Pit Stops

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29855, 22 June 1962, Page 9

Pit Stops

Australia's 500-mile race for production saloon cars will be held again this year. The race wa s inaugurated in 1960, and is the richest in the world of its type. Only cars assembled in Australia will be eligible to enter and they must be driven by Australians. No modifications are allowed and the classes only provide for cars costing £2OOO or less. Regulations for the race will be announced next month.

D. B. Rayner, driving a Simca, won the 18-hour Castrol Trial run by the Northern Wairoa Car Club recently. D. E. A. Heap (Zephyr) was second. The first prize was £125 and a tronhv. ★ The Rallies and Trials Enthusiasts’ Club’s driving tests held at Lawford on Sunday were won by N. Mahoney (Volkswagen) from P. Doyle (MiniMinor) and A. WhiteJohnston (Citroen), who were equal second. R. W. Bell (Triumph Herald) was fourth, and B. Hepbum (Holden utility) fifth. The event was held on grass, which provided a slippery surface, and comprised the wiggle-woggle in two forms and a garaging test. There were 19 entrants, and by the end of the day many of them knew more about car handling on slippery surfaces than when the event began.

The M.G. Car Club s an- , nual North Canterbury , rally was won by H. E. i Baker (M.G.T.F.) 'with 54 I points lost. E. J. Sangster i (Dodge) was second with 1 63 lost, G. W. Alexander ' (Chevrolet) third with 76, R. B. C. Stephenson , (M.G.T.F.) fourth and P. i D. Lockie (M.G.T.F.) fifth, i The rally was followed by i an autocross comprising 1 individual lap times of a 1 marked circuit. Fastest ' time was recorded by G. . W. Alexander (M.G.T.F.) , with 515 sec, G. J. McKay , (M.G. twin cam) was i equal second with N. G. I Ryde (Triumph TR3A) 1 with 52sec.

The Canterbury Car Club’s rally last week-end was won by D. Nieholl (Holden) with three points lost. Second was L. Hayes (Ford Custom) with four lost, third was J. Butts (Morris Minor) with eight lost, I. Soper (A4O), and J. Hopkins (Ford Consul) were equal fourth with 14 points lost. Thirty-two cars took part. ★ A rally held by the Hawarden-Waikari Young Farmers attracted 21 entries. The average speed set was 22 miles an hour and the course included gates which had to be opened and shut. Tests included changing spark plugs at one part of the route. A E. C. Earl (navigator B. Earl) was first, R. Reece/T. Green, second and K . C. Galletty/D. Morrison third.