RIDING IN THE RAIN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 1, 3 January 1933, Page 12

RIDING IN THE RAIN.

» BROADSIDING EVENTS. AT WESTERN SPRINGS. NEW YEAK'S EVE PROGRAMME. Bad weather, which has attended nearly every broadsiding meeting this season, again interfered with the racing at Western Springs Speedway on New Year's Eve, but in spite of intermittent showers, there was a crowd of close on 5000. Before the first race was over rain fell heavily, and the last lap was ridden in a downpour. Not long after, there was another heavy shower which completely ruined the track for fast riding. The meeting was naturally carried on under great difficulties, but it was to the credit of the riders that they rode their races under most difficult, in fact, risky conditions, and to the credit of the crowd that they took all the misfortunes in good part. A return was seen to championship form of Eric Langton, the world champion, who was badly injured on the opening night of the season. He proved on Saturday night that he was a real champion, and he indicated by his perfect riding that when he and Wal Phillips meet in contest there will be one of the greatest races the speedway has known. Langton won the first race in 1.17 4-5, just 4-5s outside Western Springs track record registered by Tom Farndon last year and broken last meeting by Wal Phillips.

The time—l.l 7 4-s—made by Langton was the fastest of the evening, but after the shower the track got worse, and when rain fell again fast times were impossible. Wal Phillips, who made an attempt on Frank Pearce's New Zealand record of 1.16 (established at Kilbirnie Stadium four years ago; failed by four seconds, taking 1.20 to cover the distance. All other times were slower than that, but that was not the fault of the riders or their machines, but of the rain, which had played havoc with the track. Accident Averted. Although all riders showed skill on a bumpy track, one of the finest pieces of riding during the evening was that displayed by Ray Tauser, the American with the English team, who won much applause for the manner in which he threw his machine to avoid two fallen riders. On the bottom corner, Tetley and Day fell. They were being followed by Tauser who, to avoid a collision, threw his machine flat and slid to a standstill a few feet from the fallen men. He picked his machine up quickly and finished second. One accident during the evening which might have ended seriously was that which befell Alf. Way, a local rider. Way fell going out of the Zoo bend into the back straight. His foot became tangled in the spokes of one of the wheels of his machine, and the spokes had to be cut before Way could get his foot out. Fortunately, he was not hurt. GOLD HELMET. First Heat— Eric Langton (J.A.P.) 1, Ray Tauser (J.A.P.) 2. Time, 1.17 4-5. Second Heat.—Tiger Stevenson (J.A.P.) 1, Eric Gregory (J.A.P.) 2. Time, 1.21. Elimination Final.—Langton 1. Stevenson 2, Tauser 3. Time, 1.28 2-5. The challenge round, Wal Phillips v. Eric Langton, was postponed to next Saturday. NEW YEAR SPECIAL. First Heat.—Eric Gregory (J.A.P.) 1. Time, 1.27 1-5. Second Heat.—Alf Mattson (J.A.P.) 1, Charlie Goldberg (J.A.P.) 2. Time, 1.31 1-5. Final.—Gregory 1, Mattson 2. Time, 1.29 4-5. SUMMER HANDICAP. First Heat.—Charlie Goldberg (J.A.P.), 30yds behind, 1; Ray Tauser (J.A.P.), OOvds behind, 2. Time, 1.31 3-5. Second Heat.—Alf Mattson (Rudge), 00yds behind, 1; Brain Smith (Rudge), 20vds behind, 2. Time, 1.28 4-5. Third Heat.—Tiger Stevenson (J.A.P.), 90yds behind, 1; Mick Sllich (J.A.P.), 20yds behind, 2. Time, 1.34 2-5. Fourth Heat.—Wal Phillips (J.A.P.), 90yds behind, 1; Nobby Key (J.A.P.), 90yds behind, 2. Time, 1.34 3-5. First Semi-final. —Tauser 1, Mattson 2. Time, 1.44 2-5.

Second Semi-final. —Gregory 1, Stevenson 2. Time, 1.30 4-5. Pinnl.—Stevenson 1, Gregory 2. Time, 1.29 3-5. LOCAL, HANDICAP. First Heat. —Brian Smith (Rudge), 20yds behind, 1; Harold Tetley (Rudge), 10yds behind, 2. Time, 1.43 4-5. Second Heat.—Bill Herbert (Rudge), 35yds behind, 1; Charlie Morgan (Rudge), 15yds behind, 2. Time, 1.41 1-5. Third Heat.—Mick Silich (J.A.P.), 25yds behind, 1; Syd Sheppard (Rudge), 10yds behind, 2. Time, 1.41. Final.—Smith 1, Herbert 2. Time, 1.29 1-5.