R. Clive Wins Midget Car Championship

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31340, 10 April 1967, Page 8

R. Clive Wins Midget Car Championship

The outstanding young midget car driver, R. Clive, ended the season on a high note when he won the final South Island championship points race, held over eight laps at the Templeton Speedway on Saturday night.

This fine win brought his points tally in the championship series, held throughout the season, to 51, 15 ahead of the defending champion, R. T. Hall, who did not compete at the final meeting. His only serious opposition in the final race came from N. Hawkins, who pressed him very hard until a spin put him back to the rear of the field. Clive’s winning time was 2min 58.8 sec, a good one considering the slippery track surface.

After the race, Clive was officially awarded the championship by the president of the Christchurch Speedway Association (Mr R. Lang). Throughout the season he raced a Ford Model 84powered midget which is owned by another driver, M. Sloan, and has now completed 22 years racing in speedway. This was the first season for more than a decade that the championship has not been held by Hall. He started the season late and a string of minor accidents, a puncture and other upsets put him out of the running just when he seemed likely to take the points lead from Clive. Nothing, however, could detract from Clive’s win in the championship. He was very consistent and his driving was of an exceptionally high standard. Next season he will have a car of his own powered with a Ford Zephyr motor. Hall comfortably won the Rothmans feature series, also held over the season. He scored 31 points. N. Hawkins was second with 25.

The three-quarter midget car title went to the Ashburton driver, D. Harper, who scored 41 points. D. Richens, who won the final eight-lap points race with an impressive show of skill, was second with 31. J. Annan won the South Island stock rod championship, scoring 45 points during the season. His brother, P. Annan, winner of the final race, was second with 40, and the defending champion, D. Cameron, third. The winner of the South Island solo motor-cycle title last week, R. Wright, comfortably won the feature scratch race of four laps in 87.3 sec. However, it was A. Brown who stole much of the limelight He led the race for two laps until a broken chain ended his chances. Earlier he set the fastest time of the night, 86.7 sec, in winning a handicap race from the 90yd mark. The South Island side-car championship went to W. Philp and D. Wyllie, who were unbeaten in the three-race series. Philp, the oldest competitor at the speedway, impressed with- his forceful

style of riding and never looked like being beaten. Second place went to the Ashburton combination of I. Begbie and D. Harper. Results were:— MOTOR-CYCLES South Island Sidecar Championship (4 laps).—First heat: W. Philp and D. Wyllie 1, I. Begbie and D. Harper 2. Time, 97.2. Second heat: Philp and Wyllie 1, R. Winstone and A. Perkins 2, Begbie and Harper 3. Time, 99.6. Third heat: Philp and Wyllie 1, Begbie and Harper 2, Winstone and Perkins 3. Time, 1:42. Final points: W. Philip (rider) and D. Wyllie (passenger), 9; I. Begbie and D. Harper, 5; R. Winstone and A. Perkins, 3.

Sldncar Event for Mechanics and Solo Riders <4 laps).—E. Gluesteln and R. Marks 1, A. Huston and R. Jeffries 2, L. Dwight and S. England 3. Time. 1:54.4. Second novelty sidecar race: E. Gluesteln and R. Dunley 1, J. McKitterlck and R. Miller 2, N. Wyllie and L. England 3. Time, 1.47.

Novice Solo Handicap <4 laps) —R. Clarkson <2oyd) 1. R. Hall (go) 2. E. Gluesteln (30yd) 3. Time, 97. Solo Handicap Events (4 laps). —Opening race: A. Nesbitt (20yd) 1, I. Begbie (30yd) 2. R. Clarkson (go) 3. Time, 91.4. Second event: C. Glasson (40yd) 1, G. Ray (150 yd 2. J. Jewell (SOyd) 3. Time, 100.2. Third race: A. Brown (90yd) 1. A. Nesbitt (go) 2, R. Wright (90yd) 3. Time, SO 7. Fourth race: K. Young (20yd) 1, E. Gluesteln (go) 2, J. Jewell (70yd> 3. Time, 1:41.8. Solo Scratch Race (4 laps).— R. Wright 1, G. Ray 2, A. Nesbitt 3. Time, 87.3. Other Solo Events (4 laps).— T.Q. driver’s race: R. Burt 1, D. Harper 2. G. Roxburgh 3. Time. 1:50. Stock rod and speedcar drivers’ race: P. Annan 1, R. Dunley 2, P. Annan 3. Time. 1:52.6. Veterans' race: S. Burt I. S. Harrison 2, R. Marks 3. Time. 1:41.5. MIDGET CARS Three-quarter Midget Racing Cars.—lndian file event (6 laps): S. Burt 1. D. Harper 2. J. McKitterlck 3. Time, 2.34. Scratch race for S.I. championship points (8 laps): D. Richens 1, S. Burt 2, J. McKltterick 3. Time, 3.2.3. Final points: D. Harper 41, D. Richens 31, R. Burt 20. Novelty T. Q. Events (4 laps). —First race: A. Brown 1, R. Miller 2, I. Begbie 3. Time, 1.36.8. Second race (6 laps): R. Mullally 1. A. Nesbit 2, E. Gluesteln 3. Time, 2.20. Speedcars.—Rothmans feature (6 laps): A. Coles 1. R. Clive 2. N. Hawkins 3. Time, 2.23.1. Final points: R. T. HaU 31, Hawkins 25, Clive 23. Scratch race for S.I. championship points (8 laps): R Clive 1, A. Coles 2. G. Tiektnk 3. Time, 2:58.8, Final points: Clive 51, R. T. Hall 36, N. Hawkins 16. Novelty Speedcar Events First race: W. Rushbridge 1, G. Lewis 2, R. Clarkson 3. Time. 90.0. Second race: L. Hawkins 1, M. Barkle 2, C. Clarkson 3. Time, 95.2. Third race: J. Annan 1, L. Barkle 2, G. Cross 3. Time, 70.0. STOCK RODS Stock Rod Events.—Opening handicap (6 laps): W. Rushbridge (170 yd 1, P. Annan (180 yd) 2, J. Annan (180 yd 3. Time, 2:32.1. Scratch race for S.I. championship points (8 laps): P. Annan 1, W. Rushbridge 2. D. Cameron 3. Time, 3:4.4. Final points: J. Annan 45, P. Annan 40, D. Cameron 32, W. Rushbridge 28. Novelty Stock Rod Events (4 laps).—First race I. Wellbeloved 1. G. Ray 2, J. Tiekink 3. Time, 1:47. Second race: R. Clive 1, O. Welbeloved 2, L. Sharchet 3. Time, 1:36.