Parmenter uses traction to win rallycross

Press, 21 August 1989, Page 27

Parmenter uses traction to win rallycross

By

JOHN HAWKINS

Trevor Parmenter, of Timaru, used the four wheel drive traction of his Nissan engined Mazda 323 to full avantage in winning the Radio Avon Gold Rallycross at Ruapuna yesterday.

The final was won and lost at the first corner when Parmenter escaped with a sizeable lead over Christchurch’s Trevor Crowe when a number of cars were involved in a first-corner fracas. These included Crowe’s Skoda V 8 and the Mazda RX7 of Waitakaruru's Kim Ausin, who earlier in the day looked to have the fastest car on the circuit. Crowe was later critical of Austin’s driving saying: “He braked far too late and wiped

me out as I turned in.” But Austin pointed to a tyre which was torn from his front rim and said that it was impossible for him to turn. Some of the sting was taken out of the final as several of the faster cars had been delayed. Crowe kept the pressure on Parmenter but the Mazda’s traction always told, particularly as the cars left the infield section and powered onto the seal. Behind these two, Roger Townshend had a lonely run into third place with his Escort RSIBOO and further back Dave Samson did well to finish in fourth place as he nursed his Viva Hemi home on five of its six cylinders after earlier looking a strong prospect for victory.

Behind these more powerful cars Stuart Warren (Escort) and Tony Morrison (Starlet) did well to make the final. With Austin out with a puncture the other finalist, Gary Cliff, was unfortunate to damage his Group A Subaru against marker tyres after some promising performances in the heats.

Close racing was a feature of the consolation race which was won by Chris Orpwood driving a Triumph Vitesse from Steve Nugent; Escort. The drive of the race, however, came from Don McLaren, who having missed some of the earlier heats after braking an axle, powered his Escort through the field to third in fine fashion.