MOTORING

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 292, 10 December 1929, Page 20

MOTORING

1930 NEW IMPERAIL

SPILLS AND THRILLS. CINDER TRACK SPORT. CLEVER RIDING AT SECOND MEETING. GOODWIN BREAKS A COLLARONE. Amid trails of blue smoke and flying j cinders, sensational riding was seen on I tlio Western Springs Stadium last evening, when the second series of motor cycling races under the auspices of Auckland Speedways, Ltd., drew an attendance of over 5000 spectators. After one initial baptism of the new sport, Aucklanders had becomc mildly accustomed to 40 knot gaits on the cinder straights and extraordinary glissading on the banked bends, but they are not likely to become blase because every race provides its own special thrills and excitement, with riders leaning at dizzy angles, while the cinders fly in their wake like a wave of black spray.' Occasionally a rider extra daring rode wide enough to rebound from the Jow iron encircling parapet; occasionally tiiey crashed alongside a spluttering machine. Spills were quite common, but with the protection of crash helmets riders who met with that misfortune through failing to overcome the intricacies of the loose banked bends usually emerged from temporary chaos smiling, anticipant of more. J Sheer daring is the basis of success i« t tho new sport, a sheer daring that is allied to cleverness in control of a highj powered racing machine.

TOO MUCH NOISE.

races there were some fine exhibitions of broadsiding with a spill thrown in on almost on every bend. No less than 13 riders suffered minor injuries, the ambulance men being kept busy principally with caees of "gravel rash," a complaint which usually goes with this class of sport. There is no doubt .that the most popular racing motor cyclist in the Dominion is Percy Coleman. For years he has: been the idol of the grass track, no matter which town he visits. He should be just as popular on the dirt track as he was on the grass, and thousands in Auckland are waiting to see how he performs against the' Australian cracks here. His remarkable popularity was instanced at the Western Springs speed-! way last night, when the official announcer, Mr. George Campbell, stated that Coleman was unable to ride. Tire large crowd gave a sigh of disappointment. Mr. Campbell stated that Cole-; man was in Auckland on Saturday for: the Mangere speedway races and also; the races which were to have been heldat Western Springs on Saturday evening hut owing to the unfortunate postponement of these events, he had to return to Wanganui for business reasons. "Percy will be here for next Saturday, and lie will be riding at Mangere and also here at night," further announced Mr. Campbell. The crowd received this statement with loud applause. A rare treat is promised followers of' the cinder sport early next year, when' about February two of the greatest lady; riders in the world, Miss Fay Taylour: and Miss Eva Askquith, who have beaten the best cinder riders in the world, will be seen in action at Western Springs speedway. During her tour in Australia and New Zealand Miss Fay Taylour held her own with the best of broadsiders, men who first introduced the sport of dirt track racing to the world, and since her return to England Miss Taylour set a seal on her good work by creating a track record at Wembley which stood

