Pit Stops

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30936, 17 December 1965, Page 15

Pit Stops

The Riley Car Club of New Zealand will hold its national rally in Christchurch on March 26 and 27. There will be driving tests, a concours, a rally and the annual meeting of the club. * * *

The American driver, Jim Hall, is said to be building a GT Chaparral for European races, including Le Mans. * # #

The New Zealand Grand Prix at Pukekohe next year has been shortened from 50 to 40 laps, and from 108 to 87 miles. No heats will be held, and it is hoped this will ensure a full field for the main race. There will be five saloon races, one an all-comers’ event of 10 laps. There will be a feature race for singleseaters up to 2000 c.c. with a special prize for the bestplaced 1500 c.c. car. * * *

The 252-mile Nassau Trophy race was won by H. Sharp in a Chaparral, with a Genie-Chevrolet (owned by Dan Blocker, the television star) second, and a Brabham BTB third. McLaren and J. Hall, in another Chaparral, fought for the lead in the early stages, but both later retired. ♦ # ♦

A rear-engined sports car with a Mini engine will go on sale in Britain soon.

The Mini S engine Is expected to give a top speed of more than 130 m.p.h. to the fastest model, and examples may be raced at Le Mans. * ♦ * Lotus has produced a new formula three car, the Lotus 41. It has a space frame chassis, but with new features that give a very light and strong structure The car is narrower and lower than previous models, and has been designed very simply to aid preparation by private owners. The cars will be powered by the 1000 c.c Cosworth engine, which produces 100 b.h.p. at 9500 r.p.m. They will cost just under £2500 in Britain where a preliminary batch of 35 cars is being made. # ♦ * Griffith Motors, of New York, has announced a new GT car which it plans to produce. It will have Ford mechanical parts, and body designed with the assistance of a former B.R.M staff member. Prototypes are now being made in Italy. The United States price will be about £2BOO. « » * The cars raced by Dan Gurney’s all-American racing team next season wil probably be called Eagles Brabham’s cars will use version of the new Austra Han-built Repco racing en gine and Lotus will use

• the B.R.M. H-16 engines : until the Cosworth Fori • units are ready. It is not ■ known what engine the Mc- ; Laren formula one cars Z will tee. Also in use next • year will be separate tyre : types for wet and dry wea j ther .