MOTOR-CYCLING

Press, Issue 22599, 3 January 1939, Page 2 (Supplement)

MOTOR-CYCLING

N.Z. TOURIST TROPHY NEW RACE RECORD SET truss sssomsnov rat.aaa.ui.) AUCKLAND, January 2. A record crowd of about 1500 people watched the tenth New Zealand Tourist Trophy race over 165 miles at Waiheke Island to-day. The event was won in the record time of 2hr 47min 31sec by L. Perry (Auckland), riding a Velbcette machine. He averaged almost 60 miles an hour.

Second and third places were taken by A. J. Dean (Levis), 2hr 48min 26sec, and J. Dale (8.5.A.), 2hr 59mln 56sec. All three beat the former record time of 3hr 4min .established by C. Goldberg. Extensive roadworks carried out last year. In which special attention was given to the course, materially assisted the 12 starters. However, only three men actually finished the course, mechanical defects causing the withdrawal of the majority, including last year’s winner, L. E. Dickson, who retired with a broken drive chain when he was leading by four seconds.

The fastest lap award went to A. Dean, who covered the first 64 miles’ lap in 6min 28sec.

The Alma Award for pluck and endurance was made to P. Clarkson, who crashed near the start and was run Into by a following rider who also fell. Clarkson remounted, and after straightening a bent mudguard rode on for 21 laps before he was forced to retire with engine trouble.

No serious mishaps marred the running, although a number of riders were invo/verf in minor- s_pii2sr.