Flushed with the rich experience of a successful inaugural meeting, the management were able to effect several improvements, a quicker "ironing" out of the track after races being appreciated j by the spectators. With the exception of \ Mann and Perkins, all the riders were j genuine Aucklanders. \ '. Goodwin, who rode well during the j night, had the misfortune to break his collarbone when he fell. His machine \ somersaulted, and pinned him under- j neath, but it should not be long before lie will be seen on the track again. i Results were :—■ Improvers' Handicap.—First heat: C. i Walker (Douglas), 6s, 1; .T. Coppins i (Indian), lis, 2. Time, lm 535. Second heat: A. McLaren (0.E.C.), 10s, 1.; T. j Blomfield (Royal Enfield), 10s, 2. Time,! lm 52 l-ss. Third heat: D. Day (A.J.S.), j ]4s, 1; H. Stevenson (New Imperial), 10s, 2. Time, lm 57 3-ss. Fourth heat: P. i Butler . (A.J.S.), 10s, 1. Time, lm 5Gs. Final: A. McLaren (0.E.C.), 10s, 1; P. I Butler (A.J.S.), 10s, 2. Time, lm 55 2-s*. Speedway Handicap.—First heat: A. Me-1 laren (0.E.C.), 10s, 1; B. Herbert (Royal: Enfield), ss, 2. Time, lm 4!) 3-ss. Second j heat: W. Allen (Norton), 3s, 1; J. Peek; (Harlcy-Davidson), os, 2. Time, lm 53 ; 2-ss. Third heat: J. Garmson (Rex-Acme), j 9s, 1; H. Stevenson (New Imperial), 10s. \ 2. Time, lm 525. Fourth heat: S. Perkins ; (Harlev-Davidson), scr, 1; B. Bray (Doug- • las), ss, 2. Time, lm 45 2-os. First semi- > final: W. Allen (Norton), 3s, 1; A. McLaren (0.E.C.), 10s, 2. Time, lm 51s. Second semi-final: B. Bray (Douglas), ss, 1; H. Stevenson (New Imperial), 10s, 2. Time, lm 53 3-os. Final: A. McLaren (0.E.C.), 10s, .1; H. Stevenson (New Imperial), 10s, 2. Time, lm 51 4-ss. "Big Twelve" Handicap.—First heat: A. Mann (Douglas), scr, 1. Time, 2m Bs. Second heat: C. Walker (Douglas), ss, 1; C. Goldherg (Royal Enfield), 4s, 2. Time, lm 47 l-ss. Third heat: B. Bray (Douglas), 4s, 1; S. Perkins (Harlcy-Davidson); scr, 2. Time, lm 47 l-ss. Final: A. Mann (Douglas), scr, 1; C. Goldberg (Royal En-. field), 4s, 2., Mann's time was lm 455. AUSTRALIAN MATCH RACE. S. Perkins (Harley-Davidson) 1 A. Mann (Douglas) 2 CINDER SIFTINGS. That cinder track racing has come to l stay in Auckland was the opinion of hundreds who witnessed the opening .';,' "meeting., at Western Springs Speedway last Saturday week. The second meeting; held last night, was attended by a crowd , of 5.000, which for a Monday night is considered an excellent crowd. ■/■,'••. A'., number of improvements were .effected last night. The track light* were: moved further towards the centre of the cinders, and allowed the spectators to obtain a ..better view of the speed . merchants as they hurtled and broad- '■ sided round the course. There was little delay in. smoothing out the cinders after each event. The loud speaker system was faultless last evening, 'and Mr! George Campbell's announcements, as . well as his witty jokes,, could be distinctly heard by everyone on the course, The public appreciated thess new departures. ' A further improvement will be effected next Saturday night, wher cushions may.be obtained for hire at 3<l each. • -, Cass Goodwin, one of the most popular of Auckland riders, sustained a had spill on the bend going out of the home straight in the first heat of the Big Twelve, Handicap, causing a broken collarbone. His cycle stood in the air on its handle bars in the middle of the track, and for a few. seconds Goodwiß stood on his head, to fall oyer and be pinned under his machine. He was quickly attended to by the St. JohE Ambulance men.on duty, and removed I. 'casualty.room, and later to the I hospital." "Cass" is not a serious case and in a few weeks he will no doubt b( ■ making another appearance at the Speedj way. I Those who were present at this meet|ing last night and went to Wester* I Springs in search of thrills were certainlj .« not disappointed. In a series of excitin|

many weeks, although frequently?, attacked. It is when Miss Taylour, opposes her only woman rival, Miss Eva Askquith, that she has her hardest task. At the Crystal Palace track, London, the Yorkshire girl again beat Miss Taylour, after losing the first round, in which, incidentally, the speed was: the high one of 42.12 m.p.h. The second I heat was far slower, due to the two riders crashing. On entering the .last lap, slightly thead, Miss Taylour, who, by the way, was riding Triss Sharp's pet machine, crashed, and Miss Askquith, in forcing pace on a later bend, was also flung 'headlong. Both tried to get their machines started, and Miss Askquith, with her lighter mount, succeeded. The Yorkshire girl made no mistake in the deciding heat, and took the match. Both are excellent riders, but Miss Askquith holds the white line 'far more skilfully than Miss Taylour, who takes a very wide sweep, and whose speed causes her to show a beautiful slide when in?MEDAL FOR CHAMPIONSHIP. A gold medal, worth £5 5/, has been given" by Messrs. T. Hendry and W. F. A. Baker, to go to the winner of the New Zealand light-weight championship, which will be run at Opotiki on Boxing Day. ;

A motor cycle conviction under the new mechanical noise regulations occurred at Brighton, England, recently, when a doctor was fined 10/ for using _ a machine which caused " excessive noise through lack of repair." Under the new regulations in Budapest, motor cyclists convicted a second time for using noisy exhausts will have 'their machines confiscated. If such a ■regulation was in force the authorities in Auckland would have a large garage full of cycles.

120 MILES PER GALLON.

An English rider recently completed a trip of 3800 miles across the American continent, using a British made twostroke, and averaged 120 miles to the gallon of petrol consumption.

DUNEDIN SPEEDWAYS.

STADIUM TO SEAT 10,000. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Monday. A companj known as Dunedln Speedways, Limited, has let a contract.for the 'construction of a. stadium, which will seat .10,000 pepplo. It is to be completed in February. The contract has been let to! Mr., L. Q. Martin, of Christchurch, and will be started to-morrow. ■".)■'■■.' ! ; The company will be linked, with those, in other centres through New ZealandSpeedways Association. ;". . ,; .