SPEED PAGEANT.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19854, 15 February 1930, Page 7

SPEED PAGEANT.

MONICA PARK, TO-NIGHT

Following the thrills of the air pageant this afternoon, a big carnival has been organised at the Speedway this evening, and three Australian riders will be the chief attraction. "Skid" Perkins, Bill Sticpewich, and Frank Benißh are the stars and besides meeting in both the first division handicap and the scratch race, they will take part in match races. Sticpewich meets Perkins in ft series of three races, while Beniah has been matched with N. K, Gray, the local rider, who holds the gold sash. Hardly a more even match could have been arranged than this. The best time recorded by Sticpewich hero is 85 l-ssec, while in Auckland Perkins has done 87 l-saec, on a track which is about two secondß slower than this. Both ride similar machinee, and in a similar style, so the match should provide thrills out of the ordinary. N; R. Gray has consistently reduced his times of late, and last week won the gold sash from E. R. Marsh in brilliant fashion, clocking 87 2-osec for the mile. He has been matohed with Frank Benish, the Adelaide rider, who broke a leg here on the opening night of the Speedway. Gray is the first local man to meet an Australian in a match race, and if he manages to win he wil' become the hero 6f the thousands who attend the Speedway every week. The programme provides for less time between events, and improved organisation will speed up the programme considerably. A first division handicap for A grade ridere only will be a pood event, and only three B grade events will be held.

The meeting is under the patronage of the pilots taking part in the air pageant to-day, who will attend at tho Speedway before taking part in the social function of the pageant