SHOWERS OF CINDERS

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 308, 30 December 1929, Page 11

SHOWERS OF CINDERS

CLEVER BROADSJDERS.

FIFTH MEETING AT WESTERN

SPRINGS.

A SENSATIONAL CRASH.

If the meeting of cinder track riders at Western Springs Stadium on Saturday night was not quite up to the standard of previous gatherings, the crowd of 4000 and the officials must have been compensated by two things—the brilliant riding of Billy Sticpewich, and the sensational thrill in the last event, when Mattson and' Sticpewich collided on a bend, and Mattson was .thrown high into the air before he somersaulted and landed without injury. That was the most sensational fall that has so far been seen on the speedway. It was all very thrilling, and girls shrieked and gasped as they saw that a crash was inevitable.

Why the management found it necessary to apologise to the spectators for the displays of the riders was rather hard to understand, for although things were inclined to go all wrong, the crowd was amply compensated for any deficiencies by several exciting and thrilling contests. In fact, the crowd seemed to , realise that the management were to be congratulated on holding the meeting in spite of the threatening weather. Unfortunately, several of the machines failed to get going, but tuned up racing bikes are somewhat like racfthorses —"temperamental." The most unfortunate deficiencies were Herbert and Les Lawrence, and the crowd were plainly disappointed. The machines on Saturday night were so "touchy" that even a wet cinder on the terminals put them out of action. Australians' Fine Riding. If the machines had not played up, there would have been some exciting exhibitions in the attempts on the flying mile record. As it was, it was left to Billy Sticpewich, the Australian flyer,' to provide the thrills. He rode brilliantly, spraying the fence with a black streak of cinders, and put up the fine time of 1.28 4-5, his best lap being 21 4-ss. Les Lawrence, the t. other star Australian, also made an attempt, and put up some fine lap ,, times, but in the last round he came off when all out. He clocked 22 l-ss, 22 2-ss, and 22 4-os. From those times it appears that he would have beaten Sticpewich's record. Mattson, who rode exceptionally well all evening, did one lap in 22 l*ss, beat- - ing his own record, and equalling Datson'sbest lap. Herbert and Allen also attempted the flying mile record, but both had trouble with their machines. Thrilling Collision. By far the most sensational crash that has been seen on the. speedway came in the last event, the Flying Three match race, from a rolling start, in which the contestants were Billy Sticpewich, Alf Mattson and Bill Allen; The trio got away with Mattson in the- lead. Allen travelled only half a lap, .when his engine broke down, and it was leftfor the Australian and the clever local lad to fight the match out. Round they whirled with Mattson in the lead and Sticpewich riding all he knew to catch him. Into the final lap they roared their reckless way, and on the first bend Sticpewich saw an; opening, for Mattson was riding wide. Close into the grass shot Sticpewich, but he had so much pace on that it was inevitable that he would broadside towards the iron fence. Inevitable, too, was the fact that the riders must collide. There was a roar from the crowd, a gasp, and the riders crashed together, Mattson being driven against the fence. High in the air lid flew, somersaulted, and fell, dazed, amid a shower of cinders. With the control of a master Sticpewich rode on! The race was awarded to Allen, as, the only one whose machine was fit to race again immediately. During the evening a demonstration of motor paced cycling was given by A. Mackie, the Southern rider, and J. H. Wade, the popular local man. It was quite an interesting exhibition, and showed plainly that cycling behind' the rollers on a 500 yds banked concrete track can be a thrilling entertainment. Speeds of 70 miles an hour are possible, but the best time for one lap on Saturday night was 30s. Results were:— IMPROVERS' HANDICAP. First Heat—Day (Royal Enfleld). Bs, 1Fribance (Harley-Davidson), 9s, 2. Time, Second Heat—Casey (Royal Enfleld), 6s, 1; Coppins (Indian), 11s, 2. Time, 1.47 2-5 Final.—Casey 1, Coppins 2. Casey jumped to the front from the start and never looked like being beaten. Fribance the back-maWcer, put up a good performance, but came off in the last lap, leaving Coppins to snatch second money. Time 1.54. OPEN HANDICAP. First Heat—Sticpewich (Douglas), scr 1; Ross (J.A.P.), ss, 2. The Australian) feticpewich, gave the crowd a real thrill broadsiding so close to the fence that he sprayed it with a trail of about twenty yards of cinders. Time, 1.39. Second Heat.—Lawrence (Harley-David-son), scr, 1; Mattson (Norton), 3s, 2. Time, 1.45. , ' Final.—Sticpewich 1, Mattson 2. The race provided a thrilling duel between the Australian, Sticpewich, and the local star, Mattson. Making most of his three-second handicap, Mattson went to the front, Ross failing to get his machine going. By the. beginning of the third lap the Aussie had caught Majtson and left him in a shower of cinders. But Mattson chased isticpewich, and In a great finish he was beaten only by three lengths. Time, 1.34 2-5#

FLYING HANDICAP.

First Heat.—Allen (Norton), 3s, 1; 1 39 y 3-5 ° 3S ' 2 ' Lawrence feU - Time,

v Second Heat—Mattson (Douglas), 3s 1Casey (Royal Enfleld), 7s, 2. Herbert'and Sticpewich kept together all the way round, but both their engines were giving trouble Final.—Allen 1, Mattson 2. Of the three local three-second men Allen was first away, Mattson .and Bray getting bad starts Mattson gave Allen a great go for it, and made up some of the distance but could not catch the leader, who won ? a |i ly o b r y half a len S th of the straight. Time, FLYING THREE RACE. W.Allen (Norton) #> - AUSTRALIAN MATCH RACE."* I Sticpewich (Douglas) .... -i Lawrence (Harley Davidson) ".'.'. o Sticpewich went to the front from "a rolling start, ana soon had a Die lead of Lawrence, whose engine was plfying U n ssusar rode a great w-Ud^ffl

EVENTS AT WELLINGTON.

(By Telegraph.—P'ress Association.) WELLINGTON Sunday. * Spinks, of Australia, won the Big Six Handicap at the local dirt track on Saturday. Kilminster, who broke his machine when ne crashed over another fallen machine, had to use a bicycle that he was not accustomed to. Naylor defended the Silver Gauntlet against Pratt.