Saloon race to Robertson

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32561, 22 March 1971, Page 26

Saloon race to Robertson

(From Our Own Reporter) TIMARU. Single-seater and saloon feature events provided most of the excitement at the South Canterbury Car Club’s meeting at Timaru yesterday, with B. Robertson’s Brabham 1800 winning the racingcar event, and P. Wilson’s Mark 111 Zodiac winning the saloon contest.

Although there were no “big-name” drivers, there was plenty of close racing to thrill the large crowd. The saloon event was for car club members in their road care, and the two heats and a final provided a full measure of spins, avoidances,, and hot competition. In the first heat, P. Jones (Mini Cooper) led for the five laps with W. Price’s (Fiat

1500) on his bumper, and the issue was in doubt right to the flag. J. Samson (Zephyr Mark I) came through from the rear to gain the third place, although he was helped by some of he spins ahead of him. J. Bevin (Morris 1100) made the most spectacular departure when he lost control completely in the esses and finished up blasting through a line of straw bales. G. Vaughan (Cortina) led the second heat throughout, with Wilson coming a fairly close second. In the final, Wilson got the best of the start and Vaughan spoiled his chances on the first lap by spinning and dropping to the rear of the field. This left W. Murdoch (Mini) second, ahead of A. Farr (Cortina), D. Swaney (Anglia), and a battling group comprising G. Mackie (Mini), C. Rabbidge (Anglia), P. Jones (Mini Cooper), and W. Price (Fiat 1500). By the third lap another battle had started among B.

White (Zephyr Mark III), S. Kould (Cortina), and N. McKay (Anglia) at the rear, and this continued to the flag. Wilson led Murdoch by four or five seconds most of the way, and although Vaughan drove very fast he was unable to finish higher than fifth. The single-seater event featured a splendid battle for the lead between Robertson and I. Bisman (Begg 1600), but Robertson always managed to stay ahead. There was a considerable gap back to L. Bryant (Brabham), while R. Noble did an excellent job with the Valor 1500 to hold fourth place. P. de Lore had trouble with his Mcßae Ford, getting left at the start then spinning twice before retiring. Only the first four cars were not lapped. M. Cooke (U2) was unbeaten in the sports car scratch race, with M. Rowe (Lotus) and P. Stewart (Robat Mantis) being the only ones who could keep him in sight

A thirty-minute race for production motor-cycles attracted a large entry, but the first three places were the same throughout the 32 laps. D. Ellis (Kawasaki 500) kept O. Galbraith (Kawasaki 350) at bay. B. Matthews (Kawasaki 500) stayed a safe third, but well back on the leaders. Results were:— Club members’ race.—First heat (5 laps): F. Jones (Mini Cooper) 1, W. Price (Flat 1500) 2, G. Mackie (Mini) 3. Second heat (5 laps); G. Vaughan (Cortina) 1, P. Wilson (Zodiac) 2, A. Farr (Cortina) 3. Single-seater preliminary (5 laps.—P. Robertson (Brabham) 1, P. de Lore (Mcßae Ford) 2, L Blsman (Begg) 3. Saloons (5 laps).—C. Orton (Mini Cooper) 1, G. Simmers (Mini Cooper S) 2, J. Me* Coomb (Morris Ford) 3. Sports cars (5 laps).—M. Cook (U2) 1, M. Rowe (Lotus) 2, P. Stewart (Robat Mantis) 3. Saloon (5 laps).—G. Newell (A4O) 1, L. Spiers (Morris Ford) 2, D. Brown (Mini) 3. Single-seater feature (10 laps). B. Robertson 1, L. Bisman 2, L. Bryant (Brabham) 3. Club members* saloon feature (10 lapsL—P. Wilson 1, W. Murdoch (Mini) 2, A. Farr 3.