Currie Increases Lead

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31275, 23 January 1967, Page 14

Currie Increases Lead

The prominent Christchurch rider, N. Currie, is now almost certain to win the Wills South Island Gold Star scramble series, although there are still two more meetings. His impressive consistency on the McNeil-sponsored 441 c.c B.S.A. Victor at the second Gold Star meeting at Kaiapoi yesterday earned him another 22 valuable points—only two short of the maximum—and left him with a total of 47. This is 25 ahead of his nearest challenger, A. Sabiston (Dunedin).

Currie’s performance in the three five-lap races counting towards the title was little short of outstanding. Other riders from time to time got In front of him, mostly by riding beyond themselves, but they rarely stayed there for long. Currie now has only to finish in a minor place in the final two meetings at Dunedin on February 5 and Blenheim a week later, to win the series. If he rides as well in the next meeting as he did yesterday he may not have to compete in the final round to emerge the victor. One of Currie’s outstanding attributes was his starting. In the three races he was first off the line. He won the first race from the Blenheim rider, I. Miller (250 c.c. Bultaco), in smin 35.55ec. Miller won the second race narrowly from Currie in smin 31.2 sec; and G. Stapleton (Christchurch), riding a new 250 c.c. C.Z., won the third in smin 29sec. Currie was again second. Stapleton was undoubtedly the fastest rider competing but mechanical troubles prevented him from scoring higher. His eight points in the final race were his first in the series. His time was the fastest of the three Gold Star races. In the final scratch race of the series he rode even better, winning as he liked in the brilliant time of smln 22sec. The South Island open champion, G. Holland (Christchurch) was unable to get his 250 c.c. C.Z. started for the first Gold Star race, finished fourth in the second and was lying a poor ninth in the third race when he crashed on the third lap, Holland now holds third place in the series with 17 points, equal with the Dunsandel Wasp rider, R. Happer. The South Island selector (Mr J. Fraser, of Christchurch), attended. It was an official selection meeting for the South Island team to meet the North next month. Leading points scorers in the scramble series are:—N. °¥ r . r ’ e (Christchurch) 46, A. Sabiston (Dunedin) 21. G. Holland (Christchurch), and R. Happer (Dunsandel) 17, I. Miller (Blenheim) 15, R. Meyer (Christchurch) and

R. Currie (Christchurch) 12. B. Horton (Christchurch) and K. Kilgour (Dunedin) 10. Results:— Wills Gold Star Series.—First race (5 laps, 27 starters): N. Currie (Christchurch), 441 c.c. 8.5. A., smln 35.55ec, 1; I. Miller (Bleheim), 250 c.c. Bultaco, 2; B. Gurdler (Christchurch), 250 c.c.c Bultaco, 3. Second race (5 laps): Miller, smin 31.2 sec, 1; Currie 2, A. Sabiston (Dunedin), 500 c.c. El-Sab Special, 3. Third race (5 laps): G. J. Stapleton (Christchurch), 250 c.c. C.Z., 5:29, 1; Currie 2, Sabiston 3. Class Racing (each five laps). —250 c.c.: G. Holland (Christchurch), 5:34.8, 1; G. Stapleton (Christchurch) 2. B. Horton

(Christchurch), 250 c.c. Greeves, 3. 350 c.c.: I. Miller (Blenheim), 5:39.4, 1; I. Boorer (Timaru). 250 c.c., Greevee, 2; R. Boyce (Blenheim), 250 c.c. Greeves, 3. 500 c.c.: N. Currie (Christchurch), 5:38.6, 1; B. Uddstron (Blenheim), Metisse, 2; R. Currie (Christchurch), 8.5. A., 3. All-comers’ Event* (five laps each).—First race: G. