THROTTLES OPEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 289, 7 December 1931, Page 3

THROTTLES OPEN.

BROADSIDING STARTS. THRILLS AT THE SPEEDWAY. TEACK RECOKD ESTABLISHED. Again throttles opened wide; the powerful exhausts shot out a trail of blue smoke; the cinders showered, and again the crowd, shouting and swaying, packed round the lip of the basin, was thrilled as the riders lay their machines over ou the bends until it seemed they could not possibly recover—yes, it was good to ha back at Western Springs Speedwav on Saturday night, to see those reckless, daredevil riders roar round in spectacular contest. "Broadsiding is one of the greatest thrills of the age," said the Mayor, Mr. G-. W. Hutchison, in declaring the season open. "The introduction of dirt track racing into Auckland is now filling a longfelt want, and the public has shown its appreciation by its continued patronage." Mr. Hutchison mentioned that six English broadsiders of outstanding ability had been engaged, and two of them, together with two crack Australians, would be seen in Auckland next Saturday. He also said that Auckland was fortunate in having the finest stadium in the Dominion, and referred to the amicable relationship of Auckland Speedways, Limited, and the City Council. The,star attractions of the night were the match races between Wally Kilmister, the Wellington crack, and his old rival, Alf. Mattson, Auckland and New Zealand champion. Their riding was spectacular, fearless, reckless on the bends, where, with a deft flick of the wrist, they righted their machines from almost impossible angles. It was thrilling racing, and Kilmister won. There was only one story to tell—Kilmister had the faster machine. It is to Mattson's credit that in each of the two races, although he must have realised that he was beaten by a faster machine, he made a game fight of it and rode round in a thick screen of cinders left behind by Kilmister's backwheel. • For Kilmister*, it was a night out. Besides winning the match race series in two straight-out contests, he also rode Iris way "to victory in the big nine event. He rode brilliantly all night. Big Improvement in Form. One of the big features of the opening meeting was the splendid standard shown by all riders. Local men have improved so much that it is now hard to distinguish A grade men from their juniors. The I> grade man who impressed most of all was the winner of that class, M. Silich, a rider from Dargaville. Broadsiding for the first time, he showed that he has a .natural aptitude for the sport, and rode a stead - and spectacular race. He never looked like being beaten. If all the han.die.ri races were not closely fought, it was only for the reason that so many new machines have made their appearance this season, and the handicapper coidd not have been expected to sort the machines out until a meeting had been held. One new record was established during the evening and that by the brilliant We'lingtonian Wally Kilmister. In his two match races with Alf. Mattson, Kilmister's time was 1.19, which is a track record for a match race. An attemnt on the one-lap record of 19;--. held by Mattson and Syd. Perkins, was made by that brilliant bi-oadsider EricWhittle,'who made a name for himseh" last year as the "masked rider." He ro(' f : a borrowed Rudge and had the throttle wide open all the way, but he slid wicl ' on one of the bends and missed the record by 4-ss. His time, after a spectacular ride, was 19 4-ss. Results were:— MATCH RACES. First Heat.