N.Z. entrant in air race

Press, 14 October 1976, Page 6

N.Z. entrant in air race

PA Wellington New Zealand’s sole entrant in Australia’s Perth to Sydney air race has left Wellington on the first leg of its journey to Perth. The four-seater Cessna Centurion of a Wellington Aero Club member, Rick Rimmer, will compete in the four-day event with about 170 other entries from Britain, the United States, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, the Netherlands, France, Hong Kong and the Philippines. Mr Rimmer and three other experienced flyers, including one woman, flew to Auckland, and will go to Sydney, via Norfolk Island.

Mr Rimmer’s co-flyers are Lurlene Stewart, David Gollop and Peter Mardon, all members of the Wellington Aero Club. None of the members have taken part in an air race

before and if they win they have the pleasant task of splitting up the $lO,OOO first prize.

The first leg of the handicapped race is a 650 nautical mile (one nautical mile equals 1.7 miles) dash from Perth to Forrest. The longest section in the race, it will begin on October 20.

The 640 nautical mile second leg from Forrest to Adelaide is the next day. Once the competitors have completed section three — the 448 nautical miles between Adelaide and Melbourne they have one rest day before going to the last leg, a 512 nautical mile sprint from Melbourne to Sydney. A variety of new and ancient aircraft have been entered in the race, including a replica of the Red Baron’s Fokker triplane, an American Mustang, 18 Tiger Moths, a 1929 Junkers bomber and a giant Gumpie transport.