Motor Racing J. Palmer Wins Waimate 50 From P. Hoare

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29745, 12 February 1962, Page 16

Motor Racing J. Palmer Wins Waimate 50 From P. Hoare

The Waimate 50 road race, of 70 miles, was won on Saturday by the Hamilton driver, J. Palmer, in a Lotus. Of the 11 cars which started eight finished.

Second place went to P. Hoare, of Christchurch, in a Ferrari and A. Shelly, of Wellington, in a Copper Climax, was third.

The winner’s time was 62min lO.lsec and the fastest lap was driven by Shelly in Imin 11.6 sec. Hoare’s second gave him the New Zealand Gold Star championship. R. J. Coppins withdrew his Tec Nec before the main event after the brake linings caught fire during the race for New Zealand specials and racing cars. The Christchurch driver, M. Stanton, retired on the grid two minutes before the start with a split gearbox casing. Shelly, who gained pole position in practice, was first into the first corner and led for six laps. After completing the second lap B. Cottle (Lola) pulled into the pits for a moment but quickly resumed before being lapped. At the sixth the positions were Shelly, Palmer. Hoare, W Thomasen (Cooper Climax*. R. Greenville (Lotus), J. C N. Histed (Lola), R. J. Flowers (Gemini), H. Green (R.A.), W. R. Eade (Maserati) and B. R. Blackburn (Maserati).

Spun Out

Shelly spun out on the sixth and rejoined the race a lap behind, Palmer taking the lead with Hoare third and Thomasen fourth. About this time the suspension in Flowers’s car failed and he struck some bales, retiring from the race. On the thirteenth, Green’s R.A. lost its throttle linkage and he retired. At this time the positions were Palmer. Hoare, Thomasen, Histed and. a lap behind, Shelly Palmer was unofficially timed at Imin 14.3 sec. Greenville pulled into the pits before rejoining the race on the fifteenth.

On the sixteenth Blackburn’s Maserati pulled into the pits with overheating, and on the nineteenth Thomasen ’s Cooper Climax retired with engine failure.

Hoare had now begun to close on Palmer, who was driving very consistently, and by the twentieth there was about 58sec between them with Hoare lapping in about Imin 13.8 sec.

At the thirty-third the positions were unchanged Blackburn rejoined the race several laps behind the last car. By the thirty-seventh the field was well strung out, with only the first two cars on the same lap. Palmer and Hoare still led the field

On the fortieth the positions were unchanged and it was not until the forty-sec-ond that Shelly overtook Histed, whose car did not seem to be going properly On the forty-third the distance between the first two was about B.4sec with Hoare closing. No Failure On the forty-seventh there was about 9sec between Palmer and Hoare and it was obvious that Hoare could not move up in the remaining laps unless Palmers car failed. It did not, and the positions were unchanged at the fall of the chequered flag The laurel wreath was presented to Palmer by the Minister of Transport (Mr McAlpine). The weather remained cloudy but fine for most of the day with a slight shower about 4 p.m. It was not sufficient to wet the track, however, and cleared within a few minutes. There was a good attendance.

Practice began at 8.10 a.m. and apart from a delay of about 15 minutes when the communications system failed, was completed without incident. During and after the practice sessions the pits were very busy as mechanics made lastminute repairs and adjustments. Sports Cars Time lost during practice was made up during the second race, which ran to schedule. This event, the sports car race, had a Le Mans start. 14 competitors lining up for the starter's flag. On the second lap there was a moment of excitement when P. R. Prescott (Buckler 90) spun off and hit some bales at the Victoria terrace corner The car was badly damaged, mainly the bodywork. but Prescott was unhurt. During this event the escape road at the end of the main straight was used by many drivers, several of whom were obviously not accustomed to the course.

The first saloon car race provided little excitement and was easily won bv the well-driven Singer of M B Mills, after the Mini Austin of G. B. Miles had retired. Mlles began well and held a decisive lead until his retirement.

