MEMBERSHIP OF MOTOR CLUBS

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28440, 21 November 1957, Page 11

MEMBERSHIP OF MOTOR CLUBS

No Motor-Cyclists Barred

It was unlikely that motor clubs had refused membership to motorcyclists who had committed traffic breaches, or had been associated with episodes which had generally brought discredit to motorcyclists. said Mr L. G. Reynolds, president of the Tai Tapu Motor Club in a statement to ‘‘The Press” yesterday. Mr Reynolds was commenting on an article in ‘‘The Press” on Tuesday which quoted the owner of the Lake Bryndwr racing circuit (Mr G. S. Jonathan) as saying, in reference to motor-cyclists who had been using the circuit without authority: ‘‘They have been barred (from organised motor-cycle clubs) because they want to do crazy things.” ‘‘We have at no time refused membership to any person who wished to join the club; The club is open to any motor-cyclist so long as he is prepared .to adopt our safety regulations connected with racing,” he said.

‘‘We have assisted maiy motorcyclists who have traffic offences and they have settled down well. These youths are really just passing through a stage, many have become good club members. Race Regulations ‘‘Some who are not members have asked to race with us, but they have not been permitted to because they were not ready to adopt our safety regulations. Some of these have returned later with safety equipment,” Mr Reynolds said.

However, the club stood behind the police and the owner in their efforts to control the motorcyclist who had been causing trouble on the Lake Bryndwr circuit.

“From a purely statistical point of view, when these youths have accidents on the track there, they are regarded as road accidents and this could well give a false imoression about the number of actual road accidents motorcyclists have been involved in,” said Mr Reynolds.