THE PRESS, Christchurch Wednesday, October 30, 2013 B7 CANTERBURY CAR CLUB ADVERTISING FEATURE

HIGHLIGHTS Sensational saloons on show Mike Pero Wigram Revival 2013 ❏ cars racing for year. Welcome and registration on the Lady Wigram Trophy for the Friday night, formal dinner on aloon car racing has been RX3. Money makes the car go first time since 1993. Saturday night and display of a fixture at Wigram since faster and in the late 70s- early 80s ❏ Jim Richards driving the memorabilia in the Mike Pero its early years. competitors started dropping out beautiful black JPS BMW 635csi, Lounge on Sunday. Saloon cars such as of the main game due to the now owned by Peter Sturgeon, of ❏ Display of the Tom Walkinshaw Jaguar, Vanguard, a expense. Moves were afoot to Christchurch. inspired Arrow AX3, a 3-seater BorgwardS Isabella of all things, create stand-alone race classes, ❏ Angus Fogg, loves driving the race car with all the attributes of a early Austins such as the A30, with early examples being the Pre- pants off anything on four wheels. F1 car designed to share the (which, it seems, was never 65 which provided racing variety This weekend his challenge is to experience with motorsport fans. designed to be a racing saloon car) with everything from 4-cylinder master the 12-cylinder might of the ❏ The 50-year anniversary of the were early entries in the saloon mum-and-dad cars to the big V8 big cat Jaguar XJS he has restored Porsche 911 model celebrated by car fields. A speed of 58.7mph was saloons, albeit with performance for Rolleston’s Gary Johnstone. displays and a dedicated Porsche recorded as the fastest average restrictions to control big ❏ Andy McElrea is returning from race Saturday afternoon. speed from a saloon car at the 1955 spenders. Mini 7s, too, capitalised Australia to drive the same car he ❏ The 50-year anniversary of the Wigram event. on their appeal to provide exciting drove to win the NZ Formula Ford humble Hillman Imp which still The late 1960s appeared to close racing, and they celebrate 30 Championship in the 1990/91 features in classic Pre-65 racing provide the motorsport enthusiast years as a race class this weekend. season. today. Talk to Ian Perry about his with buckets full of bang for their Pre-65s and Mini 7s are classic ❏ The 50-year celebration of the travels to England to celebrate the entry dollar. For the trophy, racing classes in their own right, Ruapuna racing circuit. milestone. F5000s powered by 5-litre V8s, and will please with almost 30 cars Constructed by volunteers in 1963 ❏ Thirty-year celebration of Mini 7 sporting huge slick tyres and big on their combined grid. and extended in 1993, Ruapuna is a racing in the south. Many drivers wings, and driven by household OSCA became the less- credit to the vision, hard work and and spectators have enjoyed the names on the world scene, more restricted, almost-anything-goes passion of a few to transform a close racing that this controlled than a couple of them Kiwis, V8 performance class and catered dusty, stony riverbed into a class provides. Check them out in thrilled the large crowds with for those who built their own thriving race circuit attracting the extended pit area over the everything that was good about rocketships, shoehorning V8s into thousands to Christchurch each weekend. motor racing. At the same time, very small cars to capitalise on saloon car racing had morphed power-to-weight ratios – into immensely pleasing and something Trevor Crowe did very highly tuned Aussie and American well, and still does today. The muscle cars or outrageously early TraNZams found a home tweaked smaller British cars like with OSCA once that class ran out the mighty Mini and the Escort. Nostalgic moments: This weekend’s Wigram Revival will replicate motorsport entertainment of yesteryear, with more than of steam, though there was no This weekend’s Wigram 150 saloon cars and historic touring cars leading the way. doubting their appeal. The Revival will replicate this Japanese got further into the act motorsport entertainment with XJS, and they were competitive, as Capri. Racing in the same time. This is all about crowd- with extremely affordable. highly more than 150 saloon cars and the well as being expensive to keep company will be some of the pleasing entertainment, and potent 4 and 6-cylinder cars, often historic touring cars leading the competitive. Remember the Sierra Shellsport cars of the same era expect the best when the handicap capped with a turbo ,and capable way. A decade in time from the Cosworths, which packed a punch made famous by Reg Cooke and laps unfold, to see just who has of delivering the sort of mid-80s gave us perhaps the most for their size and remember the his Datsuns. Wide guards and dealt with the heavy-traffic lap the horsepower one could only dream crowd-pleasing saloon car racing Wellington street races? These aggressive stances added to the best. The race format challenges about back in the 60s. This formed of all time and, even today, young fantastic cars and the class they spectacle of motorsport at the time, the drivers to go hard but keep it the basis for the Sports Saloons