At First a NZ Air Force Base - Wigram

Motor Racing at Wigram – Part 2

Flying took off early in Canterbury under the drive and encouragement of Henry Wigram. Even as a World War was raging overseas, Wigram put in an order for two aircraft to be shipped from Britain, and set arrangements in train for the recruitment of a flying instructor. Within twelve months the newly established Flying School at Sockburn was underway.

Courses lasted two months and cost £100. At first pilots were trained for defence purposes with a view to using their experience in the short term by serving on the Western Front with the Royal Flying Corps. However, with the Declaration of Peace, this need no longer existed. Undaunted, Henry Wigram saw the opportunity to use pilots, aircraft and facilities to provide a postal and passenger service to other parts of New Zealand, particularly linking the major North and South Island cities. But he had no success in convincing others of this.

It was not until 1936 that the NZ Government adopted a proposal for a permanent NZ Air Force as a defence contingency. For several years following the end of the war, the Canterbury Aviation Company struggled financially, without business investment or Government support, and the nascent aerodrome at Sockburn stagnated.

Then in June 1923 the whole C.A.C. enterprise (airport, aircraft, assets) was purchased by the Government for £31,000. Of this amount, £10,000 was personally contributed by Henry Wigram as a gift to the nation. Four years later, as an extension to the aerodrome, Wigram purchased an adjoining block of 31 acres, in 1931 also gifting this to the nation.

The Sockburn Aerodrome was at that time renamed ‘Wigram’ in honour of the man whose foresight, drive, persistence and personal generosity had made possible the creation of this aviation base for training pilots. But the future of Wigram Air Base was yet to have another exciting, but at that point unforeseen, future as well – as a circuit for motor racing.

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

Part 6 – The Hey-day of International Motor Racing at Wigram