CASH RIDERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 88, 14 April 1927, Page 14

CASH RIDERS.

INDOOR TRACK RACING

WHAT IS AUCKLAND DOING?

(By PEDAL.)

The Auckland Cycle Club will open its season on Saturday, April ;>O, weather permitting, over (in all probability) a distance of ten miles, under handicap conditions. All riders wishing to compete must send in their nominations on or before 23rd inst. This year all competitors will, at the beginning of the season, be issued with a number and this must be sewn on to the back of tights and kept throughout the season. No rider will be allowed to compete who does not meet this obligation. ■ ■ Several old riders have expressed their intention of returning to the fray, including the one time well known J. Adlam, who, for a number of years, was Auckland's crack pro. He rode a couple of times on the track last year, but showed very indifferent form. *A. Goodwill, who rode here last year and showed brilliant form and good track generalship at Blandford Park, easily winning the half mile professional Auckland championship, is now riding with success in Sydney, having won a first and two seconds among their top-notchers quite recently. Dave Xicholason, another rider who went well here last seasou, has been doing well behind a pacer in Sydney. The latest advice is that he had a bad spill which will necessitate him being off the track for some time. Board tracks are being built in' Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane and this will enable the sport to be carried on all the year round as they will be indoor tracks similar to those in use in most of the American and Continental cities. A company in Melbourne will finance this big undertaking. These tracks are six laps to the mile and well banked, thus enabling speed up to sixty miles pci- hour being attained with safety. Attempts were being made to have a similar indoor stadium constructed in this city at an early date, but nothing definite has yet been fixed. It would fill a long-felt want as the public have not yet witnessed first-class riders on an up-to-date track. At the Melbourne exhibition trial the other Saturday night 40,000 cycling fans gathered to. witness Cony and Opperman race for the motorpaced championship of Australia; also in Christchurch, Wellington, Palmerston North and Wanganui 10,000 to 12,000 of the public roll up every Saturday night to see good cycling. However we in this city can look forward to seeing some good racing when Blandford Park ffiwi carly " cxt year ' and !t is U P t0 ooth the public and competitors to give to lif?? f V Ve / y hel P P° ssible ™* help higher m^-°x, eveiT description to a I s er P'ane in this .city. Mr. T £*. Pr^nted. ,h* of ° neh * ■ generously prp ZS™* ent husiast, has i cup know n a 8 £? * a han <lsome silver r Petition durbae tL Cu P' for c °™- a handsome shield C °£? g Season > al *° 6 Tit WiU s P° r ting. f the pro. appreciated by r very keen racin? *** lead *<> some I Ken Rae, Vh o JL •* - d season, is back in tSS pr ?™ is « last d be amongst the starter? and wi H vR. W.lson, who has w^ s sea son, also r track races during the s ?l qU,tc a few a few years back 3 wa"s Wi.son •■ J** Slnce fining the ama teur, >Mo last season was fe

rider and who, in the writer's opinion, would in proper hands be a probable champion, has lately joined the ancient order of benedicts. We hope, however, be will find time to ride, as he is popular with the public and his fellow riders.

Mr. Richards, manager of the Dunlop Rubber Company, will take a keen interest in the weekly races this season, and as he lias had considerable experience in Australia and England his services will be greatly appreciated. It was through his efforts that the coming big Dunlop race from Cambridge-Auckland was planned.

The claim that a well-known cyclist set up a record for the Mangere course of 14m 2Ss is not valid, as last season the block has been often ridden much faster than the above time, and in the 40 miles event last year Hills, Prior and Brcnnan averaged 14m 10s a l?.p for the distance, and the writer knows even this time can be bettered. The above was timed by three independent well-known timekeepers who have had years of experience in timing cycle races.