Renwick Road Races

Press, Volume C, Issue 29637, 6 October 1961, Page 11

Renwick Road Races

The Marlborough Car Club will s’-age its road races at Renwick again this year, this time on November 11. A committee of 12 is now at work planning every aspect of the meeting, the race proepectus has been printed, and car club secretaries and competition licence-holders have been sent circulars.

Last year the circuit was only 1.1 miles long, but this year a mile and a quarter circuit has been mapped out. The main straight will be the State highway through Renwick, and this will provide ample space and opportunity for passing. The race committee says the turn out of the main straight is a well-banked curve which it thinks could be taken at 75 to 80 m.p.h, while remaining corner* are in the 35 to 40 m.p.h. class. Lap speed for the fastest car is estimated at more than 80 mp.h. and top speed at close on 140 m.p.h. The programme has been simplified by the elimination of motor-cycle events and the reorganisation of the car racing into five event*. The main event is the Renwick 50, which carries South Island championship road status and is a qualifying event for the racing drivers’ Gold Star award for 1961-62. Prize money has been increased for every event

The programme also includes two saloon car races, one race for sports cars and an event for New Zealand specials and racing cars. The committee has canvassed drivers throughout the country for the widest support, and with the new Association of New Zealand Car Clubs’ rules applying to the scoring of points for the Gold Star award this year it is anticipated that every topline driver with a car available will be competing. B. Prescott (Auckland) and R. Eade (Auckland), both of whom have 250 F Maseratis, are reported to have already shown interest in the meeting.