SPEEDWAY RACES

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27631, 12 April 1955, Page 14

SPEEDWAY RACES

CANTERBURY SOLO TITLE WIN FOR B. BURLEY Showing his best form this season, B. Burley rode his way through the heats, semi-finals, and final to win the title of Canterbury solo champion at the Aranui Speedway last night. Burley came first in the three deciding races of the championship in which he competed. Second in the final was D. Brown, who held the lead for the first two laps until he was overtaken by Burley. A. Thomas, a firm favourite for the title, was eliminated in the semi-finals.

In the third heat S. Burtt took the lead from the start. Burtt was riding R. Moore’s machine and showed much better form than usual. Burtt held the lead until the last lap, when Burley, who had challenged him several times, passed him. K. Rees, 16-year-old son of W. Rees, having his first year at speedway racing, surprised everyone by holding off more experienced men (including his father) in the fourth heat. He led for the first three laps, when he was -passed on the back straight by P. Adair. Rees held on for second place, a wheel in front of his father, who was third.

D. Brown returned the fastest time of the night in the first semi-final when he recorded 83 3-ssec for the four laps. Brown led from the start, beating I. Johnson, of Dunedin, who was put back a place for forcing out M. Horton in the last lap. After being a non-starter in the first side-car handicap, E. Wilde rode from 120yds behind to finish second in the second side-car race, which was won by J. Chalmers, with B. Burley third. Early in the programme W. Harris made an attempt on W. Evans’s fourcylinder midget car record of 21.8 sec. Harris intended to do two laps and take the better, but hit the fence in the south

bend at the beginning of the second lap. However, his ti ne for the first lap was 21.4 sec, broking the record by .4sec. Later in the evening Evans regained the record with 20.4 sec.

The last event on the programme, the stock car race, provided a fine end to an exciting evening. Fourteen cars bumped and banged around the track for eight laps. W. Harris and D. Raite, in two of the faster cars, were spun around and pushed into the fence, but both completed the race, which was won by M. Banks from P. O’Loughlin.

Results:— Canterbury Solo Championship.—First heat: T. Johnson 1, D. Brown 2. R. Lang 3. Second heat: A. Thomas 1, M. Horton 2, J. Lewin 3. Third heat: B. Burley 1, S. Burtt 2, M. Daniels 3. Fourth heat: P. Adair 1, K. Rees 2, W. Rees 3. First semi-final: D. Brown 1, M. Horton 2, T. Johnson 3. Second semi-final: B. Burley 1, P. Adair 2, S. Burtt 3. Final: B. Burley 1, D. Brown 2, M. Horton 3. First Side-car Handicap.—J. Chalmers 1, J. Lewin 2, B. Burley 3. • Second Side-car Handicap.—J. Lewin 1, E. Wilde 2, J. Chalmers 3. All Sports Midget Car Handicap.—W. Harris 1, W. Evans 2, J. Alexander 3. Midget Car Handicap.—W. Harris 1, W. Bone 2, J. Alexander 3. Grand Slam Midget Handicap.—W. Harris 1. W. Evans 2, T. Hall 3. Invitation Racing Car Handicap.—L. Moore 1, N. Blackburn 2, A. Gallagher 3. Butchers’ Picnic (Stock Cars). —M. Banks 1, P. O’Loughlin 2, P. Snell 3.