MOTOR-CYCLE NOTES.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18016, 7 March 1924, Page 6

MOTOR-CYCLE NOTES.

(Contributed.) Several successful attempts were made upon the H h.p. world's grass track record at tho Auckland Motor Racing Club's motor-cyclo sports, held on the Takapuna racecourse on Saturday, March Ist. The previous record was- achieved by Jim Dawber, on a oi Indian at Marton in 1916. The doughty Dawber was regarded as something of a marvel in his day. Most makers had not then evolved tho 8valve twin machine, and "Jim" was able to beat somo of the 4-valve twins.

On Saturday, Moller (3} Norton) and Stratton (3} Indian) both succeeded in doing a lap in 54scc, as against Dawber's 55sec, whilst Sykes (3J Triumph) was l-ssec over that- time. A second attempt by the two former resulted, in another tie, in 53sec. In the third attempt Moller registered 52 3-ssec, beating Stratton by 2-ssec.

One of the surprises of tho day at Auckland, was tho performance of W. Wadham on a 3$ Norton, in the sidecar event. Starting from tho 35sec mark he was reported to have simply flown round the track, winning by almost half a lap from machines twice the power of his. The time was smin 56sec for five milea.

D. Managh (7-9 Indian), who is probably tho fastest improving rider in New Zealand to-day, had a well-deserved victory in the Australasian Heavyweight Championship. His time was 12min 57sec, which workß out. at about 51 4-ssec average for a lap. Curiously enough, the machine Managh was riding was a five-year-old Indian, which he acquired from Percy Coleman, when that rider left the Indian wigwam to join the Harley-Davidson people. Coleman had a long list of successes on this mount, and it says much for its stamina that it is now going as fast as when Percy bestrode it.

Managh is a farmer by occupation, and was recently married. He lives at Halcombe, and considering the restricted opportunities he has got for training, is something of a phenomenon. Coleman (Harley-Davidson) and Stratton (7-9 Indian) both had what appears to be hard luck in _ the big event. Coleman is credited with a lap in 47 3-ssec, which would be the est a motor-cycle has ever covered a mile on a grass track. It is reported that he broke a connecting-rod in the third lap, and had to withdraw. Stratton, who was also riding well, is said td have had magneto trouble.

The. withdrawal of these riders left Managh an open field, but he certainly does not seem to have slackened up. He had his lesson at Marton recently, when he thought the opposition well in hand and decided to take a comfortable ride home. A rival, coming fast behind him, induced him to wake his mount up, and.he,opened her full out in the straight and nearly capsized. After that he was never sighted. Little streaks of disappointment like this make a general of a man sooner or later if he has the material in him.

The New Plymouth Motor-Cycle Club are to be congratulated on providing such good sport at their annual speed contest last Saturday week. The entries were exceptionally large, and thrilling racing was the order of the day. Several very close finishes brought the spectators out of their seats, and the two crashed which occurred damaged neither riders nor machines. All ,the cracks were out, and every winner earned his prize. Judging by the attendance, the club ' should feel well compensated for the amount of hard work that such a successful meeting entails.

Three and a half Nortons annexed both the Novice Handicap (five miles) and the Great Northern Handicap (15 miles). W. Herbert won the former and H. Moller the latter.

P. Nash put up a fine performance in the Takapuna Handicap, of seven miles. He won by half a lap in smin 50sec. P. Sykes registered a win in the 600 c.c. Handicap on a 3* Triumph in the good time of 4min 46sec.

There seems to have been a "dingdong" go in the Consolation Eace, of five miles, in which O. Shakespear, oh a 7 Harley-Davidson, beat Goodwin on a 2$ A.J.S. by a wheel, after conceding him 30sec. The time was 4min 51sec.

It is reported that the matter of lap recording and classification of riders is to receive the very serious consideration of the New Zealand Auto Cycle Union during the winter months. It is hoped that next year there will be races in which riders will be more evenly matched, and the old scheme whereby limit men completed a couple of laps before the scratch men started will be eliminated.

Prom December 19th, 1923, to March 4th, 1924, there were 55 new' motorcycles registered in Christchurch. Of these 27 were British and 28 American. While British prices at the factory have been reduced, in some cases by £2O, American factory prices still continue high. New Zealand dealers in American motor-cycles, however, are endeavouring to keep down to their old prices.

A thrilling struggle for the North Island middle-weight championship took place at New Plymouth between S. C. Stratton and H. Moller. After riding neck-and-neck for two laps, Stratton won by a little less than a wheel in 9min 40sec, an average speed of 62 miles per hour. Coleman did not take part, as his 3i Harley was not going well, and was not taken to New Plymouth. Coleman made anew record for the course, by completing a lap in 50sec, which works out at 72 m-pJi. Therefore, he must have been touching 80 on the back straight, as he flashed past other competitors as though they were touring.

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