MOTO-CROSS AT ASHBURTON

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27072, 22 June 1953, Page 10

MOTO-CROSS AT ASHBURTON

T. SHIELDS PERFORMS BEST T. Shields, of Christchurch, riding a 500 c.c. Ariel, was the outstanding rider at the motorcross motor-cycle races held by the Ashburton Motor-cycle Club on a very muddy course on Saturday. Shields was one oi the few riders who spared neither themselves nor their machines when they threw them in the many watercourses and holes full <n tmcK mud, and he was the Jirst to think of the fastest way round the outside Of such hazards when, towards the end the day, they became too deep or muad” for safe negotiation. He led for the first lap of the 500 c.c. race, then trailed another determined rider, N. Turner (Christchurch) for two laps after striking a fallen tree, and led to the finish when Turner i re He e made a bad start in the open event 'and took some time to work his way through the field of 29 riders, but he was tin the lead at the end of the fourth lap. He held first place by a narrow margin from K. Robinson (Christchurch. 350 c.c. Triumph) until the halfway mark ( 10 miles) was reached. By this time, retirements had reduced the field to seven machines, and Robinson passed Shields to take the lead. Robinson held off repeated challenges from Shields for six laps, but was passed by the bigger machine and had to be content with second place from this stage until the finish. T. R. McCleary (Christchurch. 350 c.c. A.J.S.). who usually rides faster than anyone else on a dry grass track, did not take kindly to the excess of mud. He recorded some very fast laps, but they were separated by some very slow ones, and his spectacular methods of cornering in dirt-track style wasted much time. He was second in the 350 c.c. event, more than a lap behind the winner, B. A. Witte (Christchurch), who was mounted on a ’ similar machine.

There had been considerable rain a few days before the races, and the ground was waterlogged. In the early races there was a fairly good sole of grass between the many f *bog-holes,” but by the end of the day this had been churned into a sea of mud. Riders whose mudguards fitted close to their wheels were often seen steering with one hand and tearing frantically with the other at a clinging mass of grass and mud jartimed between the wheels and guards. The treads on the tyres of many machines quickly filled up with the mud and grass mixture, and this greatly reduced traction and steering grip. The mud also hampered spectators’ cars on the way out to the main road after the racing, and some had to be rescued with a tractor the club had thoughtfully provided. Results were as follows (laps of about one mile): — Open Race, of 20 laps.—T. Shields (Christchurch), 498 c.c. Ariel, 1; K. Robinson (Christchurch), 350 c.c. Triumph, 2; T. R. McCleary (Christchurch), 350 c.c. A.J.S., 3. Times: 54mtn 44sec. 55min 0 4-ssec, 57mln 22 2-ssec. Senior Race, of 10 laps (for machines up to 500 c.c.). —T. Shields (Christchurdh). 498 c.c. Ariel, 1; N. Pierson (Dunedin), 500 c.c? 8.5. A., 2; J. Mullins (Christchurch), 500 c.c. A.J.S., 3; M. Monk (Christchurch), 500 c.c. Matchless, 4; D. McLaughlin (Dupsandel), 500 c.c. Norton, 5: T. Robinson (Christhurch), 498 c.c. Trophy Triumph, 6. Times: 29min 9sec, 30min 3 l-ssec, 30min 41 3-ssec. Junior Race, of 10 laps (for machines up to 350 c.c.).—B. A. Witte (Christchurch). 347 c.c. A.J.S., 1; T. R. McCleary (Christchurch). 350 c.c. A.J.S., 2; K. Robinson (Christchurch), 350 c.c. Triumph, 3; W. McLaughlin (Dunsandel). 350 c.c. Norton. 4; M. Daniel (Christchurch), 348 c.c. Triumph. 5. Times: 24min 41sec, 27min 10 3-ssec, 28min 15 3-ssec. Light-weight Race, of five laps (for machines up to 250 c.c.). —S. Harrison (Christchurch), 250 c.c. Velocette, 1; N. C. McCutcheon (Dunedin). 197 c.c. FrancisBarnett, 2; M. Daniel (Christchurch). 248 c.c. Ariel, 3. Times: 13min 38 l-ssec. 13min 44sec, 14min 49sec.