Ferrari performance is still outstanding. Jaguar was strongly favoured to win at Le Mans, although all its cars were privately entered as the result of a two-year-old decision to cease factory entries. The V-12 Ferrari engine which has brought the marque to much success this year is the design of Enzo Ferrari’s son who died in 1956. It bears his name “Dino” embossed on the cylinder block. This engine has taken the cars to victory in the 1000 kilometres of Argentina, the, Sebring (Florida) 12-hour race, the Targa Florio, and now Le Mans. In the other race counting for thi championship, the 100 kilometre: of Nurburgring, a Ferrari wa: second to Aston-Martin. Placed second at Le Mans foi Aston-Martin this year weri Peter Whitehead and his brothe: Graham. Peter Whitehead i I well known in New Zealand I having won the Lady Wigran

Trophy three successive times in a Grand Prix Ferrari. * # ® Conversion Of Tries The laws committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union recently fixed a new interpretation of Law 25 (place kick after a try). At the beginning of the season the interpretation fixed for this law was that after the kicker had placed the ball and had retired to begin his run-up, he had to call upon another player if he wished to readjust the ball. The latest interpretation of this part of the law says that after retiring and before beginning his run-up, if the kicker wishes to readjust the ball, he may do so after asking permission from the referee. ♦ # « New Ski-ing Style The new wedeln style of skiing, which will be taught at Canterbury ski grounds by overseas instructors this season, will be under discussion tomorrow evening at a film evening to be presented by the Canterbury Ski Association. A film on wedeln from the United States has been specially imported for the evening and a number of other films on ski-ing will be shown. * * * Wrestler’s Training The. big New Zealand heavyweight wrestler, John Silva, who is a member of the New Zealand 1 Empire Games team, has been • “toughening up” with six months ‘ of “bushwacking” in the Tauma- . runui district. He is now sharpening his training with fast road and gymnasium work. At Melbourne Silva was beaten on points in his two bouts, but in both contests hte amazed his opponents and spectators alike with his tremondous strength. Silva was coached by the Swedish expert Viking Palm, who visited New Zealand last year. After the Games, Silva will join Palm in

Europe and will probably remain - under his tutelage until the 1960 s Rome Olympics. * * * s Development Of Park n The development scheme for y Rugbv Park, Hamilton, prepared y by Mr C. W. Hamann, a consulting engineer, of Christchurch, will be proceeded with by the Waiv kato Rugby Union. The ground •t will provide for an initial capacity of 40.000 soectators and ultimately, a 52,000. The scheme includes a d new stand to seat 2000 spectators with dressing rooms, a social room and other facilities under- ) neath. In front- of the stand, h permanent uncovered seating will i_- be provided for a further 2500 e spectators. The present old stand !_ will be demolished. An embankd ment will also be provided. The r . first stage of it will be earth and r O this will be terraced. It will be ’ completed at the back in the r r elevated style used at Lancaster [• e Park. No final estimate of the . cost is available yet.