and old alike can’t get enough of it. ran in are kept alive and you can and we will enjoy its resurgence safe and protect their machines at class, which will mix it with OSCA Historic touring cars see it all for yourself and let your over the next season or two. all times. However, it’s hard to over the coming weekend. introduced works racing teams kids in on the secret this weekend. Adding to the motorsport magic believe Timaruvians Bones Love ’em or hate ’em, the that applied pots of money to Jim Richards returns to Mike will be Classic Mainland Muscle Collins or Jimmy Little will be Mazda RX7 and the famous rotary develop production road cars to Pero Motorsport Park driving his and a series of handicap races will taking it easy. This is not a Timaru engine found a quick following win races. Not only did they old JPS 635csi, presented superbly provide a spectacle not to be town benefit race, though. once second-hand prices reduced. perform, but they looked good, by Peter Sturgeon. Angus Fogg missed. Pre-85 Classic Saloons caters for Alan Moffat campaigned the often supported by strong will line up with the genuine ex- Some of the genuine historic race-prepared street cars from as brand successfully, too, and now sponsorship from world-class Hourigan/Prince Jaguar XJS that grunt machines of the past line up early as the 1950s, with the Jaguar we enjoy an affordable race class brands. he has recently restored for Gary against some great examples of marque presenting formidable controlled to provide great Cameo role: Gary Orton’s 1986 Ralt RT4 appeared in Freejack starring Mick Jagger, BMW led the charge with its Johnstone, who will pilot his more modern-day conversions. Of opposition in the form of a C-Type entertainment for drivers and Renee Russo and Sir Anthony Hopkins. M3, its 635csi and later its E36 replica TWR Jaguar BRG XJS. interest will be maiden replica, an E-Type and several Mk spectators. Super Tourer model. BMW and M3 are well appearances of Rod Hayman in a IIs. Continuing the British theme Motorsport manager Mark If someone said ‘‘let’s develop represented along with Graeme Pontiac Firebird and Austin will be a Capri, three Mks of Wederell says the addition of NZ 6, big, heavy family saloons into Clyde in his E36 Super Tourer. McKinley in his fresh Corvette, Escort, two Mks of Cortina, the 6-cylinder and Ford racing Classic cars recall great competitive race cars,’’ they would Brett Stevens and Andy while Paul Ringland (Anglia V8), Mini and a Sunbeam Rapier. The on the paddock at the same time as have been laughed out of the bar Greenslade will campaign their Mike Baldwin (Torana SLR5000) Euros will be represented in the the South Island RX7s, adds a before six o’clock closing time. Ford Sierras, and should provide Graeme Sargent (Torana XU1) and form of Fiat, Alfa, Porsche, chalk-and-cheese scenario, though days of NZ motor racing However, Rover did with its SDI good opposition for invited guest Chris Glasier (Marcos LM500) will Mercedes and BMW – and Japan race times are remarkably and Jaguar did so its 12-cylinder Roger Townsend and the Cologne debut in the Muscles for the first with the Datsun 240Zs and a Mazda similar. he Mike Pero Wigram the driver’s seat, and might upset Revival this weekend is a if he gets back into the groove in veritable who’s who and time for the big race, while David Twhat’s what of motorsport in Arrowsmith has the lap record for Christchurch and the South the class and should be a definite Island. podium prospect. Showcasing early days of Wigram racing A brand new format will be However, it is all about the cars, used to celebrate the historically and some carry real history of the ingle-seater competition single-seater ambassador for the Special of Avon Hyde are but allows for the Lotus-type sports While he will still be significant Lady Wigram Trophy, battles fought in New Zealand, and tests courage more than Wigram Revival meeting, the some of the cars from the Wigram cars, early and later model competitive in the classic which will be contested for the at Wigram, back in the day. Gary some other categories of Vintage Car Club cars will days of old. Welcome back to the Formula Fords and the later category, look out for the action at first time by the Formula Atlantic Cooper’s 1992 Reynard is Toyota- Sracing. showcase the earliest days of 260M Zephyr Special following wings and slicks 2-litre Formula the front from Doug Price and wings-and-slicks cars of the 80s powered and driven by Craig Perhaps it is because the Wigram racing and a time when major repairs after an argument Fords to race in the same Carl Wall. Russ Noble will be and 90s. Highly tuned, these cars Baird, won Lady Wigram in both drivers are challenging the the cars often were driven to the with the tyre wall at the SKOPE paddock. Battles will be fought outstanding in his famous lime represented the new era of 1992 and 93. Craig Baird also drove elements as well as each other circuit and home again and also Classic two years ago. There is throughout the field with Grant green Van Dieman RF92. He motorsport with their colourful Kenny Smith’s car, a 1988 but, whatever the