Motor Racing Fast Times Set In Levin Race Trials

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30028, 12 January 1963, Page 5

Motor Racing Fast Times Set In Levin Race Trials

“The Press” Special Service

WELLINGTON. Jan. 11. Rain showers throughout the afternoon made conditions difficult for overseas and local drivers who practised at Levin this afternoon for the Levin Motor Racing Club's Vic Hudson memorial international meeting which will be held tomorrow.

Main interest centred on the performances of the overseas and top New Zealand drivers who will contest the feature event tomorrow.

The tight, testing circuit was greasy and no-one succeeded in breaking the Msec lap record established bv Tony Shelly, of Wel'ngton, last September, but some went close to it.

The Australian former world ehampion, Jack Braham (Brab-ham-Climax) made best time of Msec and so enhanced his chances of a win in the 28-lap Vie Hudson memorial race. Next in line were the New Zealand Grand Prix winner John Surtees (Lola-Climax),’ and New

Zealand driver, Bruce McLaren (Cooper-Climax), with 56*ec. The South African, Tony Maggs (Lola-Climax), Shelly (Lotus-Climax), and the Hastings farmer, Angus Hyslop (Cooper-Climax), all returned best laps of 57.45ec. The Scotsman, Innes Ireland, managed 57.8 sec with th, revolutionary four - wheel - drive racer, the Ferguson-Climax, and next were the Bulls driver. Chris Amon (Cooper-Climax) with 59sec, and Hamllton’a Jim Palmer (Cooper-Climax) with 59.8 sec. None of the other New Zealander, entered for the feature event broke SOsec. Close Contest

On the face of this afternoon's times the major event promises to be closely contested. None of the drivers was particularly happy about the condition of the circuit. It is exceptionally bumpy in many places and the rain made the surface greasy this afternoon. However, there were few incidents. Surtees and Ireland both spun their cars, but soon were under way again. A Palmerston North saloon car driver was not so lucky. His A4O Austin ran off the course on the bend leading into the main straight He escaped unhurt, although the car was slightly damaged. The saloon car races should be extremely close. This afternoon McLaren (Morris MiniCooper) proved to be fractionally faster than the Palmerston North expert, Kerry Grant (Austin A4O) and Athol MeBeath (3.8-litre Jaguar), of Otaki. There are all the indications of a thrilling tussle between these three in the three events in which they will meet tomorrow.

Some drivers, whose cars had suffered mechanical troubles in the Grand Prix last Saturday, had only a short training period today as they were still making good the damage late in the afternoon. Among them were Shelly, whose engine had to be completely rebuilt during the week, and Amon, whose CooperClimax had gearbox trouble.