MOTOR-CYCLING.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20085, 14 November 1930, Page 4

MOTOR-CYCLING.

PIONEER SPORTS CLUB.

fixtures. November 17th—Beaeh Races, North Beach. November 23rd—Inter-Club Rally "Seaview," Ashburton. November 27tWH6tor Committee meet 7.30 p.m, November 29th—Miniature T.T race Rolleston. • . , December 18th—Mystery Competition.

NOTES,

Entries for the beach races to be held 0n the North Beach next Monday evening closed yesterday, and are most representative. Messrs F. p. Sprcsen and W. F. Marsh hope to be in a position. to announce the handicaps tomorrow evening. There are three motorcycle events to be. contested, consisting of a four miles maiden handicap, and two open handicaps of six miles each. They will all be run over the one mile course.

The first event, the maiden, is timed to start at 6.30 sharp, and as the daylight will be somewhat limited after that hour it behove? competitors to be on the mai-k punctually, as if possible a light car speed event will also be de* cidod.

The present definition of the Pioneer Sports Club of a "maiden" is a competitor Who has not won a race for throo years. This ruling, however, will probably be altered at the next meeting of the committee, the captain (Mr T. B. McCleary) having given notice to move that the present definition regarding a "maiden" be amended to read: "That a maiden is one who* has never previously won a first prize excepting in a novice race." If this is earned it will bring the club more in line with Other sports clubs. * The inter-club rally of the Pioneer Sports Club, the Ashburton, and the South Canterbury Clubs, set down for Sunday week, is already creating interest, and there is every likelihood of ft good muster being present from all three clubs. Members of the Pioneer Sports Club will leave the Clubhouse at 9 »-m. sharp and will be met by members of the Ashburton Club at the gasworks corner (corner East street and the Belt) at 11 o'elock, and in company of members of the South Canterbury Club will proceed to the estate of the president of the Ashburton Club (Mr H, Brown) lit "Seaview," whore the usual f ivitics will be held.

With the approach of the date for holding the initial "Miniature T.T." race at Rolleston to-morrow fortnight interest grows apace. Entries close this day week and are likely to be largo judging from the interest shown in the event, which is intended as a preliminary to one of . a more strenuous nature a little later on, Tho distance for the "Miniature" will be from two to two and a half miles, around a circuit of about three-quarters of a mile, containing various different angles, and a straight run of about 100 yards, It is intended to run the event in heats, two starting in each, sa that a full afternoon of thrills Should result. A strong contingent of riders intend to visit the course tomorrow afternoon, leaving the clubhouse at 2.30, and putting the finishing touches to the course proper.

MARINE DRIVE.

ACCESS TO DIAMOND HARBOUR.

; ROAD OF EASY GRADES. Because of tho steop grade of thfc 1 road giving access to it. Diamond Hats, bour, on« ol the most delightful spot* Within easy distance of Cbristchureh, has never attained the popularity it deserves. Before long, however, the present road will soon be thrown into discard) and its platse taken by a new ope, about five miles long, which will commence near Cbarteris Bay and join up with the main road again at Diamond Harbour, Grades Compared. The present road has a grade of one in four, and is narrow as well, for which reasons it is opt advisable for timid motorists to make the trip. Diamond Harbour is only about fifteen miles from Cathedral square, and «s it gets a gweroua amount of Sunshine, there is no doubt that if tho approach were easier it would provide one of the most popular motor runs close to the City. As it is, only a few venturesome motorists make the trip on a Sunday, the greater number of visitors reaching the place by meads of the train from Christchurch to .juvttejtcm and then crossing '***"> ■bour in a launch or small steamer. Over the greater part of the new toad there will be practically no grade at altr and in the steepest portion the grade will be equal to one in sixteen. In other words it will be possible for a low powered oar t*> traverse the toad to top gear. . "he road will run along the Hill at an altitude of about 100 feet above Jsea. ievol, bo that it Will not interfere with the - numerous picnic spots along the foreshore. It will open up some beautiful Scenes of the Harbour and Banks Peninsula. Mill unlike thi* pfesftnt road, will be wide enough (18 feet) for two cars at any part. The work will b'S an expensive ose; involving as it; docs, the construction of numerous ; cuttings, to accomplish Which * 1 deal of blastjne will be necessary. It \ will also v be necessary k tfl> oreet ai bridge over Chureh Gully, and several lines of pipes in order to allow water to run off. Anothe? RQ&& -

Between Christchurch and t>lw»:>nd Harbour th«ra Is a fairly st«ep jwjrtion of road just past the Sign of the Kiwi, which uas caused a good number of people to turn baek rather than ao ahead through Governor's Bay. Those intending to visit Diamond Harbour when the new road is completed need not •go by way ftf GoVernoi-'s BaV. Instead, they may turn off at the Sign of the Kiwi, and proceed along the recently forrned road past Kennedy's Bush to : Geblne s turning to the loft at this point, and going past Teddlngtoti to plamond HnrboU*. The new road alona th'fr foreshore Will be known a« the Marine thrive. It will no iloubt result in the route to Akaroa, via the feftinsula Bavs becoming more popular thnn it is at present owing to Its obVitttitofc the wost difficult portion. About 140 men are engaged on the n'ew road, which is being undertaken L a form of unemployment relief, and Z far about thr^quartcr S 6fa is* I "'WJS&Si Which a larger number of. wen will S given employment, tt 19 nossibla that the road will be completed by next summer.