Speedway Racing Spectacular Crash In “Hell Drivers’ Picnic”

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30066, 26 February 1963, Page 20

Speedway Racing Spectacular Crash In “Hell Drivers’ Picnic”

A spectacular stock - car crash half-way through the “hell drivers’ picnic”—the last event on the 25-race programme—brought the Christchurch Speedway Association’s second meeting in the Billy Philp Memorial Stadium ait Templeton on Saturday evening to an unexpected but highly successful conclusion. The cars, driven by R. McPhail and K. Forbes, somersaulted through the safety barrier on the south bend, coming to rest on their roofs under a cloud of black smoke. The impact smashed 40ft of the wooden safety barrier, and a length of railway line, used as an upright, was snapped in half.

Apart from a few bruises and abrasions, neither driver was injured. The cars are both expected to compete again next Saturday. There were six starters In the "picnic," but at the time of the crash three oars had already been eliminated tn collisions. Wtlh the sudden disappearance of McPhail and Forbes, P. Annan was left In sole command. H. Pierson, recovering from an earlier disagreement with another competitor, limped back on to the track, but the event was called off when officials raced to the aid of McPhail and Forbes.

The stock-cat drivers did not have the spills all to themselves In the second division of the Ellesmere open solo motor-cycle handicap, R. Mullally slid Into the safety fence while attempting to take the lead from A. Nesbitt and was taken off tbe track by ambulance. However, he was not badly hurt and later recovered fully, although he did not take part in any more racing. Several other riders, including T. Mauger, one of the fastest competitors, also came off their machines in other events.

S. Burt showed a welcome return to the form he was known for at Aranul, taking first place tn three motor-cycle solo races and second in another. Results were:— Motor-Cycle Events Ellesmere Open Solo (4 laps). —First division: S. Burt (70yds) 1, T. Mauger (120yds)

2, S. Clark (60yds) 3. Time, 69. Second division: T. Nesbitt (30yds) 1, B. La Grosse (80yds) 2. I. Miller (80yds) 3. Time, 93.6. Third division: S. Clark (60yds) 1, J. Jewell (go) 2, K. Kerr (go) 3. Time, 94.9. Templeton Solo Handicap (4 laps).—First division: S. Clark (65yds) 1, S. Burt (100yds) 2, T. Mauger (120yds) 3. Time, 86 2 Second division: B. La Grosse (90yds) 1, I. MlUer (60yds) 2. Time. 69 (3 laps only). Third division: K. Kerr (go) 1, J. Jewell (20yds) 2. Time, 96.

Fast Six Solo Handicap (4 laps).—S. Burt (100yds) 1, T. Nesbitt (40yds) 2, D. Burns (go) 3 Time, 87.6.

Welcome Stock Motor-cycle Handicap (4 laps).—First division: N. Currie (20yds) 1, D. Burns (go) 2, B. Roberts (80yds) 3. Time, 1:42. Second division: M. Butler 1. O. Van Doggen (30yds) 2. G. Johnston 3. Time, 1:46.

Yaldhurst Stock Motor-cycle Handicap.—First division: D. Brandon (go) 1, D. Burns (go) 2, N. Currie (80yds) 3. Time, 1:39. Second division: O. Van Dongen (50yds) 1. M. Butler (70yds) 2, N. Hills (go) 3, Time. 1:42.5.

Speedcar Events Opening Handicap (4 laps).— E. Saywell (go) 1, R. McPhail (80yds) 2. Final Handicap (3 laps).—R. McPhail 1, E. Saywell 2. Time. 75.

T.Q. Midget Car Events Opening Handicap (4 laps).— R. Burt (60yds) 1. J. Morris (60yds) 2, S. Burt (60yds) 3. Time, 96 (Fastest lap of 22sec set by R. Burt). Templeton Handicap (4 laps) —S. Burt (70yds) 1, R. Burt (90yds) 2, B. Mohar (go) 3 Time, 94. Grand Slam Handicap (6 laps).—R. Burt 1, S. Burt 2, J Williams 3. Tims. 2:22.

Stock Car Events Opening Handicap (6 laps),— H Pierson (60yds) 1, R. McPhail (60ycto) 2, P. Annan (30yds) 3 Time, 2:40. Templeton Handicap (a laps). —K. Forbes 1, H. Pierson 2, A. Davies 3. Time. 2:52.1.

Hell Drivers’ Picnic (8 Abandoned after six laps.

Go-Kart Events Templeton Handicap (3 laps). —B. Herkt 1. D Duggan 2, R. Adams 3. Time, 1:28. Yaldhurst Handicap (3 laps).— G. Sparks 1. G. Schroeder 2. Time. 1:24.

Christchurch Handicap (3 laps).—D. Duggan 1, K. Merrln 2, W. Campion 3. Time, 1:28. North Canterbury Handicap (3 laps),.—F. Bray 1. Time. 1:24. Ellesmere Handicap (3 laps).— K. Merrln 1, J. Switzer 2. D. DUggan 3. Time. 1:28. Paparua Handicap (3 laps).— A. Dehn 1, D. Winter 2, F. Bray 3. Time, 107.1.