Men who would be king of Wigram

Press, 20 January 1982, Page 14

Men who would be king of Wigram

STEVE MILLEN (N.Z.). 31, is probably this country’s best Formula Pacific driver. He beat Moreno in the second heat of the Grand Prix in his Tullen Rail RT4 but has yet to win at Wigram. Millen is a very versatile driver, having raced speedway midgets and saloons, rally cars, racing saloons, production saloons, rallycross cars and Formuld Fords before he switched to Formula Pacifies in 1976 and won New Zealand’s first F.P. race, beating Keke Rosberg at Bay Park. Millen has done a lot of racing in South-East Asia, and won the championship there in 1977. Won Penang G.P. in 1978 and 1980 and Malaysian G.P. in 1980. Probably would have won 1980 Aurora series in N.Z. after taking N.Z.G.P. had he not tangled with Huub Rothengatter (Netherlands) in the final race at Pukekohe. Spent some time in hospital after this spectacular crash. Last season scored most wins of any driver with victories at Bay Park, Pukekohe, Manfeild and Timaru but had to settle for second place in the championship.

DAVID OXTON (N.Z.), 36. is the current Aurora AFX, Pacific Basin and Union Travel Gold Star champion. Has raced cars for more than half his life, starting at the age of 17. First drove a single-seatgr in 1968, finishing second in the 1968 and 1969 Gold Star series in a 1500 cu cm Brabham. Moved to Formula 5000 cars in 1971 then he and his father set up a national championship for Formula Fords in New Zealand and he won the championship in 1971 and 1972. He also won the Gold Star in 1972 in a Begg F5OOO, and in a new Begg won the Gold Star in 1973 and 1974, too. Started racing Formula Pacifies with a Chevron in 1977 and currently races a Pye Rail RT4. Drove the car in last year’s Australian Grand Prix and finished sixth in a classy field.

dave McMillan (n.z.), 36, is a Wigram specialist in his Citizen Watch Rails, as he was born in Christchurch and brought up at Wigram Airbase. Has a choice of either a Datsun-powered Ralt RTI or a Ford-powered Ralt RT4 for Wigram this year. He is New Zealand’s only full-time professional racing driver, as he competes in the United States Supervee and Formula Atlantic series in the southern winter. Started racing in 1972 in a Formula Ford, winning the N.Z. title in 1973, 1974 and 1976. Moved up to Pacifies in 1976 and in 1980 won the Aurora series in a Ralt RTI, and took the New Zealand G.P. in 1981. McMillan has also moved into the team management field, as he is managing the New Zealand campaign of Mike Rosen (U.S.) this summer.

MIKE ROSEN (U.S.), 23, had his first single-seater drive only 18 months ago, but has quickly become an accomplished driver. Began racing mini-cycles professionally in the United States at only 14 and won the national championship in 1974. Then studied for a business career, but was sidetracked into Formula Ford racing in 1980. Finished second in only his third race at Riverside. Last year he turned to the faster Formula Atlantic (Pacific) and Super-Vee championships and drives professionally in both, along with New Zealander Dave McMillan. Was named “rookie of the year’’ in last year’s Atlantic championship and finished eighth, and seventh over all in Super-Vee. Rosen came to New Zealand to race to help maintain his race fitness over the northern winter.

KEN SMITH (N.Z.), 40, epitomises the sporting cliche “grizzled veteran.” He has been racing cars for more than 20 years. Started with a Ford 8 Special and Ulster Austin 7 before sharing a Holden-powered Cooper sports car with his father. In 1964 raced a Lola singleseater and then moved up to a Lotus 22, then a Lotus 41, in which he won the national Gold Star in 1970. Then raced relatively underpowered March cars against the big Formula 5000 machinery, turning in some amazing results, before moving up to an F5OOO Lola T 332 in 1975 and winning the championship the following year. Went back to Marches when Formula Pacific was introduced.