MOTOR CYCLE SPORTS.

Auckland Star, Issue LVII, 1 March 1926, Page 12

MOTOR CYCLE SPORTS.

AT TAKAPUNA RACECOURSE. COLEMAN WINS THE GREAT NORTHERN. The annual February race meeting of the Auckland Motor Racing Club was held on the Takapuna Jockey Club's course on Saturday afternoon. The Motor Club was unfortunate in striking such a bad day for its meeting. After the rain which fell early, it was decided to

postpone the meeting. Later a meeting of the executive was held, at tile desire of the riders, some of whom came from all parts of New Zealand. It was resolved that the races should be proceeded with, more particularly as the meeting at New Plymouth takes place next Saturday. Another reason that weighed in making this decision was the fact that the Takamina Jockey Club is anxious to get on with the work of alterations to the course.

The dampness of the grass made the track very treacherous, particularly on ' the corners. Quite frequently during the running of a race tlie rain fell, causing many riders to withdraw. Percy Coleman put up a great performance, winning three races in succession—the \ Alison Handicap, Great Northern Handi- ' cap, and the Auckland Handicap—while he was also third in two other races. Kesults were :— NOVICE HANDICAP. Five miles. R. Ranby (7 h.p. Ilarley-Davidson), 55.. 1 H. E. North (7 h.p. Ilarley-Davidson), 5s 2 G. Tate (7 h.p. Zenith), scratch 3 Also started : J. J. Gardner scratch, T. Dennis ss, A. Coppins 10s. The race was won by 100 yds. very little separating the second and third men. Time, 5.23 1-5. TAKAPUNA HANDICAP (Open). Seven miles. C. Goodwin (2J h.p. A.J.S.), 50s 1 Mangham (7 h.y. Ilarley-Davidson), 15s 2 I. Colemau (7 h.p. Harley-Davidson), scr 3 Also started: D. C. Mauagh ss, C. E. Lowe 10s. H. V. MeCready 15s, T. Bell 15s. O. Shakespeare 17Js. 11. H. Moller 255, A. B. Bray 335, W. 11. Herbert 355, B. Jones 50s, W. Vigger 50s. A. Lemon 555, A. Jlnrker 535, F. A. Staig Gjs, and W. White 655. Time, 7.3 3-5. Although gradually overtaken by most of the field, Staig still led at the end of the first lap, with White second, followed by Bray, with the rest of the field well strung out. At the end of the fourth circuit Goodwin was leading, but by this time Manghu.ni and the backuiarkers were closing up fast. Goodwin maintained his lead, and in a great finish flashed pr.st the judge's box ten yards ahead of Mangham, while the scratch man. Coleman, was a good third. SPORTS HANDICAP. Five miles. T. Dennis (2} h.p. A.J.S.), 30s 1 G. Tate (3* h.p. Zenith), 15s a R. Jones (2} h.p. A.J.S.), 13s a Also started: H. H. Moller (3} h.p. Norton), scr; C. Lowe (7 h.p. Zenith), ss; W. H. Herbert (3j h.p. Norton), ss; J. J. Gardiner (3 h.p. Norton), 15s; W. Vlggers (23 h-P-Harley-Davidson), 15a; C. Goodwin (2J h.p. A.J.S.), ISs; A. Lemon (2i h.p. A.J.S.), 17*s; L. 'G. Curtis (2J h.p. A.J.S.), 17*s; F. AStaig 2} h.p. A.J.S.), 20s; L. Coulthard (34 h.p. Triumph), 20s; M. A. Scott (2J h.p. A.J.S.), Uos; C. W. Walker (23 h.p. Connaught), 30s; W. White (2J h.p. Connaught), 30s. The start was delayed owing to a heavy shower of rain, which made the course very greasy. Dennis led from start to finish, but only beat Tate and Jones by a fewyards. The race was slowly run, nearly all the competitors finding the track too slip-pei-j- for speed. Goodwin skidded and fell off going out of the straight the second time round, but escaped injury. Time, 7.35 3-5. ALISON HANDICAP. Six miles. P. Coleman (7 h.p. Harley-Davidson), scr 1 H. V. MeCready (7 h.p. Harley-David-son), 15s 2 H. H. Moller (Si h.p. Norton), 35s .... S Also started: Managh sb, D. C. Managh 10s, Mangham 15s, T. Bell 255, O. Shakespeare 255, W. H. Herbert 85s, W. Vlggere 555, R. G. Ranby 555, E. A. Luks 555, A. Lemon 65e, A. Harker 65b, L. G. Curtis 65s L. Coulthard 655, J. Williamson ess, T. Dennis 70s, and Bray. The spectators were provided with an abundance of thrills In this event. Bray making a spectacular ekid on the bend Just past the stewards' stand. He crashed through the post and rail fence, and demolished it to the extent of ten yards. Although his cycle was smashed to pieces, Bray escaped miraculously with a shaking Several spectators at this point who were leaning on the fence narrowly escaped injury. Lemon was the early leader, and was In front until the fourth lap, where Moller took charge. By this time Coleman was setting a great pace, and was just behind Moller MeCready, and Lemon in the next lap. The finish was quite as thrilling as the race itself, Coleman, off scratch winning by a few inches from MeCready, who was only a yard in front of Moller. Lemon was next, with the remainder of the field In a procession. Time, 6.7 1-5. GREAT NORTHERN HANDICAP Twelve miles. P. Coleman (7 h.p. Harley Davidson), scr j D. C. Managh (7 h.p. Harley Davidson')', Mangham (7 h.p. Harley "Davidson), 17 * s 3 Also started : H. V. MeCready I7js, O Shakespeare 265, W. H. Herbert 36s G B T O a s te M ß o 6 l!er J A^n lllamSOn D ™™ McCready's machine refused to go, and he was left. Williamson and Allen were in front at the conclusion of the first lap with Herbert, Tate, Moller, Shakespeare a.nd Mangham in that order. Williamson held a short lead from Herbert and Allen in the third round, Herbert being in front at the end of the eighth lap, with Managh and Coleman fighting it out for second position. Coleman was riding a great race, and had passed Allen, Moller, Tate and Shakespeare, the other riders all withdrawing owing to the heavy rain which then began to fall. Coleman ran to the 2ront and never slackened his great speed in spite of the rain. Several times his evele would ekld acrose the track, but always* he would right it and dash off again. Managh nearly came to grief shortly afterwards, but made a wonderful save. Coleman actually lapped Mangham in the tenth lap, and finished up a popular winner nearly a length of the course In front of Managh, while Mangham, who had slowed up, was a long way back, third. The other three straggled past the post. Time, 11.48. AUCKLAND HANDICAP. Seven Miles. P. Coleman (7 h.p. Harley-Davidson), L. G. Curtis "(2S" h'.p.' A.'j.S.')',' 55s ".'.'.' 2 H. H. Moller (3J h.p. Norton), 25s ... 3 Also started: F. S. Staig, T. Dennis Wihite, H. V. MeCready, 15s; T. Bell, 15s • O. Shakespeare, 20s; W. H. Herbert, 30s J. J. Gardner, 40s; R. Jones, 455; A Lemon 50s, H. E. Worth and E. A. Luks! "White had a small lead at the end of ,4ie first lap, with Lemon and Curtis next In succession. The second lap saw Curtis in the lead, a position which he maintained for five lap?. Coleman's heavy handicap seemed to put him out of the running and he was eighth in the fifth lap He then rushed through the field at incredible speed and won by a score of yards from Curtis, with Moller a close third. MeCready retired in the sixth lap, with a strioned tyre. Time, 7.15 2-5. PRESIDENT'S HANDICAP. Open. Ten miles. D. C. Managh (7 h.p. Harley-Davidson), 10s 1 H. V. MeCready (7 h.p. Harley-David-son), 20s 2 P. Coleman (7 h.p. Harley-Davidson), scr 3 Also started : C. E. Lowe, 10s: Maneham, 20s; H. H. Moller, 40s; J. J. Gardner, 60s. R. Jones, 70s; C. Goodwin 70s ■ A. Harker, 70s; A. Lemon, 80s; L g' Curtis, SOs; J. Williamson, 80s; State and White. Lemon was upset by White at the start and took no further part in the race Williamson and Staig were the early leaders from a bunched field, Goodwin being in first position from the fourth to the sixth laps, when Managh took charge from McCready. Coleman gained on all the corners, and made a great effort, but could not overhaul Managh and MeCready Managh beat MeCready by 100 yards and Coleman came In a similar distance behind McCreaOji Time, io.«. Uirance

