The Hey-day of International Motor Racing at Wigram

Motor Racing at Wigram – Part 6

Record overseas entries were received for the 1960 Lady Wigram Trophy Race. One of these, Jack Brabham, topped the podium after setting a new lap speed record.

Rain sometimes fell heavily in Canterbury, even in mid-summer. In January 1961 this led to the suspension of Friday practice sessions. A wet track on race-day meant even the most experienced of drivers such as Stirling Moss (pictured above) could not achieve the high speeds their cars were capable of reaching. This year’s Wigram field included John Surtees, Jack Brabham, Stirling Moss, Bruce McLaren and Denis Hulme. Brabham again won the Wigram Trophy, with Moss second. Attendance was down to 15,000 and the Trophy Race shortened as events ran late.

This same high standard of international drivers and cars continued in 1962. Seven F1 drivers from overseas competed, all but one in cars powered by Coventry Climax engines. At last a fine warm day, a fast track and top class cars, yet none able to reach the elusive 100 mph lap speed. This year Moss beat Brabham to the post.

In the 1963 race Stirling Moss, recovering from an earlier crash, was forced to be a spectator. A new young driver however was also attracting the attention of enthusiastic motor followers through his driving prowess. Chris Amon (19) made his first appearance at Wigram. Bruce McLaren took the chequered flag this year in the Trophy Race.

Some major changes to the layout were introduced to the Wigram circuit in 1964. The tricky chicane was replaced by a more manageable loop, at the same time introducing three sharp turns. As these changes were close to the hangars, they provided great viewing options for spectators.

With now eleven or more events on racing day, an army of helpers, mainly unpaid volunteers, had to be deployed to hold the programme together at minimum expense. Most facilities were temporary, brought on site for the meeting, then taken off site to be stored for another twelve months. Yet for more than forty years the Motor Racing Club sustained a programme at Wigram that at its height drew world-class international drivers to enthral crowds that at times reached 30,000.

Over the next few years further overseas drivers made Wigram their southern mecca during the enforced idleness of a northern hemisphere winter. Among these were first Jim Clark, Phil Hill and Jackie Stewart – Clark being the first to crack the 100 mph lap speed on this circuit – then in 1969 Graham Hill and Jochen Rindt. This same year also saw evergreen Kiwi driver Ken Smith on the Trophy Race starting grid.

But after 1969 the motor racing scene underwent major changes as vehicle specifications were altered. A new Formula 5000 was adopted to encourage greater participation by local drivers with much smaller budgets. There was a price to pay. The number of Formula One cars entering for the Lady Wigram Trophy Race dropped, along with participation by Northern Hemisphere drivers. A rough track lay ahead for motor racing at Wigram.

Part 2 – At First a NZ Air Force Base – Wigram

Part 3 – Motor sport of another kind

Part 4 – Wigram, the Motor Racing Circuit

Part 5 – Wigram Motor Racing: The First Decade