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24-Hour 'Le Mans' Rally At Renwick
For the rally contestants in whose veins run racing blood, the 24-hour Le Mans type relay provided the chance to prove their mettle. Contestants were divided into 11 teams and the winning team was that which carried a sash furthest in 24 hours.
At the end of 23 hours 42 minutes, a team led by J. Newell of Rangiora had completed 131 laps of the seven-mile circuit, to win. Some fine performances were displayed in the event and the fastest time recorded was 93 mph by a 1950 Jaguar Xk 120. Many of the names made famous at the international Le Mans 24-hour race were represented at Renwick, near Blenheim, where the race was held.
The event attracted thousands of spectators and Blenheim people made the most of this opportunity to see all the cars in the rally at one venue.
With a roar of motors, the first cars in the 24-hour relay start. Unfortunately, there was some confusion at the start and the drivers' sprint to their cars was premature. The motorcycle riders were stilt putting their helmets on when the gun fired
The powerful little 1924 Type 35 Bugatti, driven by Hamish Moffatt of England, scorches through a corner. Moffatt races the car in England and impressed with his skilful driving,
Ian Hallett (Lower Hutt) had to push his 1930 Sunbeam motorcycle to start it, and several cars gained an early lead. The Sunbeam was a factory racing bike and was guaranteed to do 90 mph
Heading for the end of their lap are Barry Anderson of Napier and his side-car passenger, in their Indian Scout
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Willis Brown's 4½ litre 1927 Bentley thunders down the straight, to the pits, closely followed by Brian Jackson in his 1930 Rolls Royce
"Watch this bloke in the Hotchkiss," said one competitor. "He's a real mad, man!" And Mike Poynton, in his powerful 1928 Hotchkiss, certainly poured on the pace as he scorched around the seven-mile circuit
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The 1923 Hispano Suiza, owned by Gavin Bain of Christchurch, clings to the tail of a Bentley as they power through a corner
For Glen Bull of Masterton, on his 1923 A.J.S., the end of his stint on the circuit came just as he entered the pits. A bolt snapped and the side car slumped to the ground
The 1923 Type 13 Bugatti, also owned and driven by Hamish Moffatt, zips along a straight
Two cars of similar eras contested a private duel. Len Southward (on the left) in his champion veteran 1912 Buick zipped past the 1911 De Dion Bouton, driven by H. Perry of Christchurch, with ease. Len, from Wellington, won the supreme award for veteran cars with his Buick
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Stan Rumble of Sydney pushes his 1909 four-cylinder Maxwell down the straight to the pit entrance
This gleaming 1912 Krit was entered by Stan Cox of Dubbo, N.S.W.
The powerful 1928 Stutz, driven by C. Chatwood of Australia, attracted a deal of interest
All set to go in the 'A' team's effort is Doug Bennetts of South Australia, on his 1928 500 c.c. Norton
The 1926 Bentley driven by G. J. Owen, a New Zealander, zips into the first corner after the start