"WORLD'S GRASS TRACK RECORD. Goodwin established a world's graßS track record for 22 h.p. motor cycles by encompassing the flying mile in 54 2-os. Percy Coleman. New Zealand's greatest motor cyclist, was to have attempted to lower the world's grass track records from one to ten miles, but did not attempt the feat owing to the treacherous nature, resultant on rain, of the track on two of the bends. FINAL HANDICAP (Open). W. H. Herbert 1 H. V. McCready a O. Shakespeare 3 Staig, Ranby and Dennis was the order at the conclusion of the first lap, but these front-rankers soon gave way to the back division, and In the third circuit Herbert assumed charge. In the last lap McCready gained tremendously and only failed to head Herbert for tirst place. .Shakespeare was close up, third. ManKliam and Moller were mc next to finish. Time, 4.52. THiE RIDETRS. Saturday's riders and their mounts were: P. Coleman. 7-h.p. H.D.; D. C. Managh, 7-h.p. 11.D.; C. K. Lowe. 7-h.p. Zenith; Mnng-ham. 7-h.p. U.K.; H. V. McCready. 7-h.p. H.D.J O. Shakespeare, 7-h.p. H.D. fck. George, 7-h.p. H.D.; 11. H. Moller. o*-h.p. Norton; K. J. llore, 3i-h.p. Douglas: 11. A. Ruwe. 3*-h.p. Norton: \V. H. Herbert, 3i-h.p. Norton: G. Tale. 3J-h.p. Zenith; K. Jones. 23-h.p. A.J.S.; C. Goodwin, 2J-h..p. A.J.S.; VY. Vlggers. 23-h.p. 11.D.; A. B. Bray. 23-h,p. A.J.S.; A. Lemon, A.J.'S.; W. Allen, 3J-h.p. Norton; L. G. Curtis. UJ-b.p. A.J.S.; F. A. Staig. 23-b.p. A.J.'S.: H. G. Tappenden. 3J-h.p. Norton: ■R. Colt.hard. 3i-h.p. Triumph: A. Coppins. 7-h.p. Bog X; R. G. Banby, 7-h,p. H.D.; H. iE. North. 7-h.p. H.D.; E. A Luks, 7-np. Indian; H. Fletcher, .'si-h.p. Triumph; J. Williamson. 23-h.p. Connaught; M. A. Scott. 23-h,p, A..T.5.: T. Dennis, 23-h.p. A.J.S.; (.:. W. Walker, 2J-h.p. Connaugbt; W. White. 23-h.p. Connaught; H. It. Tate, 2}-n.p. A.J.®.; A. Harker. 2J-h.p. Zenith; L. Zillwood, 23-h.p. 'Kudge; J. .1. Gardner, 3-h,p, Norton; T. Bell, 7-h.p. B.X.