From karts to Formula Fords

Press, 15 November 1984, Page 15

From karts to Formula Fords

| In some ways, this will be |a make-or-break season for |25-year-old John Crawford. Crawford started racing in karts, winning the 1978 sprint kart championship. When his self-built, twinengined kart was banned from the tracks, Crawford I decided to move up to ForImula Ford racing, which is 1 acknowledged as the trainling ground for any driver | with serious aspirations to a I career in motor racing. | Crawford quickly settled. | into the Formula, gaining a third place in the 1980 South I Island championship in a jcar which had previously i been regarded as an uncomipetitive proposition. I The following year, Craw-

ford captured the South Island title for the first time and gained a creditable third place on the national championship trail. It was decided that a factory car was needed if John’s career was to progress, and a 1979 Van Dieman was purchased. The season. began badly with a shunt at Pukekohe caused by a slower competitor whom Crawford was aing, and although Crawwent on to gain pole position at every round of the championship, the points deficit caused by not scoring at the first round proved too much, John finished second in the series and narrowly missed out on the

prize that went to the winner — an expenses-paid trip to Britain to compete in the British Formula Ford Festival. Crawford, nevertheless, clinched his second South Island title and, in fact, he has not been beaten- an a round of this, championship for more than two. years. : At the end of the season, Crawford sold the car and travelled to England at his own expense, with the idea of making contacts there and gaining knowledge of the British racing scene. Beause he spent the New Zealand off-season in the United Kingdom, Crawford was unable to organise the finance necessary for a

season in New Zealand Formula Pacific racing, and so decided on another crack at the Formula Ford title.

Through his contacts at Madgwick, Crawford was able to buy the damaged Reynard at the right price when it became available, justifying his earlier decision to travel to England.

The combination of Crawford’s undoubted driving skill, an ultra-competitive car, good sponsors and a dedicated team look to be a tough proposition to beat and with a little bit of luck oh his side, Crawford will hopefully head back to England next season, this time as New Zealand’s driver to Europe.