SPEEDWAY RACES

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27861, 9 January 1956, Page 3

SPEEDWAY RACES

EVENTS AT ARANUI Several riders falling in the solo events, two side-cars locking together, and a car striking the fence provided excitement for spectators at the Aranui Speedway on Saturday evening. The absence of the stock car ra which is being deleted from the programme .while the safety fence and lamp standards are being strengthened alter the battering they 1 received at the last meeting, probably accounted for the smaller attendance than usual.

The world side-car champion, J. Davies, who will return to Australia this week, won the First Side-car Handicap from E. Wilde. At the end of the first lap B Burley attempted to pass inside A. Stuart, but both machines locked together, Burley’s machine hitting the truck used for towing a grader round the track between races and Stuart's machine tipping its occupants out'. Burley was taken to the pits in an ambulance for observation. Both machines were out of action for the remainder of the races.

Only two machines started in the Second Side-car Handicap. Wilde, who was off 40yds in front of Davies, held his lead. In the last lap Davies almost slipped through on the inside as Wilde was coming out off the south bend.

The Invitation Side-car Race had to be abandoned when Wilde returned to the pits, after several attempts to get both his motors firing had failed. Davies offered to make an attempt on the fastest recorded lap and the three-lap clutchstart record, but had to attempt the fly-ing-start record after his gearbox had broken down, leaving him only top gear. Davies failed in both attempts, his time for the three laps being 63.35ec. M. Horton, a solo rider, who accompanied Davies as passenger for the first time, gave a creditable performance.

K. Rees took the lead at the start of the Opening Handicap, but lost it when he was passed by C. Jones. However. Jones fell in the pjt bend, giving Rees the lead again. The three riders behind Jones passed his machine, but the fourth. J. Lewin, hit it and fell. Rees held off 11. Lang’s challenge to win in 85 4-ssec.

The Aranui Handicap also proved a race of mishaps? J. Lee fell in the pit bench in the second lap, and seconds later B. Burley fell in the south bend at the beginning of the third lap. Burley remounted. but came off again in. the pit bend. The race was won by M. Holland, who beat S. Burtt and W. Rees.

Taking the lead from S. Burtt in the second lap of the Wainoni Handicap, J. Lee won easily from C. Jones, with B. McKeown third.

For his second win of the night, K. Rees held the lead throughout the North Beach Handicap. The finish was very close, with the back marker, M. Holland, only yards behind in second place. Leading from the start, M. Holland easily won the Nominated Riders’ Scratch Race. D. Brown was second for the first two laps, and was then passed by B. McKeown. C. Jones, who had been at the tail of the field, retired in the last lap with motor trouble.

Passing D. Miller to take the lead in the first lap of the All Sports Midget Car Handicap. R. Payne held the lead for the remaining five laps. W. Bone and W. Harris worked their way through the field together in their usual duel. Bone holding off Harris for second place. R. Payne retired while the field was manoeuvring for the rolling start. J. Jacobson, driving a new car, went well for the first two laps, but met trouble, his speed for the rest of the race being much slower. Driving in a midget car race for the first time, side-car rider E. Wilde, who has already tried his hand at stock car racing, scored a popular win in the Western Springs Midget Car Handicap. Driving off the front mark, he maintained his position for the whole of the race, after pulling away from the other frontmarkers. He had an anxious moment when he went into a speed slide in the front straight in the third lap. but corrected it before taking the south bend. W. Evans went to the lead in the Nominated Drivers’ Scratch Race, but stopped suddenly when a wheel came off in the south bend in the second lap. His car slewed in front of W. Bone, who hit the fence in avoiding the car. The event was awarded to W. Harris, the only other starter. Wilde held the lead in the earlv stages of the eight-lap Grand Slam Midget Handicap, but was slowed by motor trouble and had to retire. W. Harris won. The Ultra Midget Car race for children in small midget cars powered by twostroke motors, was won by Paul Pannell. Lynne Dethier spun in the pit bend, and Bill Philp spun in the south bend, but both completed the two laps to take second and third. Results:—

Novice Race.—B. Savage 1, I. Mauger 2, C. Lee. Time, 95sec.

Opening Handicap.—K. Rees 1, R. Lang 2. N. Barritt 3. Time, 85 4-ssec. Aranui Handicap.—M. Holland 1, S. Burtt 2, W. Rees 3. Time, 84 3-ssec. Brighton Handicap.—B. McKeown 1, D. Brown 2, M. Morton 3. Time, 86sec. Christchurch Handicap.—R? Lang 1, M. Horton 2, B. Savage 3. Time, 86sec. Wainoni Handicap.—J. Lee 1, C. Jones 2, B. FJcKeown 3. Time, 83sec. North Beach Handicap.—K. Rees 1, M. Holland 2, D. Brown 3. Time, 83 3-ssec. Nominated Riders’ Scratch Race.—M. Holland 1, B. McKeown 2. D. Brown 3. Time. 78 3-ssec.

First Sidecar Handicap (3 laps).—J. Davies. M. Morton passenger 1, E. Wilde. B Pidgeon passenger 2. Time, 71sec. Second Sidecar Handicap (3 laps).—E. Wilde. B. Pidgeon passenger 1. J. Davies. M Horton passenger 2. Time. 69 4-ssec. All Sports Midget Car Handicap (6 laps). —R. Gray 1, W. Bone 2. W. Harris 3. Time, 2min 15 3-ssec

Western Springs Midget Car Handicap (6 laps).—E. Wilde 1. W. Harris 2, W Evans 3. Time, 2min 15 2-ssec. Nominated Drivers’ Scratch Race (4 laps).—w. Harris 1.

~,G r ,a nd Slam Midget Handicap (8 laps).— W. Harns 1, T. Hall 2. W. Jarden 3. Time. 3mm.

Ultra Midget Car Race (2 laps).—Paul Pannell 1, Lynne Dethier 2, Bill Philp 3 Time. Imm 32sec.