Wigram’s ‘Wheels and Wings Classic’

Press, 7 December 1981, Page 27

Wigram’s ‘Wheels and Wings Classic’

Civil aviation groups, the Royal New Zealand Air Force, the Country Gentlemen’s Historic and Sports Car Club and various other organisations combined for a spectacular display of flight and historic car and motor-cycle racing at the “Wheels and Wings Classic” at the R.N.Z.A.F. Base, Wigram, on Saturday. Highlights included a flypast by the “Red Checkers” aerobatic team in their Airtrainers and the chance to watch some of the beautifully restored motor-racing machinery of yesteryear racing once more around the Wigram circuit. The chairman of the organising committee, Wing-Commander M. L. Manttan, said that about 10,000 people attended. Wing Commander manttan said that he was particularly thrilled by the behaviour of the public on the day. They had followed instructions perfectly, and there had been no need to call upon the safety facilities, he said. The organising committee would be able to pay its bills and present a cheque for a few thousand dollars to the R.N.Z.A.F. museum as a result, said Wing Commander Manttan. “We were heartened by the response, and we hope to repeat the day,” he said. The pictures, taken by RICHARD SIMPSON, show:— TOP: A 2GOM Zephyr racing car with D. Read at the wheel speeds past a line of Airtrainers belonging to the “Red Checkers” aerobatic team. The Zephyr was competing in a class D event. LEFT: Nicholas Cooper, aged one, stands in front of a Bristol Freighter from the Wigram Museum. RIGHT: The “Red Checkers” aerobatic team, smoke streaming behind, puts on a spectacular display for the crowd. The team comprises instructors from the Central Flying School and is led by Squadron Leader J. S. Bates. BELOW LEFT: Visitors to the base examine an R.N.Z.A.F. Skyhawk fighter-bomber, a rare opportunity. Skyhawks entered service with the R.N.Z.A.F. in 1970 and make-up the Air Combat Arm of the service. BOTTOM LEFT: S. Barclay’s Morgan leads J. O’Leary’s M.G. in a sports car race. BOTTOM RIGHT: P. Roxburgh (Triumph 650) holds off a challenge on the outside from M. Brosnan (Ducati 900) in a race for historic motorcycles.