MOTOR CYCLE NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 27, 2 February 1932, Page 14

MOTOR CYCLE NOTES.

GREAT EVENT RUN. TRIUMjPH for mattson. THICK ENDANGERS LIFE. Riding the fastest machine in the race, and handling it with consummate skill and judgment, Alf Mattson, on his Norton, covered the 25 gruelling rounds of the Dominion Tourist Trophy course in 3h 11 m 58 l-ss, beating S. Moses (Kudge), last year's winner, by 2.32 2-5. Mattson jumped into third place when F. Lindesay's Rudge seized up in the third lap. B. Cuthbertson, who was riding a Sunbeam,' dropped behind him in th.> sixth lap, but he had a long way to so to catch up on Moses. On the straights, however, he showed the better pace, and the crash that might have landed hiin back amongst the tail of the Held did not occur. In tin; excitement of the contest between the two leaders, Cuthbertson was lost sight of, but he was still plugging steadily along in third position, though the other two were outpacing hiin. When the twenty-third lap finished. Mattson, only a few lengths behind Moses, was winning on starting time allowance. Next time round, Mattson was in the lend, and there he stayed. He was one of the very few to complete the course without a spill. Cross, judging by his lap times, was another, but some of those who recorded more erratic times are probably not "owning up." Mattson's lap time in 7.22 1-5 in the tifteenfh war; the fastest of the day, and he also did four consecutive laps in 7.32 each. Fletcher's Experience. For the few who knew about it, the Dominion Tourist Trophy race was spoilt by one thoroughly "rotten'' incident —a deliberate and, unfortunately, successful trick to dispose of Percy Fletcher as a competitor. After a week's hard practising and careful tuning of his engine, Fletcher was confident that he had as fast a mount as any on the island. He had even carried out an exhaustive series of tests before deciding that the best pressure for his back tyre was.2Blb. The last adjustment he made at the pits was to pump the tyre up to exactly that

pressure, test the valve, and screw the cap tight. He was then called away, and had to leave his machine unattended, returning only Just in time to mount and get away in-his turn.

Those at the starting point saw him skid on the first bend, and thought that lie had fallen. He recovered, however, and successfully negotiated the second bend, though again his machine "broadsided" round in a cloud of dust. He himself could not understand the behaviour of his machine, and attributed it to his own nervousness. He was close behind B. Smith, and hung back on the next corner, intending to overtake the man ahead on the straight. But lie never got round. When he tried to turn, his machine- again skidded, this time completely out of control, and took him over the bank. When he examined the machine, ho expected to find that the brakes were jamming, but they were in perfect adjustment. He then discovered tna real cause of his disaster—the back tyre had only sufficient air in it to keep it in shape. The valve cap had been taken off, the air released, and the cap put back with only one turn to hold it. To prove that the tyre was not at fault, he. later pumped it up again to 28ib, and last night, three days later, it still showed exactly that pressure. The perpetrator of the outrageous trick may be thankful that lie has not a murder on his conseiece. Surprises and Disappointments. For a Dominion representative in the International T.T., Ben Bray's performance was disappointing, the best he could gain being sixth place, the last before the time limit expired. His Norton was going poorly right from the start, others easily outpacing him on the straights. L. Perry (Royal Enfield), who had passed him in the fifth round, after a weak start, held fourth position for the remainder of the race, while F. Cross (Norton) got ahead of him for fifth place, in the sixteenth. Toward the end of the race, Bray twice changed places with B. Smith, who was riding his Rex-Acme at the hottest pace it would go. In the twentieth lap he slipped ahead of Bray, but a mishap robbed him of the advantage in the next lap, and he finished seventh, just too late to be in the time limit.

The worst accident of the day occurred before the race started. On a trial run to wa.iii up his Norton, C. Goldfinch crashed at a corner and was brought in suffering from a slight concussion, which prevented him from competing. It is reported that S. Moses, who gained second place, has offered to return his prize-money to the club, to help make up their deficit on the meeting, if A. Mattson, the winner, will do likewise.

Limitation of Machines. In the next Auckland T.T. race, to be, held at Waihckc on June 3, entrants] will probably be limited to 350 c.c, machines. The general opinion is that the course is not safe for more powerful mounts, especially in the local event, in which many riders compete who would not enter for the Dominion event. The decision that was put into forco for the Dominion T.T., to debar riders who cannot do a practice lap in Bm, will also be maintained. Helensville Hill Climb. The Helensville. Motor Cycle Club's challenge to a hill-climbing contest has been accepted by the Auckland Club for Sundav next. The Auckland riders will leave from the Western Springs at 10 a, m One machine in each of the 200 e'e 350 c.c. and 500 c.c. classes, and one machine of any capacity, will form the team of each club. No Grass-track Meet? The Auckland Sports Motor Cycle Club has not been able to get permission to hold a meeting on the Avondale racecourse, 60, unless other arrangements can be niade, the club will be unable to hold a grass-track meeting this year.