Motor-Racing ARDMORE ‘TOO SMALL’

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28794, 15 January 1959, Page 7

Motor-Racing ARDMORE ‘TOO SMALL’

Another Course Being Sought

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, January 14. The New Zealand International Grand Prix, the biggest crowd draw in the Dominion, has outgrown its Ardmore circuit and may use another course next year. The secretary of the Grand Prix organisation (Mr Frank C. Perkins) said yesterday that a new circuit must, be found for the race, which drew between 80,000 and 100,000 people last Saturday. Bigger crowds are expected next year. “Ardmore is too small to accommodate the crowd expected to attend next year’s event, which will be bigger than this year’s,’’ Mr Perkins said.

He said the track was ideal for spectators, as racing cars could be seen for most of each lap. But there was insufficient car parking space. Mr Perkins said the organisation’s committee had several alternative circuits in mind, but he could not say where they were. It is undertood the new sites are in the Auckland area. ‘

"The ideal circuit will be one with a two mile and a quarter, to two mile and a half lap, with a possible lap speed of 90 to 95 miles an hour,” he said. The limit for Ardmore is about an 86 miles an hour. Mr Perkins said the new circuit would be within 20 miles of Auckland and would probably be a natural bowl to form a grandstand all round. The organisation was not thinking of taking another aerodrome site.

"The track will be laid out in bitumen at a cost of about £60,000 a mile,” he said, and we will develop from virgin land and lay out the track how we want it.” Mr Perkins said he thought he would be able to raise finance. “The Grand Prix, after this year’s attendance, has become established as an asset to Auckland, and I don’t expect any trouble in raising money. We could have the circuit laid for next year and add other facilities later.”