Pit Stops

Press, Volume C, Issue 29673, 17 November 1961, Page 13

Pit Stops

Stirling Moss has been awarded his second gold medal by the British Automobile Racing Club. The medal, which is awarded for outstanding achievements in motor racing by a British subject, was introduced in 1955 and was that year awarded to Moss for his win in the Mille Miglia. On this occasion it has been awarded to him for his victories in the European Grand Prix and the Monaco Grand Prix. There was considerable trouble at the start of the "Renwick 50” at Renwick last Saturday because of various misunderstandings, and M. Stanton’s car was one of several with its motor stopped when the flag dropped. Because of the time taken to get the cars in position for the start the motor started to overheat and had to be switched off. Unfortunately the flag was dropped without warning and before the marshal saw Stanton’s car was not ready, and he got away to a poor start. It was incorrectly reported in “The Press" on Monday that M. Stanton was fifth in the “Renwick 50” and W. R. Eade was fourth. The placings were Stanton fourth and Eade fifth, but after the results had come in it was thought there had been a mistake in lap scoring and the placings were accordingly reversed. Later, at the end of the prize-giving ceremony which was held during the evening, the position was clarified after the scoring had been checked, and the results were correctly announced. At one time it was also thought that the Stanton car made a pit stop during the race, when in fact it did not.

With his win in the “Renwick 50" last weekend, P. Hoare got away to a good start in the Gold Star Award list. The award is made annually by the Association of New Zealand Car Clubs to the driver scoring most points in selected events during the racing season in New Zealand. Points are 10 for a first, seven for a second, five for a third, three for a fourth, and one for a fifth. The remaining qualifying events are Ardmore (January 6), Levin (January 13), Wigram (January 20), Teretonga Park (January 27), Dunedin (February 3), and Waimate (February 10). Hoare was runner-up for the award in both 1960 and 1961.