N.Z. KART TITLE

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32613, 22 May 1971, Page 44

N.Z. KART TITLE

Top drivers entered More than 40 entries from throughout the country have been received by the Christchurch Kart Club for the 20lap Rothmans grand prix at the Timaru Raceway today. To support the programme, there will be scratch and han. dicap kart races, five motorcycle events, and a feature race over 10 laps. The rolling start to the grand prix race is a spectacular affair. Forty karts, racing two wide, are moving at speeds of 60-70 milei an hour when the starter’s flag drops. Pace cars are no longer used as two years ago a modified saloon pace car, travelling at 90 miles an hour, was passed by several karts. It is expected that the top 15 karts will be capable of exceeding 100 miles an hour. In the twin motor class (200-250 c.c.), R. Wilkinson and K. Drake, the two Christchurch drivers who competed in the world championships in Hong Kong last year, should remain near the front, with D. Drake (Christchurch), winner of the Cheviot grand prix, and C. Bremner (Dunedin) the Greymouth titleholder. A. Tuffley (Invercargill) and P. Rudolph (Nelson), who will drive his now kart which cost about $l4OO, are other leading contenders. Rudolph’s spectacular sideways driving and two-wheeling down the straights should prove entertaining for the spectators.