BROADSIDING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 40, 17 February 1931, Page 17

BROADSIDING.

BRAY'S NIGHT OUT.

events at western springs

TEAM .RACES ARRANGED,

There were no records broken, there W as no Burton to thrill the crowd, and yet last Saturday's meeting at Western Springs Speedway produced some of the closest racing and finest broadsiding yet 6 ecn at the stadium. Billy Sticpewich was the only overseas rider .to appear, hut he faded away early, leaving the local men to fight out premier positions. This they did in great style, and,- just as he did last year, Ben Bray had a niVhfc out. He was riding in line form and performed just as brilliantly on one machine as lie did on another. Some said that Bray was unlucky to 1066 his match race with' Herbi'e. Durkin; others said Durkin should have won. In any case, it was a great race, arid brought to mind that. classic clash of la-st season when Van Praag and Mangham rode shoulder to shoulder for three laps. Durkin had the lead, but Bray shot through on the inside when Durkin slid wide on one bend. Next it was Durkin's turn to hit the front, which he did in exactly rlie same manner. Bray hugged the line on the last bend, waiting and hoping that Durkin would misiidc. There was a tense burst up the straight, with Bray gradually overhauling Durkin, but the straight was not long enough for Bray, and his opponent was flagged the winner.

Durkin, incidentally, put up a fine performance. His time of lm 26s from a standing . start was particularly good, and lias not often been beaten at the speedway. B'ray, by the way, registered lm 27 3-5s in the second semi-final of the Napier Handicap, when he beat Durkin by only a length. In that race Bray showed some of the finest form he has so far displayed this season. And now Bray has challenged Durkin to a special match race. Allen's Fastest Time. Bill Allen, who at the moment is the idol of a. fickle crowd, also covered himself with minor glory. He rode steadily, consistently and well, and clocked lm 23 l-5s from a rolling start, which is his fastest time to date. It was unfortunate for Coyle that his machine did not have that little 'bit of extra "kick." In the third heat of the Big Nine he went into the first corner with the confidence and skill of a champion. He was beaten only because he did not have enough power in his machine to pass the other man. Morgan, from Rotorua, repeated his splendid performance of a few meetings ago by romping home in the final of the Wairoa Handicap after sane and sure riding. From a standing start he clocked' lm 295, which is excellent time for a comparative novice of the cinder track. Charlie Goldberg, who was last year one of the stars at Blandford Park, showed considerable improvement, and his form indicated that he is a rider who is likely to give a good deal of trouble to some of the old hands before the season is out. If Bobby Cairns was not so erratic he would -probably find himself in among the big prize money far more often. In one race he will ride brilliantly, will cling to the white line tenaciously; in the next he will throw away all chance of winning 'by allowing his machine to slide all over the track on the bends. But he is an attractive rider, and one of the gamest of the local lads. Jack Good and Jack Jordan, two of the B graders who frequently manage to crash, delighted their supporters on Saturday night by staying on. M. Aicken, of Manurewa, another newcomer this season, distinguished himself by winning his heat and final of the Hastings Handicap. Sel Casey, who has had a spell for a time, turned out again and pro- I duced quite good form. He rode a good race in the second heat of the Napier Handicap. Team Racing. One of the most interesting events on a speedway programme is team rac**}g. Those thrilling contests a fortnight ago between Auckland and Wei-' lington gave Auckland fans their second experience of sueh races. This Saturday team racing will be staged at Western Springs. Bill Allen will be captain of one team and Ben Bray will skipper the other. Both men are now selecting their teams. The winner of each round in this series will qualify for a final match race for a gold sash. Quite a good exhibition of speed without. any broadsidmg was given by a dog on Saturday, night. It was of the sheep-herding variety, very black, very woolly, and very plucky. Although it always had outside place on the concrete, it took on all corners, and averaged about one lap to the bikes' two.

LADY DRIVER'S SUCCESS.

It is not often that a lady car driver wins two cups, but' Miss G. Clark, by her win at Muriwai on Saturday, gains , the Cantwell Cup outright, havin" won ' it twice in succession. Miss Clark, who is secretary of Paine Bros., Otalruhii, also holds the Dawson Cup, having won it twice at the Mangere 'Speedway. f!