Cook wins at Levels

Press, 23 November 1981, Page 3

Cook wins at Levels

From

JOHN FRIDD,

in Timaru Reg Cook, of Auckland, made a perfect start to the defence of his Shellsport national saloon car title when he narrowly won both heats of the opening round at Levels, near Timaru, yesterday. In the first heat, Cook was made to fight for his victory by several other top drivers, and there was drama on the last lap as Wayne Murdoch (Timaru, Avenger 1600) slid wide on the second S-bend, while trying to pass Roy Harrington (Auckland, Escort TC). Murdoch recovered beautifully and forced his way past Harrington to take third place behind Cook and Warren Steel (Taupo, Escort TC).

Warren Burt (Timaru, Starlet 1300) also nipped past Harrington just before the end of the race when Harrington’s gearbox blew up on the final corner.

The second heat saw an amazing battle between Cook. Murdoch and Burt, with Cook just winning from the hard-changing

Murdoch, with Burt a very close third. Trevor Crowe, of Christchurch, continued his domination of the open saloon car association championship when he won all three of his races in his quick Starlet V 8 turbo.

lan Munt (Christchurch) took three second placings in his Capri Chev-V8 but was given a hard time all day by Rod McElrea. of Ashburton, in his newly-developed Cortina ChevVB.

Bob Slade (Christchurch, Mustang) ended the OSCA A class race halfway up a bank when he found he had nowhere to go after the drive shaft of Gary Jenkins’ Victor Chev broke, causing Jenkins to slow suddenly and other cars to take evasive action. Two Christchurch drivers, Dave Waldron (Escort 2-litre Turbo) and Don Grindley (Mazda RX3) had a tense battle in the OSCA B and C -class race before Waldron won narrowly. Jim Little (St Andrews,

Charger E 49) won-the fjrst? heat of the South Island production saloon championship round, but his arch-rival, Barry Lloyd (Ashburton, Falcon XACT) struck back in the second heat.

Little made a desperate attempt to pass Lloyd on the last lap which saw the big Charger career off the track. Little recovered to finish third behind Robin Laing (Dunedin, Torana), who was third in the first race.

Neville Boon (Christchurch) and Gavin Pollock (Mosgiel) shared the B class honours in their Mazda while lan Begg, of Wyndham, had a fine debut in his newly-acquired VW Golf GTI with two class wins.

Once again. Jeff Pascoe, of Picton, dominated the South Island Formula Ford series races, breaking the long-standing lap record set by Brett Riley on his way to a double victory in his Titan.' The former cart racer, John Crawford (Christchurch, Valour) took two good second places ahead of Lyn Johnson (Timaru. Cuda). lan Donald, of Ashburton, won the main race in the pre-'65. saloon series with a spectacular display- of driving in his Jaguar 3.8. ’ ,