reason, they often competed in hillclimbs, plenty of other machinery to grab himself no doubt in the thick of it. continues to support formula ford corporate liveries, and were the Cosworth-powered Swift DB4, to a represent the dangers of motor street and beach racing around your interest among the vintage A feature of the event will be the racing at different levels in the focus of New Zealand’s top tier of Lady Wigram Trophy win in 1990 racing the way it was meant to be. the country. race cars, too. return of Andy McElrea, racing South Island. Visitors from single-seater racing across two and in 1991 took the NZ Grand So it will be in the Vintage Car The cars are intentionally pre- Any field that has more than the same car he did when he won Australia will also be welcomed. decades. Prix, while Dean Hall drove it in Club and Formula Libre racing 1960 and a browse of those early 30 cars in today’s environment is the NZ Formula Ford They include Greg Holloway Over that time, a number of the 1989 season to a NZ Grand Prix this weekend when well over 50 fields shows many of those cars going to ensure the resultant Championship in the 1990/91 (Tatuus Formula Renault) Tim classy New Zealand drivers were win. The 1981 Ralt RT4 young singleseater racers will take to will be raced in some sort of anger racing will be well worth season. A son of Rod McElrea, he Miles (Van Dieman RF 92) and ex- unearthed including Dave Southlander Brendon Leitch will the circuit in all manner and age on the track this weekend. watching. Formula Libre cars up now resides in Australia and is pat Kiwi and Christchurch driver McMillan, David Oxton, Paul drive was raced for two seasons in of machine. Graeme Hamilton’s Ace 3, the to 2.5 litre is the broad parameter still actively involved in motor- Wayne Colville, driving his 1981 Radisich and Craig Baird, all of Australia and competed in the According to Peter Grant, the Stuart Special and the Austin of this Wigram race class that racing circles. Van Dieman. whom had their names engraved Australian Grand Prix, driven by on the famous trophy at least once. Geoff Brabham and Jacques Kenny Smith repeated his Laffite respectively. Kenny Smith win of 1976 15 years then brought it to New Zealand later, driving a Swift DB4. The and proceeded to win two gold Trip down memory laneatWigram sprightly septuagenarian will stars driving it. This car is endeavour to do the same again superbly presented in its 1982 ost-classic motorcycle Geoff Perry, Stu Avant, Trevor speeds of nearly 300 kilometres another 20 years down the track in Laffite livery. The 1989 Toyota- racing will form an Discombe, the late Roger Freeth, an hour.’’ a similar car, Craig Baird’s trophy- powered Swift DB4 being driven integral and exciting Dennis Ireland, Mike Pero, John Their passion runs deep. winning DB4 from 1990. by Christchurch’s Dave addition to the Wigram Woodley and four times Grand Riders love to get together with Eighteen cars are entered to Arrowsmith was bought by PRevival this weekend just as it Prix World Champion Hugh like-minded individuals and take contest the trophy race, timed to Graeme Lawrence and ran in the did from as early as 1956 when up Anderson. to the circuit in their favourite start at 3.30pm on Sunday. Smith Peter Jackson Formula Atlantic to 60 riders crammed the early ‘‘Thirty-five years on, Paul bike of the day and no more so will be a definite contender, along series, including Wigram in 1990, Wigram grids. McLachlan will revive early than John Hecker. At 80, and a with a number of drivers who will 91, and 92, with some podium Entries were from throughout memories of Wigram by riding lifetime dedicated to the two- fancy their chances, including the placings from the three different the world and the best New the same bike, the Yamaha wheel sport, Hecker will reunite young Invercargill driver Brendon drivers, but in Jos Verstappen’s Zealand had to offer. TZ350A, that took him to a with his 1956 BSA Goldstar Leitch (Ralt RT4), the more hands won three races in 1993. Enthusiast and post-classic podium placing in 1977. Paul then Taylor Dow, which he raced at experienced Nick Donaldson, of Gary Orton’s car, a 1986 Ralt rider and classic car racer Bryan went on to dominate and win the Wigram almost 30 years ago. Christchurch, one of Kenny RT4, is notable for featuring in Ashworth remembers: ‘‘How open class for three successive The bikes and their riders will Smith’s protegees, Tom Alexander, Freejack starring Mick Jagger, about this lineup across the years from 1978 to 1980 on the be located to the right, under the and Andrew Higgins, both of Renee Russo and Sir Anthony years? Mike Hailwoood, Ron ultimate brutal weapon of the trees, in the main pit area, and Auckland. That wily old fox, John Hopkins and directed by New Grant, Dale Wylie, John Boote, era, the Yamaha TZ750, with invite you join them at the Reviving the past: Post-classic motorcycle racing will provide an echo from the Crawford, has been lured back into Zealander Geoff Murphy. Ginger Molloy, Keith Turner, more than 140hp propelling it to weekend to browse and chat. past at the Wigram Revival this weekend.