—W. Kilmister (J.A.P. 1. Wellington, 1; A. Mattson (Hhdge), Auckland, 2. After one false start, in which Mattson rode so hard into the first bemi that lie got into a slide from which lie could not recover, the pair flashed round on their reckless way. Mattson had drawn the inside position, but as soon as the pair opened their throttles wide it was plain that Kilmister was mounted on the faster machine. The crowd gasped as the men raced into that first bend, lay their machines over until it seemed almosr impossible for them to recover, and roared round with the Wellington man forging ahead. When the bikes had straightened up,. Kilmister had a comfortable lead, and although Mattson fought gamely all the way, riding through a dense screen oC cinders on the bends, he must have realised that his task was a hopeless one, must have known that he was * beaten by a faster machine. Time, 1.19—a track record. Second Heat—W. Kilmister (J.A.P.), Wellington, 1; A. Mattson (Rudge), Auckland, 2. This time Kilmister drew the inside position, so that his task was even easier than before.. It was the same story. From a perfect start the pair flashed over the line, but -when they came out of the first bend Kilmister had the lead, just as he had in the previous race. Again Mattson fought hard all the way. but again the speed of his opponent's biku beat him. Time, 1.19. BIG NINE (Rolling Start). First Heat.—F. Day (A.J.S.) 1, B. Cairns (Rudge) 2. For' the first lap the three starters'rode-brilliantly in a line, but going into the second lap Whittle and Cairns crashed. Only three laps were timed. Time, 64 3-ss. Second Heat. —A. Mattson (Rudge) 1, C. Goldberg (J.A.P.} 2. Goldberg put up a grim fight and chased Mattson hard, but the winner always had the race in hand. Time, 1.20 2-5. Third Heat. —W. Kilmister (J.A.P.) 1, W. Herberj; (Eudge) 2. The winner drew middle position and took the lead on the first bend. After that the issue was never in doubt. Time, 1.21 2-5. Final.—W. Kilmister (J.A.P.) 1, A. Mattson (Rudge) 2. Day, the other starter, had engine trouble and was forced to retire. Again Kilmister got the lead on the first bend, and Mattson trailed behind him for two laps. Entering the third, Mattson somersaulted over his machine, and the Wellington man was an easy winner. Mattson restarted and completed the race. Time, 1.21 2-5. OPEN HANDICAP. First Heat.—F. Butler (A.J.S.), 3s, 1; A. Mattson (Kudge), scr, 2. Time, 1.30 2-5. In the last lap Allen lost control of his machine on one of the bends and crashed. Way, who swerved to avoid Allen, also came down. It was a spectacular crash. Second Heat. —B. Herbert (Rudge), 3s, 1; W. Kilmister (J.A.P.), scr, 2. Time, 1.27 4-5. Third Heat.—S. Sheppard (Rudge), 4s, 1; W. Coyle (Norton), 3£s, 2. Time, 1.27. Fourth Heat. —H. Tetley (Rudge), 4s, 1; C. Goldberg (J.A.P.), 2s, 2. Time, 1.31 3-5. First Semi-final. —T. Butler (A.J.S.), Ss, 1; W. Herbert (Rudge), 3s, 2. Mattson did not get to the post in time and Kilmister's motor failed to start. Time, 1.27 4-5. Second Semi-final.—H. Tetley (Rudge), 4s, 1; F. Day (A.J.S.), 3s, 2. Time, 1.32. Final.—Day 1, Herbert 2. Day made the most of his half-second handicap on Herbert and increased his lead with each round. Time, 1.39. B GRADE HANDICAP. First Heat.—B. McDonald (Douglas) 2s, 1; W. Keen (Norton), 4s, 2. Time, 1.34. Second Heat. —M. Silich (Norton), 3s, 1; F. "Lindesay (Rudge), Is, 2. Time, 1.31 4-5. Final—M. Silich 1, McDonald 2. The winner led all the way. Time. 1.33. WELLINGTON RESULTS. WELLINGTON, Sunday. Results of the principal races at the Wellington Speedway last evening were: — Grand Election Open Handicap.—J. Lawton 1, H. Mangham 2. Time, 955. Kilbirnie Stars Match Race.—T. Wil»'nson 1, C. Tonks 2. Time, 85 3-ss. ENGLISH RIDERS IN ACTION. CHRISTCHUBCH, A match race between two vising lish riders, S. Jackson ana broadsid . the chief item of 'JMfigfc Speedway last ing races at Monies evening. Results viere- _ g> First DivismnHanmcap Rq Wicks, 16s, 1.1.--V ~ 6s > 3 - ,m. „ Scratch Race. —N. Gray 1, P. Wpolston Scraten Timc> j 25 4 .| L w'nrffih ilatdh Kace.-First heat: S. JackJP 2 ? W.Hull 2. Time, 1.22. Second £«f Jackson % Hull 2. Time. 1.22 2-5. Jackson led all the way in both heats.