Pit Stops

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29389, 16 December 1960, Page 15

Pit Stops

Heavy rain marred the North Island hillclimb championship held at Pukekohe last Sunday and the times suffered as a result. Driving a Cooper 1100 c.c., K. Sager managed to get within .Isec of his own record for the climb. + -> Several interesting entries have already been received by the Motor Racing Club for the sports car race at Wigram on January 21. P. Fafeita, of Auckland, has entered an Austin Healey Sprite; E. Tims, of Timaru, an Austin Healey 100 S; and C. Shaw, of Christchurch, a Swallow Doretti. Other entries already to hand are those of E. D. Candy (Timaru) in his Healey Corvette, and D. G. Young (Timaru), Jaguar Ctype. •£• -> By far the greatest number of entries for the racing at Wigram next month is for the saloon car race, which has always been one of the most popular events on the programme. This year the field is the strongest ever. The Westland Motor Club has a trio in A. R. Batey (Wolseley 1500), A. McPhie (M.G. Magnette), and J. M. Ord (Singer), while the Marlborough Car Club has M. B. Mills (Humber 80) and the club president, C. B. Whitehead (Ford Anglia). North Island entries are A. F. McLeod (Wairarapa) in a Ford Zephyr; W. B. Watt (Palmerston North) in an A4O Farina; A .Beetham (Masterton), Zephyr Zodiac; M. H. Lawson (Auckland), Ford Consul; R. J. Coppins (Auckland), Chevrolet; and G. F. Bremner (Taranaki), Humber 80. M. S. Elms, of Dunedin, has entered a recent model Aston Martin, but this may be ineligible under the rules of the race. Among other important entrants are R. J. N. Archibald (Citroen ID. 19), F. E. Sprague (Ford Zephyr), H. J. Heasley (car to be nominated), and D. Shields (Simca).

The last major motor race for 1960 will be the Grand Prix of South Africa, to be held in East London on December 27. This event follows the Grand Prix of Cape Town to be held tomorrow. Two Porsches are highly favoured for these events—Joakim Bon nier with a works car and Stirling Moss in a Rob Walker car. Twenty-three years ago. Ernst von Delius, driving an Auto Union, won the last Grand Prix de Grosvenor in South Africa. ■fr A local racing driver who has always earned praise for the careful preparation and c o ns latently - r <■—- ' fast times of his home-built is car is R. S. i : ; R u therford, s whose R.A.- ? Zephyr is a s tribute to bis ; e n gineering skill. Last Saturday, Rutherford gained fasterest time when the Canterbury Car Club held its standing quarter-mile speed trials at Shands track, Hornby. He has also had several Successful seasons in track racing and hillclimbs. •fr + + In a close contest under ideal conditions, the M.G. Car Club was successful in winning both events when the inter-club gymkhana was held at Motukarara last Sunday. Results were:—Club event: M.G. Car Club, 16 points, 1; Canterbury Car Club and Ashburton C-r Club, 10 (equal), 2. Team event: M.G. Car Club, 17 points, 1; Canterbury Car Club, 16, 2; Ashburton Car Club, 8, 3.