Tripp highlights midget car series

Press, 23 January 1984, Page 11

Tripp highlights midget car series

The American midget car driver, “Sleepy” Tripp, showed the largest crowd of the season at the Lucas Batteries speedway at Ruapuna on Saturday night why he is regarded by many as’ the best overseas driver ever to race in New Zealand by winning four of his six starts.

With Tripp in such dominant form he had a leading role in taking the United States to a clear lead in the six-race international series. With half the races completed, the United States leads with 68 points, from the South Island 52%, the North Island 49%, and Australias 48.

Tripp drew the pole position in the first heat and was never headed, with his fellow countryman, Kevin Olson, taking second and an Australian, Geoff Pilgrim, third after a great battle with the local drivers, Selwyn Everett and Alan Palmer. Tripp’s winning time bettered Mark Williams' 10-lap record by 0.4 seconds. The American was again in

record-breaking form as he came from the back to take the second heat. Tripp’s spectacular style saw him up to sixth place by the end of the second lap, having already passed six cars. By lap five Tripp was in the lead and went on to win easily. Tripp broke Williams’ lap record by half a second, the new mark being 16.85, making Tripp the first midget driver under 17s for a lap.

The Americans increased their lead in this heat by having their three drivers finish the race. An Auckland driver, Bruce Kennedy, looked to have the final heat in the bag after opening up a big lead by lap four only to have to retire’ with a broken crake. This left Williams out on front from Pilgrim and Shaw. Tripp was out early in the race when causing Olson to spin at the Prison bend.

The remaining three heats will be decided on Wednesday evening and while the Americans have a clear lead in this

stage, the other three teams look like having a great battle for second place. In the other midget races Tripp, using all the track, plus more, again proved to be the master.

With over 20 cars in the first handicap race. Tripp slowly made up his 300 m handicap and came with a final burst over the final lap. With Johnny McKitterick well clear, Tripp forced Kennedy wide on the last bend to take third and then nearly caught Palmer on the line for second place.

The other two races followed a similar pattern with Tripp picking his way through the field. Palmer and Everett lead the middle race from the start and became locked in a great duel over the closing laps. This allowed Tripp to close on them and hit the front on the Prison bend with two laps to run. Palmer could take a moral victory in the Countrywide feature. He led, from the start but with one lap to go his Denco motor went flat. The

race went under the yellow light several times and'Tripp, after being involved in a fourcar tangle, blasted past five cars to win.

The sprintcar section also provided plenty of action with Barry Butterworth and Roger Gleeson being involved in several nudging matches which finally lead to the feature race being’ cancelled when Butterworth’s car was damaged climbing over the side of Gleeson's car before the start of the race. The racing provided a good build up for next Sunday’s New Zealand championships, with Butterworth winning the first race in record time as well as breaking the lap record. Three-quarter midgets Armoall handicap: C. Beach 1, S. Bufton 2, P. Cox 3; 96.5 Pacific motor-cycles feature: Beach 1. Cox 2. G. Stone 3; 152.0 (record). Sidecars Handicap race: R. Tinnings 1, W. Turner 2, A. Bryce 3; 85.0. Gavin McKay Trucks handi-

cap: M. Percy 1, Turner 2. Tinnings 3; 83.0.

Scotts Breakdown feature: Turner 1. Brvce 2, Percy 3; 83.2. Solos Novice Handicap: M. Ward 1, J. Beauchamp 2, S, Brandon 3; 93.0. Handicap: T. Richards 1, A. Papageorge 2, D. Salt 3; 70.8. B grade Handicap: M. Richards 1, G. McKewan 2, A. Davidson 3; 83.0. Handicap: S. Morice 1, P. McClintock 2, T. Richards 3; 83.2. A grade L. Ross 1, P. McClintock 2, L. Begbie 3; 79.0. Handicap: A. Mason 1. R.Hampton 2, D. Hopewell 3; 81.8. Consolation: A. Crosbie 1. G. Tavlor 2, M. Brown 3; 79.0. Final: Ross 1, Hampton 2. S. Mason 3; 77.0. Canterbury Provedore and Supply super six: Ross 1. Hampton 2, Richards 3; 76.0. Lemon and Paeroa flying

four: Ross 1. Hampton 2, Richards 3; 74.2. Midgets Phillip Mills Luxury Cars. Ltd, international 'midget series,— Heat 1: S. Tripp (U.S.) 1, K. Olson (U.S.) 2. G. Pilgrim (Aust.) 3, S. Everett (5.1.) 4. A. Palmer (5,1.) 5, O. Shaw (N.I) 6, Time: 177.0 (record). Heat 2: Tripp 1, K. Mann (Aust.) 2. Shaw 3, Olson 4. P. Johnson (N. 1. 5. Palmer 6; 120.5. Heat 3: M. Williams (5,1.) 1, Pilgram 2, Shaw 3, Olson 4. D. Pugsley (U.S.) 5, B. Butterworth (N.I.J; no time. Cornerways Cars handicap: J. McKitterick 1. Palmer. Tripp 3; no time. Levi’s handicap: Tripp 1, Everett 2, Palmer 3; 179.4. Countrywide Building Society feature: Tripp 1. Butterworth 2, Everett 3; no time. Sprintcars Levi’s handicap: Butterworth 1. R. Gleeson 2. R. Silcock 3; 143.5 (record). Lucas Batteries handicap Butterworth 1, K. Burt 2, Silcock 3; 84.6.