SPEEDWAY RACING New Track Planned For Templeton

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30602, 19 November 1964, Page 18

SPEEDWAY RACING New Track Planned For Templeton

A new track would be laid at the Templeton stadium before any racing was held this season and it was not expected to be completed before Christmas, the president of the Christchurch Speedway Association (Mr I). .1. Morris) told a reporter at the conclusion of the association’s annual meeting last evening.

Construction of the new track would begin immediately. It would consist of a crusher dust, river silt and clay composition and would cost about £BOO. Mr Morris said that the old cinder track had been designed to take light machinery only and it was cut badly by stock cars. The construction of the new track, which would be light in colour, would definitely mean that there would be no racing before Christmas, he said.

, During the meeting, the New Zealand Auto Cycle {Union steward (Mr B. Green) {said that a better track and a safer safety fence was required before the season could open. The promoter of the very successful Palmerston North speedway was prepared to come to Christchurch and give his opinions on how the stadium could be improved. The stones underneath the present cinder track were quite dangerous, he said. Mr Green suggested that the wooden safety fence could be replaced by wire mesh. It would be stronger and easier, to repair. £9OOO Gate Receipts

More than £9OOO was taken in gate receipts in the year to March 31, according to the income and expenditure account tabled at the meeting. The total income was shown as £10,226, compared with £5770 the previous year, but an excess of expenditure over income of £343 was still shown in the accounts.

However, 10 per cent of all fixed assets was written off in depreciation. This amounted to more than £lOOO and without this the association would have made a comfortable profit. Total expenses amounted to £1064 (including depreciation and interest). The highest individual expense was the

payment of prize money and trophies to the value of £2127. Later in the meeting Mr Morris reported that a profit of £l2OO had been made on the stock car scrambles. Declined Re-election

When nominations were called for president, Mr Mor ris declined to allow his name to go forward because he had not had sufficient help from other members in the past and his time was taken up with a new business. However when no nominations were forthcoming from the 200-odd persons present he agreed to accept the office for a trial period of one month. “If I do not get a hand I will be resigning within a month,” Mr Morris said. Other officers elected were:

| Vice-presidents, Messrs 1’ ; Annan. D. Cameron. K. Lower N. Morris: secretary-trea surer, Mr E. T. Mora: stock car representative, Mr J Annan; three-quarter midget car representative, Mr J. Wil Hams: midget car representa five, Mr T. Hall: motor-cycle representative, Mr A. Nesbit general committee, Mrs E Saywell, Messrs D. Lorrimer E. Woods, A. Beckett, G Hotham. C. Meiklejohn