‘Archibald’ returns to Wigram circuit on side of saloon car

Press, 15 January 1986, Page 33

‘Archibald’ returns to Wigram circuit on side of saloon car

Among the supporting events, big saloon cars have always been the most popular with the New Zealand public. Some great racing has been seen at the Wigram circuit with the likes of Fahey, Moffat and Dawson doing battle.

In the late 50s and early 60s, the name of Archibald was synonymous with the circuit, following the exploits of the top Christchurch driver, Ray Archibald, whose Jaguar was pitted against the Zephyrs of Timaru’s Ernie Sprague. This Sunday the Archibald name will return to the Wigram circuit, albeit on the side of the immaculate black BMW 635 CSi, of Christchurch’s current saloon car hero, Trevor Crowe.

Following Crowe’s successes in the Benson and Hedges series together with the Australian, Tony Longhurst, Wigram will present Christchurch spectators with their first and only chance of seeing the Archibald BMW racing this season.

Although late entries should boost the field, the emphasis will be on quality rather than quantity in the Group A saloon car events.

Crowe will have his work cut out dealing with the challenge from his closest competitors, the Holden Commodore of Graeme Bowkett, and the Ford Sierra of the former single

seater star, David Oxton. With newly homologated go-faster performance parts on his Sleepyhead Commodore, Bowkett proved in unbeatable form at Pukekohe and the power of the V 8 Holden could prove decisive at Wigram.

The combination of Oxton and the turbo-charged Sierra, which won the 1985 British saloon car series in the hands of Andy Rouse, should prove potent at Wigram. A small question, mark must hang over the car’s reliability, however, after the first two rounds at Bay Park and Pukekohe. Other Commodores include those driven by Dannie Lupp and Rod Collingwood. An interesting car will be the Jaguar XJS of Mike Hourigan, although this car obviously will lack the power of the works Jaguars which won Bathurst for Tom Walkinshaw’s team, the car should prove suited to the Wigram circuit. Other expected top runners are the Pinepac Mustang and Falcon of the Anderson brothers team, while the former motorcycle world champion, Graeme Crosby, is a possible starter in his BMW.

The familiar rumble of the big V 8 O.S.C.A. cars always brings the spectators to the fence, and this Sunday should prove no exception. Wigram provides the O.S.C.A. competitors with a chance to stretch the legs of their powerful machinery. Obvious favourites must include Crowe, Avon Hyde, John Osborne and lan Munt.

The last Wigram meeting was memorable for its excellent O.S.C.A. racing, which provided the highlight of the meeting, particularly the flying farewell which featured a battle between Crowe, Hyde and Osborne. The ingredients are there for a further battle on Sunday. The Ray Parke Autos Pre-65 saloons provide one

of the biggest fields of the meeting, and a tussle is expected between the V 8 Falcons of Russell Gurschlag and Grant Milligan, while the hordes of Anglias and Cortinas will evoke memories among the older spectators. The Select Autos/Auto Warranty Mini 7s have been going from strength to strength this season, and have been included on the Wigram programme for the first time. Viewers of the televised Mini 7 race at Pukekohe will be anticipating close action from these screaming little machines. Laser Sport racing seems to have declined in popularity this season. The racing is expected to be just as close and panel damage seems inevitable.

Spectators at the hairpin would be well advised not to make their trip to the refreshment tent while the Laser Sport race is in progress. A new class this season is the Tootal Cool Wools 2.5 litre G.T. series. This class replaces the old Shellsport category and already some more modern machinery has taken the place of the old Datsun and Escorts. The two Mazda RX7s of Keiran Wills and Geoff Burrows are likely to be to the fore in these races.

Providing some variety from the saloon classes will be the Motorcraft Formula Ford heats. The Formula Pacific drivers of tomorrow are likely to come from the ranks of the Formula Ford drivers, and South Island enthusiasts will be able to cheer the young Ashburton driver, Andy McElrea, who is placed third in the championship. With 1 a trip to England to contest the world Formula Ford final to the winner, the competition is deadly serious. Top contenders in this class, where modem British machineiy rules the roost, include Craig Coleman, of Wanganui, and Glenn Clark, from Auckland.

An interesting new event on the programme, which the dub hopes .will become a regular feature, is the Quinns Fashion Cup for female drivers.

The wide disparity of machinery in this event, which ranges from an Anglia to a Ferrari, has forced the club to consider a handicap system, but with $3OOO of cash and fashion prizes at stake, the driving is likely to be anything but ladylike.