MOTOR CYCLE NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 112, 14 May 1935, Page 14

MOTOR CYCLE NOTES.

RECORDS AT MURIWAI.

SPECTATORS IN THE WAY.

Riding his 350 c.c. Velqcctte, Bill White succeeded in establishing a New Zealand record of 93.75 m.p.h., average over an officially measured half-mile, with and against the wind, at Muriwai Beach on Sunday. This record is subject to official confirmation. Jack Mander, riding his 500 c.c. Royal Eufield-J.A.1 , ., just missed beating the standing New Zealand record for 500 c.c. machines, which stands at 107.65 m.p.h., put up by Alf. Mattson. Mander s average speed for tlie run both ways was 10.).88 m.p.h. On Miinder's machine Cass. Goodwind did a speed of 107.14 m.p.h., but the watch failed to stop at the end of his return run, and his time could not be taken.

Percy Matchell also made an attempt j on the nOO c.c. record on his B.S.A. After making a run at about 97 m.p.h. in one direction, he found that centrifugal force had thrown his tyre valves inwards and so let the air out of his tyres, with the result that he finished the run on almost flat tyres. Before he could stop the machine the rear tyre tore out the valve stem, and so prevented his return run. „ . , Although the event wns well organised by the officials of the Auckland Motor Cycle Club, their efforts were ruined on many occasions by the spectators, who got in the way, tripped over the electric wires and put the delicate timing apparatus out of order. It is safe to say that had it not been for the spectators many more runs would have been made, other new records established and old records broken. In spite of all efforts to keep the date confidential, persons who were in no way connected with the record attempts (either as competitors, mechanics or officials) were on the beach. These unwanted spectators were a source of considerable annoyance to the officials, and were responsible for the abandonment of many prospective attempts through breaking the wires of the timing apparatus. The club intends to take steps to prevent any unauthorised person from coming within a mile of the course during future attempts. Messrs. J. and W. White, Ltd., local agents for Velocette, have received cable advice from the Velocettn factory that as a result of Messrs. White's recommendations they are immediately preparing one of the special K.T.T. Velocettes for A. Bradley, New Zealand representative, to ride in this year's junior T.T. race at the Isle of Man next month. Tlie annual general meeting nnd election of officers of the Auckland Motor Cycle Club, to be held on Tuesday, June 4, at tlie club rooms, promises to be the biggest annual meeting for many years, the club having now a total membership of over 150.