SPEEDWAY RACING

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27875, 25 January 1956, Page 7

SPEEDWAY RACING

Sir, —As a visitor here I patronised the Aranui Speedway on Saturday night and was surprised at the gross mismanagement. I consider the public are entitled to know why the following incidents were tolerated and no action taken by either referee or stewards. I refer to the race where Harris was nearly pushed through the south bend fence and the one when Evans swung across the grass and continued on his journey without waiting for the last man to pass. Lastly, in the run-off Bill Harris was definitely pushed off the track by Evans, who cut straight in front of Harris, causing the collision. Obviously damage was done to Harris’s car, which prevented him from winning. I fail to see-how Evans could be truthfully declared the winner of the championship.—Yours, etc., H. M. WILLIAMS. January 17, 1956. “I am surprised that Mr Williams says that there is gross mismanagement at the speed way,” said the manager (Mr D. Wild). “According to his letter he seems to be familiar with all the rules of speedway racing. Therefore he should know that the management has nothing whatsoever to do with the running of the races, judging, or disqualification of ‘a’ the AutoCycle Union steward.” This letter was also referred to Mr T. R. McCleary, actingsteward for the N.Z. Auto-Cycle Speedway Control Board,-who said: “It is a pity that Mr Williams is not a permanent resident in Christchurch as I feel sure that with his knowledge of the rules and powers of observation of incidents happening in so many different places he would be of great assistance to the referee.”

Sir, —I suppose the average person goes to the speedway just for a night out, but surely most people like to see fair play. I should think Saturday night’s racing for the championships would disgust even the average.— Yours, etc., DISGUSTED. January 17, 1956.