RENWICK MEETING TOMORROW

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30289, 15 November 1963, Page 13

RENWICK MEETING TOMORROW

’T'OMORROW the first national racing event of the New Zealand motor racing season in which drivers can gain points towards the Association of New Zealand Car Club's Gold Star award, the Renwick road race meeting, will be held at Renwick, just outside Blenheim. The main race, the 20-lap “Renwick 50,” has attracted the largest entry ever seen at Renwick, and 13 cars will line up on the grid to fight for the lead over 30 miles. Thi? event carries prize money of £65 tor first place, £36 for second, and £2O for third, with a challenge trophy for the winner. The main event will be race six on the programme, and the list of entries is A. A. Buchanan < Masterton), 1504 e.c. Brabham-Ford; W. J. Thomason (Papakura) 1900 c.c. Cooper Climax: A. L Shelly (Wellington) 2495 c.c. Lotus Climax; P. M. S. Slocotnbe (Wellington) 908 c.c. Lotus Ford: M. F. Stanton 'Christchurch; 4932 ext Stanton Corvette; R. J. Flowers (.Lower Hutt) 14T5 c.c. Lottis Ford; D. G Young (Thnarul 1475 c.c. Cooper Ford;' R. A. Levis (Putaruru)l47s c.c. Cooper Ford; B. E. Porter (St Andrews) 1960 c.c. Lotus Climax; J. Riley (Manurewa) 1498 c.c. Lola Ford sports; K. J. Palmer (Hamilton) 2495 c.c. Cooper Climax; G. E. B. Thomas (Feilding) 1340 c.c. Gemini; and F. Bremner (Patea) 3781 c.c D-type Jaguar. . •

Good Guide

The Renwick race is often a good guide to the form spectators can expect to see during the remainder of the season, and for this reason alone many followers of the sport make sure of seeing it. It is expected enthusiasts will come from many parts of the South Island for the event. Some are also coming from the North Island. Form Several drivers stand a good chance of victory in the main race. One of the top favourites is A Shelly in the Lotus Climax, who last year disappeared abruptly from the course on the second lap w’ith a jammed throttle. Until then he was keeping up with the leader, A. Hyslop, after a good start Another favourite is M. F. Stanton, of Christchurch, driving the now-rebodied Stanton Corvette. With nearly 5 litres of engine this car is very spectacular, but in previous seasons its meteoric acceleration has not been matched by its reliability and handling.

Good handling is vital on the narrow, tight and tricky Renwick circuit, but if reports of the reworked special are correct Stanton may Weil find himself in the lead. A rather unknown, quantity, but a car which followers of the sport should not miss seeing in action, is the D-type Jaguar of F. Bremner. K. J. Palmer, of Hamilton, driving a 2495 c.c. Cooper Climax, is also a driver who is almost certain to be among the leaders. D. G. Young, of Timaru, may well move ahead this year, and he can be expected to be among those looming large in the mirrors of the leaders. He may even be among the leaders himself. Motor racing is full of surprises, and almost any of the other drivers could .be wellup. R. J. Flowers, 'of Lower Hutt, performed well last year and will take advantage of any. mistakes made by

others, as will R. A. LevisThe supporting races have also drawn excellent entries, particularly the ever-popular saloon section. In fact, judging from the entry list, the saloons could well steal the thunder from the racing cars. 'Rte first event of the day will be for saloons up to 1300 c.c. and entries include D. F. Stanton, of Christchurch with his very fast A4O; and J. Mullins, of Leeston, with his equally-rapid Morris MiniCooper.

Another interesting entry is Fulton’s M-G. 1100. which is entered from Wellingtar. This -will probably be the first time one of the new M.G. 1100 s has appeared on a circuit in this country. The second race is a scratch event for sports cars and Specials, and the high-class entry includes-R. J. Stewart (Christchurch) in ' a Sunbeam Alpine, B. E. Porter, of St Andrews, in the Lotus 15 formerly owned and raced so-

successfully by A. F. Moffatt, and F. Bremner in the D-Jag. An interesting feature of this race is that both the Stanton specials will appear: the original 6142 c.c. special in the hands of C. E. BenSemann of Motueka, and the Stanton Corvette in the hands of co-owner-builder M. Stanton. Credit for the buildings of these very interesting must also go to C. Stanton, who is the vital member of his brother’s pit crew. fireworks The third race will bring out the big saloons, and fireworks can be expected. R. J. N. Archibald, of Christchurch, who is always good for a beautiful, display of polished driving in the. Jaguar 3.3, will be keeping a close watch on F. E. Sprague's Mk 111 Zephyr, probably. with thoughts of last year’s Waimate event at the back of his . mind.

Sprague is repotted to have< spent a great deal of time recently in bringing file Zephyr to a very high standard indeed, and perhaps gave an indication, of things to come when he cut four seconds off the saloon car record at the Craigmore hillclimb. Other entrants to watch will be .f. I. Dow, of Geraldine. with the Jaguar 3.8, D. Marwood (Morrinsville). with the Humber 80, K. Grant (Palmerston North) with a Ford Cortina- G.T. -and I. GPething (Hororata) with the Wolseley 1500. Lotus-Cortina R. A. Silvester (Christchurch) can be expected to provide excitement with the Chevrolet coupe, and a Very interesting entry Indeed is a Lotus Cortina, td*»-be driven by P. Fahey (Manurewal. This will be the first time

MORNING PERILS Driving in the city very early in the morning, about 3. a.m’. tqi 5 a.m., has more perils than one would imagine. In addition to such halfexpected dangers as unlit or poorly-lit milk trucks, there are suicidal bread vans,, often w’ith minimal lighting, and taxis which drive on parking lights at considerable speeds. All these drivers seem to take the attitude that no other traffic is likely on the road at such a time and so take less care. As a result, driving at these times can be dangerous. NEW DATSUN Among the cars on display at the Tokyo Motor show was the 1964 Datsun Bluebird. The new Bluebird has four headlights, an alternator instead of a generator, and other detail modifications. INSECURE LOADS It is disturbing to stop at traffic lights behind a truck carrying a large object or objects held in place only by faith and an inadequate piece of rope. It is even more disturbing to be behind such a vehicle going up a hill, even when a good distance behind, as the load seems to hang over the following vehicle like the Sword of Damocles. Occasionally such a truck sheds its load in the street, though it is surprisingly rare for a following vehicle or cyclist to be hit by or to hit the resulting road blockage. WIND JAMMERS A similar feeling is caused the the windjammers of the road—a truck carrying a very high load of hay, bales or equipment, and weaving from

tone of these amazingly fast cars has appeared here. In Britain they have managed to give Jaguars a good trouncing. The fourth race is for sports cars and specials, and the entry is much the same as for the second event. The fifth and seventh races, before and after the main event, could well be the races of the day. They are both all-comers saloon events, the first a scratch race and the second a handicap event. Real racing can be expected with the big and small cars all in together. Zephyrs. Austins, ' Minis, Chevrolet coupes, Jaguars, an Anglias, Humbers. a Wolseley and the Lotus Cortina comprise the list. With seven races and entrants of a high calibre, both competitors and spectators should be able to look forward to a full and interesting day’s racing.