SPEEDWAY RACING Motor-Cycle Record Broken By S, Burt

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30367, 17 February 1964, Page 13

SPEEDWAY RACING Motor-Cycle Record Broken By S, Burt

S. Burt, of Southbrldge, struck top form at the Templeton speedway on Saturday night, winning the fast four solo scratch race and breaking the three-lap, dutch-start record, held by M. Burt, his younger brother, by the considerable margin of I.7sec. S. Burt is the present New Zealand motor-cycle grass hill climb champion, and has been prominent over many years in midget car racing, grass track motor-cycle racing, and grand prix road racing. In winning the fast four solo scratch race, Burt led almost from start to finish, but beat his talented young brother by only half a wheel. M. Burt was also well inside his old three-lap record.

The winner’s time was 62.95ec, and the former record was 64.65ec, Last week M. Burt broke S. Burt’s fourlap record. In the elimination scratch four race, a new rider with international experience, R. Duckworth, also broke the old three-lap record with a time of 64.25ec. However, he took the lead only when B. Le Grosse lost his chain. Had Le Grosse continued, he might well have broken the record.

A three-quarter midget car driver from Western Springs, Auckland, L. Devine, showed potential without being outstanding. He finished an unspectacular fourth in the second division of the Canterbury handicap off 150yds, but finished well up in the El

Dorado feature race of six laps. The winner of the feature race was the Rakaia driver, R. Meed. Starting from a handicap of 190yds, he took the lead on the second lap to finish well ahead of the second man and back marker (280yds), S. Christenson. T. Hall gained his first successes since he began racing his £2OOO Holden-powered speedcar aeveral weeks ago. He won both the Canterbury handicap and the Russell Thomas handicap, but his times were slow. A Dutch driver. J. Tleklnk, made his first appearance in these events and took third place in the Russell Thoma* event from »yds behind the field. Most of the cars suffered engine trouble, and competition was mediocre.

Run under new rules, the Butchers' Picnic stock oar survival race proved a great success. Instead of naming the first car across the line at the end of the six laps as the winner, officials chose the driver giving the most spectacular display. First place under the new rule* went to R. McPhail (Ford V 8) for his spectacular roll on the south bend and subsequent activities. A. Wellbeloved was placed second.

M. Groome's machine, nicknamed by drivers as "the tank" because of Its weight and amazing anti-roll tendencies, was flipped on its roof for the first time this season by McPhail. After the meeting, when efforts were made to start the car, the engine burst into flames. Officials manning the fire extinguishers had already left and mechanic* had a difficult time dousing the blaze by throwing handfuls of sand on It. Damage was slight. Results were:— Motor-cycles Aranul Solo Handicap (4 laps).—First division: B. Le Grosse (go) 1, S. Burt (30yds) 2, M. Burt (30yds) 3. Time, 82.7. Second division: A. Nesbitt (60yds) 1, T. Black (90yds) 2, G. Ray (80yds) 3. Time, 87.2. Third division A: J. Jewell (20yds) 1, I. Miller (80yds) 2, I. Begble (50yds) 3. Time, 90.8. Third division B: M. Salt (50yds) 1, R. Webster (go) 2, R. Meyers (50yds) 3. Time, 96.2, Fast Four Solo Scratch Race (3 laps).—-S. Burt 1. M. Burt 2, T. Mauger 3, Time, 62.9 (» record). Elimination Scratch Four (2 laps).—R. Duckworth 1, A Brown 2, T. Black 3. Time, 64 2. Templeton Solo Handicap (4 laps).—First division; M. Burt (30yds) 1, S. Burt (40yds) 2, F. Shuter (go) 3. Time, 85.5. Second division: G. Ray (60yds) 1, R. Wright (80yds) 2, T. Black (90yds) 3. Time, 90.9. Third division A: I. Miller (80yds) 1, P. Tootell (go) 2. Time, 96.0. Third division B: K. Kerr (40yds) 1, I. Begble (40yds) 2. Time, 93.5. Nominated Riders’ Scratch Race (3 laps).—R. Wright 1, G. Ray 2. Time. 86.9. Paparua Solo Handicap (4 laps).—First division: T. Mauger (30yds) 1, S. Burt (40yds) 2, F. Shuter (go) 3. Time, 85.7. Second division: T. Black (90yds) 1, A. Brown (90yds) 2. Time, 93.4. Third division A: J. Jewell (50yds) 1, 1. Miller (80yds) 2, R. Meyers (50yds) 3, Time, 93.8. Third division. K. Kerr (40yds) 1. I. Begble (40yds> 2, P. Tootell (go) 3. Time, 95.0, Midget Cars Canterbury Three-quarte* Midget Car Handicap (4 laps).-* First division: J. William* (60yds) 1, R. Burt (100yds) i, R. Mead (80yds) 3. Time. 95.0* Second division: G. Raymond (■go) 1, J. McKitterick (50yds) 2, R. Wilkinson (240yds) 3. Time, 1:40.1. Flying Lap Three-quarter Midget Car Record Attempt (record, J. Morris, 20.0). —R. Wilkinson, 21.56 (unsuccessful). Port View Three-quarter Midget Car Handicap (4 laps).— First division: N. Duff (go) 1, S. Burt (70yds) 2, J. Williams (80yds) 3. Time, 94.5. Second division: R. Wilkinson (250yds) 1, W. Douglas (go) 2, J. McKitterlck (30yds) 3. Time. 1:40.6. El Dorado Three-quarter Feature Race (6 laps).—R. Mead (190yds) 1, S. Christenson (280yds) 2, J. Morris (230yds) 3, L. Devine (120yds) 4. Time, Canterbury Speedcar Handicap (4 laps).—T. Hall (80yds) 1, R. Jemmett (80yds) 2, R. McPhail (100yds) 3. Time, 98.0. Russell Thomas Speedcar Handicap (4 laps).—T. Hall (100yds) 1. R. Jemmett (90yds) 2, J. Tleklnk (50yds behind field) 3. Time, 98.5. Stock Cars Stock Rod Handicap (4 laps) H. Pierson (150yds) 1, L. Wright (30yds) 2, B. Thompson (go) 3. Time, 1:49.6. Butchers’ Picnic Stock Car Survival Race (6 laps).—R. McPhail 1, A. Wellbeloved 2, A. Wright 3. Time, 3:38.