MOTOR RACING McLaren’s Third Win At Teretonga Park

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30041, 28 January 1963, Page 11

MOTOR RACING McLaren’s Third Win At Teretonga Park

(From Our Own Reporter) INVERCARGILL, January 27. New Zealand’s leading racing motorist, Bruce McLaren of Auckland, rounded off the Dominion’s international season on Saturday with a brilliant victory in the 75-mile Teretonga trophy race.

Driving his 2.7-litre Cooper-Climax, McLaren covered the distance in 55min 43.1 sec to average better than 81 miles an hour and so better the race record he set when he won the event last year by about four minutes.

Second place went to the South African, Tony Maggs, who drove a 2.7-litre LolaClimax and finished lO.lsec behind McLaren. The Scottish driver, Innes Ireland, was third with the 2.5-litre Fer-guson-Climax about half a minute behind Maggs. These were the only drivers to complete the 50 laps of the testing mile and a half circuit Fourth man home was the former world champion

driver. Jack Brabham (2.7litre Brabham Climax). He completed 49 laps, finishing the race on a flat tyre. Not far behind him were the New Zealanders, A. Hyslop (2.5litre Cooper-Climax) and A. Shelly (2.5-litre LotusClimax).

McLaren, who was runnerup in the world championship series in 1960 and third on the ladder last year, has had his most successful New Zealand season to date and in winning the Teretonga race he showed his countrymen the fcim that has made him one of the world's leading racing drivers. Lap Record But the honour of establishing a new lap record for the testing circuit went to Brabham. In his preliminary heat in the morning he put in one circuit of the track in Imin 3 6sec—about 84.5 miles an hour. The previous record of Imin 6.2 sec was set by McLaren last year. As McLaren is classified in this country as an international driver, it was the Hastings farmer, Hyslop, who was classified as the first New Zealander to finish and thus he scored the maximum points towards the Association of New Zealand Car Clubs’ Road Racing Gold Star Championship.

With one race left in the series, Hyslop is already assured of the championship. Second place will be determined by the order in which Shelly' and the Hamilton driver. J. Palmer, finish in the Waimate “50” next Saturday. At present, these two are just about on even terms. The secretary of the association (Mr P. L. Lupp, of Dunedin) said at Invercargill that he was awaiting confirmation of results of the races already held before announcing the points position. It is expected that Mr Lupp will be able to do this later in the week.

Starting grid positions in the international race were determined by the race times put up by drivers in their two heats in the morning. Brabham, winner of the first heat, had the pole position and the English man. J. Surtees (2.7-lltre Lola-) Climax) was outside him. Outside him were McLaren, winner of his heat, and Maggs. The second row was shared by Ireland. Hyslop and the Bulls farmer, C. Amon (2.5-litre Cooper-ClimaX). Shelly and his mechanics had worked through the night to fit a new gearbox in the Lotus and the young Wellington driver did not reach the circuit to start in his heat. The organisers of the meeting, the Southland Sports Car dub. had however, given him the sixteenth and last place on the starting grid in the main event. But It was only through a sporting gesture on the part of L. Bulcraig, of Kawa Kawa. that Shelly was able to start The first reserve for a position in the main race was F. Turpie. of Wellington. He entered a protest against the Inclusion of Shelly on the grounds that the regulations excluded a driver who had failed to participate In the preliminary heats. The stewards at the meeting upheld the protest, and when Bulcraig heard that Shelly would not be able to start he promptly withdrew the entry for his 3-litre Aston Martin. So Shelly took the last place on the grid.

Tyre In Shreds But if Shelly was the most fortunate starter. Brabham was the moat unfortunate. He lea the race in its early stages and was passed by McLaren after 19 laps, From then on the Australian drove like a man ■.■.assessed and was a constant threat to the leader until four laps from the finish. At that point the right rear tyre of the Brabham-Climax, suffering from extreme wear, began to deflate and Brabham was forced to check his pace. He dropped from second to fourth place and finished the race with the tyre ripped to shred*. _ Surtees and his Bowmaker Racing Stable team - mate. Maggs. made the best of the start, although Brabham was also prominent. McLaren received a check and. at the end of th* first lap. was lying in fifth or sixth place. But in the second lap Brabham took Surtees, and McLaren nipped through to challenge the leaders. Soon afterwards. Surtees spun his car in the fast but tricky bend leading into the main straight and dropped several places. But he pressed on to regain third position behind Brabham and McLaren, who were racing wheel to wheel.

Battery Flat Surtees's bld did not last long. He was forced into his pit with ignition trouble and lost about a lap. When he resumed he promptly ploughed his way through the field, but could not get near the leaders. Not long afterwards he eras back at his pit again and it was found that the Lola had a flat battery He resumed five laps behind the leaders and it was not long before be had to abandon the race. . In the meantime. Brabham and McLaren were engaged in a iooth and nail struggle that had taken them well cleerof Maggs. who was running thud. But Brabham did not relax the pressure. In th* next 39 tour* of the circuit McLaren was unable to draw away and during this period it was still either drivers race. But once the leaders had moved into the last 10 laps it became obvious that all was not wen with the BrabhamClimax. Brabham was using al! the rood to get through the corners and his driving Became progressively more i agged. It was then that McLaren

opened up * lead. The trouble was that the abrasive surface of the circuit had ripped the rubber from the right rear tyre of Brabham's car and the tube had been punctured. After about 32 laps Hyslop had to make a pit stop to replace his goggles. One lens had been shattered by a flying stone and a splinter of glass had cut the Hastings farmer just below the eye. The wound was bleeding . profusely, but Hyslop's mechanic. W. Hannah, made a quick inspection, cleaned his driver’s face, replaced his goggles and sent him on his way.

