CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 101, 1 May 1929, Page 16

CYCLING.

WITH THE AMATEURS. THE SPEEDWAY RACE. INCIDENTS OF THE EVENT. FIXTURES. Saturday, May 4.—11 miles open, 5J miles junior road races. Sunday, May —Meet Domain 10 a.m., run decided upon there. Saturday, May 11.—'-'2 miles time trial, sealed handicap. The Manukau officials fully realised that it would be utterly impassible to conduct a road race over the Mangere circuit last Saturday, on account of traffic, when the motor sports would be held, so made arrangements with the Muriwai Club, who permitted a three lap race upon their motor racing track. Twenty-six members competed in the race of 3| miles, three times around the circuit. Compared with the speeds attained by the motor cycles and cars the cyclists appeared painfully slow, and, looking across the huge oval from the finishing straight, riders were, just visible as very small and slow moving objects. Luckily for the spectators an aeroplane came over just as the field of cyclists lined up preparatory to starting and when the race commenced and' the field were to a certain extent out of eight the aviator attracted attention by giving an interesting exhibition of aerobatics.

Meanwhile all the cyclists were hard down to it and as they appeared in sight after completing the initial lap attention was diverted to them. BE. H. Camp, off 85s, led a group of six riders, amongst whom was the limit man, T. J. Farrelly (100s), then followed the eventual winner, H. Russell, who was making a bold bid for the lead. Little alteration had occurred among the middle and back markers who were holding their own. Wade and Whitten the scratch pair were going well and completed their first lap in 3m 14s. In comparison with the deep throated roar emitting from the stove-pipe-like exhausts of the high powered racing cars and the almost ear-splitting crackle from the motor cycles the progress of the cyclists up the straight was noticeably silent. Then again there was t , an entire absence of reckless and thrilling cornering as provided by the motor cyclists whose races were most popular with the gathering. The second lap saw few alterations in the placings. H. H. Camp was still leading when the last lap was commenced, with H. Eussell right on his ■wheel accompanied by six others. The .scratch pair passed 40s later riding as fast as was possible for the track around the back straight had been badly cut up by the cars in the previous races. One could easily associate the surface over portions of the track with that of a ploughed field. The encircling 'plane at this stage commenced to rise into the heights thus allowing the finish of the cycle race to gain the undivided attention of the spectators again. The actual finish was never in doubt for H. Russell, 50e, entered the finishing straight with plenty in hand; enough to stall off a strong challenge by N. Casey, who pedalled furiously over the last furlong. By his fine effort he had the satisfaction of almost overhauling Russell right on the line where he finished half a length in arrears.

The winner, H. Russell, off 50s, rode a splendid race and had the pace on ■right from the word "go." On attaining the lead towards the close of the second lap he moved up "into second position for a while, then went out at a fast pace and his speed Boon told on his less powerful opponents who found him gradually increasing his lead despite their efforts to remain with him. Russell always rides a.clean race, ever willing to take the pace, too willing a"t times, and has never been known to resort to any unfair tactics. Consequently whenever he scores a win it is a popular one with his fellow speedmen and deservedly so. Of ample build, standing over six feet in his racing shoes, he presents an amusing figure when perched upon his cycle, head down and speeding along with his exceptionally high gear of 88 inches. gear suits him admirably and allows him to travel a fraction over 23 feet with one revolution of the pedal crank. He has competed in all events this road season, and he has figured in the first half-dozen in each of the three races already decided. In the second race of this season, a 17 miles, he was third off 2m. His riding has already shown marked improvement over that of last year. N. Casey (80s) second, who made such a brilliant effort over the last 220 yards nearly overhauling Russell during the process, put up a capital performance for a first season rider. He derives great benefit from training wjth his brother, F. J. Casey, who has featured on the back marks for close on five years. Casey, jun., is a strong rider and his second on Saturday will stimulate

him to further efforts. The third man, L. B. Roberta (30s) rode a sterling race, but even then had to be content with a poor third. He finished fast 30 yards behind the winner. Roberts started his road career last year "when he won a 17-mile event on April 28 off sm, his only placing for the season. He competed with a fair amount of success in track races, and is the present holder of the House Cup which is awarded annually to the winner of the five miles track race for same. He won the event off 490 yards from a record field of 21 starters.---J. H. Wade registered his first fastest time for "the present season on Saturday, when he returned 10m Is for the three and three-quarter miles, an average speed of approximately 22£ miles per hour, fast travelling for a cyclist over such a surface. Whitten (scry finished a few lengths behind him. Saturday was th(3. first occasion the pair have started together this season. Wade enjoyed many successes on the road last year gaining time honours in no less than ten races. He was placed first in a 22 miles event off scratch on April 21, and won the 11 miles club championship on June 30.

A. J. Hills' "pusher" caused a little amu?ement on Saturday when, instead .of sending Hills safely upon his journey, he pushed hini over- in the excitement. By the time Hills had remounted he had lost fully 10s, which means that his co-markers were over 100 yards away. There is absolutely no necessity for a "pusher off" in a road race or a lengthy race such as the one under review to use any violent effort to dispatch his man. No road race is won on the "push off." J.n a track event it is essential that a pompetitpr be giveji a fast "send off."

Mr. H. D. McFedries, Stan Wright's trainer, reports that Wright had a trouble-free run on his record trip from Auckland to Wellington of 56 hours omins. Not even a puncture interfered with his progress. The actual riding time officially recorded by Mr. H. D. London, treasurer of the Port Nicholson Amateur Road Cycling Club, who was in the following motor, was 35 hours 22 minutes, representing an average of 12J miles per hour. Wright took 18h 43m for rest and refreshments, and consequently was able to finish fairly fresh.

Particular interest will be' lent to Saturday's road race, an eleven mile event, for J. Whitten and J. H. Wade will be meeting for the first time this season at Mangere. Both speedmen are confident that their combined efforts will further reduce the record figures of 28ni 50s established by C. Francis on the opening day, April 6. W. T. Bray, who is up on a holiday visit from Wellington, where he headed the points list in road competitions, will also be a starter. The road season, has not as yet commenced in Wellington, thus Brav will be riding in his first road event this year. If the track form displayed by him in Wellington during the summer just concluded is any criterion then Manukau wheelers can expect their visiting member to figure well up 011 the winning list. He did not start in the race at the speedway last Saturday, although he was present to witness same. He considered himself not ready for such a gruelling ride, but is eagerly awaiting next Satur° day's race. He still holds the lap record for the five and a-half miles Mangere circuit at 13m 555, which he recorded in 1927.