ON THE DIRT TRACKS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 83, 4 October 1930, Page 11

ON THE DIRT TRACKS

WELLINGTON BOY AT HOME

KILMISTER'S. EXPERIENCES

An urrival by the' Rungitata; ; from Soutliamptoti yesterday was Mr. F. Ivilinister, who spent the summer in the Old Country ..with; his son Wally, the welHi-nov.-n local "dirt track", ruler, who has been .competing on -British tracks during the season. -The. season at Home closes early this mouth,- and Mr. Kilmister said .that his sou ..would probably be leaving on 11th October to return with.tho other Australasian..riders .who wilj ;be. coming back by. the Suez Canal route. ■-. : .- .;

Speaking, to a ."Post" reporter, Mr. Kilmister said that' after' his tot experience of tho British tracks it was not likely that Wally-would: be returning for another season. The . ..ndors were warned when they arrived not to expect.to achieve..tho same.success as they hda gamed."oil their home, tracks, as it would, take thorn.at" least a;season to "become accustomed to "tho'.different conditions. .."This'proved very'true, said: Mr. Kilwister.''■; '.'Wally.did not do particularly: we11,.-but he '.did"■.better than most of .'the others.. Wally was beginning tp'dd better"when I'left, ana I wouldn't'bo surprised if he was riding fairly successfully by now." ">■:- .; Tho tracks at Homo wero very differ-, ent to those', in New ..Zealand. They were banked to a certain degree, and the loose surface was much llnor than is usual on ..the local tracks. There wero. So stadiums tlirougliout England, Scotlnnd, and Wales, scarcely two of whk-.h were the same,, and the-riders toured from one to another. Although there were senior and junior-handicap events, imostof the racing was done in tennis. Wally rode for the Wembley Stadium team (which according to the latest advices is leading for tho championship), and the other visitors were scattered, among-the rival teams. The AVellingtou boy was the third best rider in his. team, and Sir the course of the season's racing had the : satisfaction of gaining; two wins over1 his-old rival,' -Charlie. Spinks. ■"Others'from New Zealand and Australia who have 'appeared'at 'the Kilbirnie -Stadium- were Arthur Mann, 6yd.- Perkins,- Beg. Banby, and: Harry Mangham. :. ■ It was not long before Wally discovered that his favourite machine was not suited to the'smaller tracks at Home, and he was-obliged to buy two others of a different make.' He started in promising fashion by' winning tho first three races in -which :■ ho .appeared— races for junior .riders—and was.consequently raised 'to the senior- grade. . TWO EARLT MISHAPS. ; Disaster came*to.him.in his.first appearance as a senior "rider. It was on tho Ilighgatc track at which the. racing surface is enclosed.- only by wire nettiug. .Wally. was leading,: in the race. when the pedal of his machine caught in the netting and he crashed heavily. The cycle, was ' badly damaged,' and Wally received aft injury, to .his back. .Ho experienced another fall in his next 'start, his machine coming, to grief as the. result;of, the front wheel..sinking into a deep hole in' the track. ": ~ , ■ Wally. Kilmister went to; thelslo.of Mail .to see the. grass, track .event, in which the New Zealand ■ ; eha'mpioii; Porcy Oalcmaiv, conipeted. :;.Colcman.'s: showing was not impressive,' probably, owing to the .fact that, he .had' injuredhis right arm a few days previous■ to the race. "Had. Walljr • appeared' 0,11; the scone a Uttlcvbariior, it is probable that he would have ridden-in the race,, a thing he-was -very^ keen; to-do. " '" '■-' ■■ ... ' Apart-'from the-'actual 'riding,;' the visitors-had a'^pleiidid'-timc, their visits to the different stadiums taking them .all over tho, country.1 They were mptv everywhere, by iwpnderful ■ hospitality; in fact- Mr. Kilmister. said that, theyfound it difficult to prevent their .social activities- interfering: .with 'the .more serious, purpose of;thcir visit. ■ : ■.