Motor Racing “MODERN CARS TOO LIGHT”

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28661, 11 August 1958, Page 16

Motor Racing “MODERN CARS TOO LIGHT”

Opinion Of Juan Fangio (N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) RAP ALLA (Italy), Aug. 7. . The world racing car champion, Juan Manuel Fangio, said today that modern racing cars were too light for safety at speed. Shocked by the recent deaths of Peter Collins of Britain and Luigi Musso of Italy, Fangio repeated his determination never to race again, the American Associated Press reported. He said that he believed the whole formula of car racing must be revised, and “this time they should listen to the advice' of the pilots, who are very seldom asked their opinions on these matters.” “In the past, racing cars were built up to 4500 c.c. Now the racers being used are 2500 c.c. But the weight of the cars was diminished proportionately. This is probably causing the deadly mishaps,” he said. “Note that both Musso and Collins died while they were trying to pass another car,” Fangio said. “It could be that the lack of sufficient weight is responsible for the skidding, lack of equilibrium, and the swerving.”

MOTOR RACING AT TIMARU

M. Stanton Misses Record* By .3Sec (New Zeatana Press Association) TIMARU, August 10. Maurice Stanton came within 3-10ths of a second of his unofficial Empire motor racing record for the standing quarter-mile when he returned a time of 12.8755ec in the South Island Sprint Championships held on the Springbrook road, near Timaru, on Saturday. The Stanton brothers were using a streamlined fibre-glass body which lessened the wind resistance. Pat Hoare was second in his three litre Ferrari, with a time of 13.425ec. Results wereClass B: M. Stanton (Stanton Special). 12.8755ec. Class C: D. Rutherford (Lycoming Special) 14.6255ec 1, D. W. Wild (C type Jaguar) 15.255ec 2. Class D: P. Hoare (Ferrari) 13.425ec 1. Class F: E. Sprague (Maserati 4clt) 14.4 sec 1.