Smith wins at Pukekohe

Press, 14 November 1977, Page 6

Smith wins at Pukekohe

PA ■ Auckland The Auckland racing driver Ken Smith made a big step towards the New Zealand Formula Pacific title yesterday when he won the fourth round of the Union Travel series at Pukekohe. The 1976 grand prix winner led from start to finish of the 20-lap race and had a comfortable win from Ross Stone, of Tuakau, who was second and now takes the series lead. In the early laps he was closely pursued by Richard Melville (Auckland, March) but with a faultless display of driving Smith gradually edged ahead and as Melville tried to stay with the flying leader he spun at Castrol comer and resumed in third place. Stone took over second position in his home-built Cuda. Melville finished third and in his efforts to catch Stone he set the fastest lap of the race. The unluckiest driver was Norm Lankshear, who was fourth until a few hundred metres from the finish when something broke in the drivetrain of his Chevron. He was forced to coast across the line, allowing Reg Cook (Auck., March) and Eric Morgan (Wellington, Chevron) to slip past. With his consistent performances in all four rounds Stone now leads the series with 39 points. Melville is second with 35 and Robbie Francevic, who did not race yesterday because he blew up his car’s motor in prac-

tice, still has 30 points. Dave McMillan has 27 points and Smith .26. McMillan blew up his Ralt’s engine in practice on Friday and did not race yesterday.

Reg Cook maintained his stranglehold on the new Shellsport two-litre saloon series when he drove his Datsun Sunny to two first places. Bryce Platt (Auck.. Escort TC) had two seconds, and Grant Aitken (Dunedin. Sunny) two thirds. Grant Campbell, of Auckland. was first over the line in the Motorcraft Formula Ford race in his Titan, followed by Kim Cracker (Hamilton, Trident) and the up and-coming Christchurch driver, Lucas Verhoeven (GLH Owen).

However, the leading three cars, with some others, were impounded after the race and engine parts removed to check their eligibility. Verhoeven said from Auckland last night that his car had been declared legal. Hqwever, there was no word on either Campbell’s or Crocker’s. Verhoeven said he was able to stick with the other two drivers through the comers but they pulled away from him on the straights. He said he was pleased with his Pukekohe debut, considering he had blown his car’s motor on Friday and had to rebuild it. Verhoeven had only one practice session, late on Saturday, but was fourth on the grid for yesterday’s race.