The event for New Zealand specials and racing cars pro-

vided considerable interest, being well fought from start to finish. There were several Incidents when cars spun off. mainly at the Victoria terrace corner, C. A. Shaw’s N.A.T. Special spinning sideways across the track in front of the other cars. Following vehicles were able to avoid him. and he rejoined the race. The last race of the day. the event for saloon cars of 2001 c.c., up to 3000 c.c. and 3001 c.c. and over was perhaps the most exciting. From start to finish there was a fierce duel between R. Macdonald's modified Zephyr and the Jaguar of R. J. N. Archibald. Macdonald took the lead from the start, and try as he might Archibald failed to pass him. Details were:—

South Canterbury Grand Prix for motor-cycles (14 laps).— Outright. D. Burns. Christchurch (Norton) 13mln 22sec. 1: R. Robinson. Australia (Norton) 2; S. Burt, Southbridge (Norton) 3. 250 c.c. Class: K McCleary. Christchurch (Velocette) 1; T. McCleary. Christchurch (Velocette) 2; R. Peterson. Christchurch (Velocette) 3. 350 c.c. class: R. Robinson. 1; V. Rush. Christchurch (AJ.S.) 3; D. Adair. Christchurch (AJ.S.) 3. 500 c.c Class: D. Burns 1: S. Burt 2: C. Marsden, Dunedin (Norton) 3. Sports car race (15 laps).— Outright: D. Lawrence. Wanganui (Lola Climax) I9min 22sec 1: D. Cottle, Dunedin (Lola Climax) 2; 1. Young (Wanganui (Cooper Bristol) 3. Up to 1200 c.c.: C. Ngan. Lower Hutt (Cooper Climax) 1: C. S Judd. Thames (Buckler 90) 2: M. Hammond. Hunterville (Buckler MK 90 ) 3. 1200 to 2000 c.c.: D. Lawrence 1; B Cottle 2: P. D. Lockie. Christchurch (M.G.) 3. 2001 c.c. and over: I. Young 1: J Riley. Otahuhu (Monza Ferrari) 2: E. Tims. Timaru (Austin Healey) 3 Saloon Car Race (10 laps).— Outright: M. B. Mills. Blenheim (Singer) 14min 42.45ec 1: R Blackburn. Christchurch (MiniCooper) 2: I. G. Pethlg. Hororata (Wolseley 1500) 3. 301 c.c. to 2000 c.c.: M. B. Mills It 1 G. Pethig 2: P. R. Cresswell. Christchurch (Hillman Minx) 3 Up to 1300 c.c.: R Blackburn 1: D. R. Millichamp. Ashburton (Mini-Minor) 2: M. EHlwood. Ashburton (Ford Anglia) 3. J C. Histed. Auckland (Mini-Mor-New Zealand Specials and Racing Cars (15 laps).—Outright. R Rutherford Christchurch). (Zephyr) lOrnin 30 6sec r. i Young. Wanganui (Cooper Bristol) 2: J H Reid Gore (BCM Special) 3 Up to 1500 c.c.: C. S. Judd. Thames (Buckler 90) 1: I. S. Johnstone Invercargill (Cooper Triumph) 2: J. D Lovell. Woodbourne (Lloyd Special) 3. 1501 c.c. and over: R Rutherford 1: I- Young 2; J H Reid 3. „ , Waimate 50 (50 lans. 70 miles) —J Palmer, of Hamilton <Lotus) 62mln lO.lsec. 1: P Hoare of Christchurch (Ferrari) 2. A. Shelly. of Wellington (Conner Climax) 3 Fastest lapShellv. Imln llSsec Waimate Open Motor-cycle Grand Prix (15 l»ns).-D Burns. 19min 53 nsec. 1: W Broadhurst. Christchurch (B S A.) 2: S Burt. 3. Saloon Car Race HO lags) — Outright: R. Macdonald. Blyth Downs (Zephyr) 14min 1; R. J. N. Archibald, Christchurch (Jaguar) 2; F. I'? o’'' 0 ’'' Geraldine (Jaeuar) 3 2OTI to 3000 c.c.: R Macdonald, 1: W I. In«Ie, Dunedin (Vanguard) 2: B J. Llovd. Ashburton (Zephyr) 3. 3nnt ce. and over R N J. Archibald. 1: F J Dow. 2: A. L. Milligan. Christchurch (Chevrolet coupe) 3.