Woodford Glen

Press, 28 February 1980, Page 18

Woodford Glen

Sir, — i travel down from Hanmer Springs to every meeting, and have seen racing throughout the North Island, and Woodford Glen has really got it all together. But why did David Waddell travel down from Tauranga to . attend the meeting on Saturday, February 2, to be told he could not race in the New Zealand saloon car championship because his car engine was 10cm too far back. Surely, there are regulations; but thjs car must race, in the North Island as

is. I wonder if he and others will bring their mighty cars back again. That is what spectators want to see. — Yours, etc., MALCOLM MENZIES. February 6, 1980. [Mr Doug Smith, president of the Christchurch Stock and Saloon Car Drivers’ Club, replies: “National regulations govern construction of saloon cars. Mr Waddell had his Chevrolet Monza professionally built in the North Island approximately two years before the New Zealand Saloon Car Championship at Woodford Glen. Many of the cars in this event were found to have discrepancies in engine placements and wheel basis, along with some other minor faults. Most drivers appreciated the strict rulings being enforced, including Mr Waddell, and some worked through the Friday night to make their cars legal. After scrutineering the three Monzas entered, it was decided by Speedway Control Board officials to measure a road-going version. They found that John Casey’s Monza was the only one correct. I and my pit crew worked through Friday night and all day Saturday to move the motor forward on my Monza, because it was Icm too far back. Mr Waddell was advised of his incorrect engine placement. His answer was: “Thank you for telling me. Whatever the cost, I will attempt to move the engine into its correct position before the championships,” but unfortunately it was found to be impossible to move it any more than scm without making major engineering and structural alterations. Mr Waddell, with true sportsmanship, agreed to race in non-qualifying events. We believe that Mr Waddell has now returned the vehicle to the people who built it, in-i structing them to relocate the engine into its correct position at their cost. We are also concerned to think that Mr Waddell’s car and possibly others in the North Island are competing in open competition, which puts them at an unfair advantage with the weight distribution. We feel sure that Woodford Glen has set an example for all tracks in New Zealand to follow and rulings will probably be more strictly enforced by the Speedway Control Board. Mr Waddell assures us that he and others from the north will be back next season.”]