More entries this season

Press, 17 November 1977, Page 14

More entries this season

The roar of high-powered engines, the crunch as car hits car and the spraying of dirt on Saturday night will signal the start of the new night season at the Black and White Speedway at Woodford Glen, near the Waimakariri River. All indications point to a great season, with more cars entered in all classes and many special attractions planned. “Gentleman” Gerald Griffiths looks a strong contender to continue his reign of terror amongst the stock cars. In his Chev VB-powered A3O stock car, Griffiths has the ability to again snatch the South Island championship that he has already snared three times..

Already Griffiths has attacked the vulnerable wooden walls at the Glen, leaving the more solid new concrete north wall untouched.

The aggressive “stockie” is a veteran of the Glen track, having raced on it for seven years. One story told about Griffiths concerns a group of visiting cars from Nelson, some of which managed to make Griffiths’s car roll during the first race. Griffiths stormed back on to the track and showed the other drivers what it was like by rolling two of them. This is the second season that Griffiths has appeared in the A3O, and he is pleased with its performance. His previous car was a sturdy little Fiat Bambina/Chev. However, Griffiths will not have it all his own way this season, as Andy Hurst’s A3O/Chev is perhaps a. little quicker than his car. Other top drivers like Mike Coutts (A3O/Valiant), Wayne Wilding (Imp/ Valiant), Kenny Hannah (Ford/Chev), John Mooar ((1100/Ford V 8) and Allan Ashby (1100/Ford V 8) will be lurking in the wings waiting for the opportunity to put Griffiths and Hurst into the north wall. About 20 local drivers will turn out for the stock car racing at each meeting, and the numbers will be boosted when drivers from outside centres come to the Glen to try their' luck. The new Black and White Speedway season will see the emergence of a new class of car, the superstocker. The cars must be based on two-door saloon bodies but any motor can be used and the bodies may be cut down, making the machines very light and extremely fast. Known as “modified sportsman” cars in the United States they provide spectacular racing there. One of the racing rules for superstocks is that drivers must try not to hit other cars.

There are three superstocks ready to race at the Glen at present and another five or so are due to appear soon.

The saloon class promises some exciting racing in the

rtew’ season. Negotiations are under way to bring .several top American and Australian drivers to New Zealand to race and this will provide some tough opposition for the local drivers.

Donny Graham and Gene Welsh may appear in 1977 model Chevrolets and Johnny Anderson in a Chewy Vega. Ed Butcher, the 1977 Queensland champion, might also appear in his fast Camaro.

The January 10 meeting at the Glen will see Don McElvie’s Monza down from Wellington, as well as Graham Anderson’s 500 h.p. Monaro. Auckland’s Ron Willoughby plans to race his Cortina 6 at the Glen in the New Year meetings, along with Southland’s top saloon car drivers, including Peter Wood, who drove his Mustang into third place in last year’s New Zealand championships in Wellington.

Don Black (Torana V 8 hatchback), John Hawke (Camaro) and Norm Butler (Torana SLRSOOO) will also race at New Year to try to ensure the South Island saloon title stays in Southland. Christchurch drivers who will be trying to stop them from doing this include Doug Smith (Black and White Torana SLRSOOO), Royce Clive (Camaro Z2B), Tony Cardwell (Mustang), John Berryman (Falcon coupe), Ross James (Torana XU-1), Dave Sangster (Holden V 8), Rod Shuter (Holden V 8) and Roy Granger (Torana SLRSOOO).

The saloons, which must retain their original body shape, should provide a great spectacle as they dice at speeds of up to 120 km/ h on the Woodford Glen track.