Hyslop's stop was short enough to enable him to hold his fifth place, but Shelly had closed in appreciably. In the concluding stages, the Wellington Lotus driver bridged the gap and as the two cars raced to the finish line Ireland, assured of third place, being a lap ahead, sportingly pulled to one side to let them fight it out. Hyslop made it narrowly.

As was the case at the conclusion of the Wigram race, McLaren was given a tumultuous reception. But Brabham, who has never had much success at Teretonga Park, was not forgotten and he received his share of the applause for his plucky effort. The fastest lap in the race had been Imin ssec—B3 miles an hour. McLaren and Brabham had both achieved the figure. The sponsored race for larger saloon cars saw the Christchurch driver, R. J. N. Archibald, win in fine style. He drove his big Jaguar too quickly for the Timaru driver Ernie Sprague in a Zephyr. By lunchtime an estimated 15.000 persons were on the grounds and late arrivals could have brought the total to about 17.000. This compares with 20.000 last year, the most successful Teretonga meeting. Results of the races yesterday were:—

Teretonga International (nine miles).—First Heat. 10 cars: B. McLaren (Auckland). Cooper. 1; T. Maggs (South Africa). Lola, 2: I. Ireland (United Kingdom), Ferguson, 3. Time. 6min 35sec. Second heat, nine cars: J. Brabham (Australia), Repco Brab-

ham. 1; J. Surtees (United Kingdom). Lola. 2; A. N. Hyslop (Hastings), Cooper. 3. Time. 6mln 30aec. Final of International. 75 miles, 16 cars.—B. McLaren, 1, T. Maggs 2, I. Ireland 3. J. Brabham 4, A. N. Hyslop 5. A. L. Shelly (Wellington). Lotus, «; J. Pafiner (Hamilton). Lotus, 7; D. Young (Timaru). Cooper, 8. Time. 55mta 43.1 sec. Racing and Sports Car Race (nine miles, handicap, 16 cars). —J. H. Reid (Gore). B.C.M. Special, 1: R. Rutherford (Christchurch), 260 M Zephyr, 2; P. R. Preston (Timaru). Buckler, 3. Time. Bmin 17.8 sec. Motor-cycle Open Handicap (12 miles, 20 entries). —N. J. Landrebe (Dunedin). 8.5. A., 1; D. Bums (Christchurch). Norton, 2; N. Neilson (Invercargill), 3. Time. lOmin M.2sec. Thomson's Purity Saloon Car Race, cars up to 1300 c.c. (9 miles, eight cars). —B. McLaren. Mini-Cooper, 1; K. Grant (Paftnerston North), Austin A4O, 2; J. Mullins (Leeston), 3. Time. Bmin 28.1 sec.

Thomson’s Purity Saloon Car Race for cars over 1300 c.c.— (nine miles, 11 cars): LG. Pethig (Christchurch). Wolseley 1500, 1; E. Parsons (Wellington), Humber 80, 2; Time, Smin 55.2 sec. 2001 to 3000 c.c.: F. E. Sprague (Timaru). Zephyr, 1; N. A. Masters (Balclutha), Zephyr, 2. Time, Smin 18sec. 3001 c.c. and over: R. J. Archibald (Christchurch) Jaguar, 1; A. Mcßeath (Otaki), Jaguar. 2; A. L. Milligan (Christchurch), Chevrolet 3. Time, Bmin 17sec.

Saloon Car Race (nine miles, handicap. 16 cars). —I. Y. Wills (Invercargill). Zephyr, 1; K. Grant. 2: M. McLaren. MiniCooper, 3. Time, 9mln 15.3 sec.

Flying Farewell (nine miles, nine cars).—J. Surtees 1, B. McLaren 2, J. Brabham 3. Time, 6min 41.4 sec.

Sports Car Race (12 miles, Le Mans start. 10 cars). —Up to 1500 c.c.: B. J. Cottle (Dunedin), Lola. 1; D. Lawrence. Lotus, 2; P. R. Preston, 3. Time, 9min 51.8 sec. 1501 c.c. and over: A. F. Moffatt (Ashburton), Lotus, 1; G. N, Richardson (United Kingdom), Ferrari, 2; P. K. ’Macfarlane (Clydevale), Austin Healey, 3. Time lOmin 4.6 sec. Racing Car Handicap (nine miles, 16 cars).—A. F. Rattray (Tuturau), V 8 Special, 1: A. F. Moffatt 2; R. Rutherford, 3. Time. Bmin 13.2 sec

Southland Motor-cycle Grand Prix (18 miles. 19 entries).— Junior: K. McCleary (Christchurch), Norton, 1; T. R. McCleary (Christchurch), A.J.S. 2; R. Clarke (Christchurch), A.J.S., 3. Time. 16mta B.Bsec. Senior: D. Bums (Christchurch). 1; N. Landrebe. 2; N. Neilson, 3. Time, 15min 25sec.

TYophies awarded were:— Harold Williams Challenge Trophy: A. E. Ross. Invercargill.

Dr. Langley Challenge Trophy: R. J. Archibald. Christchurch.

Powermaster Challenge Trophy: B. J. Cottle, Dunedin. Bosch Challenge Trophy: A. F. Rattray. Tuturau.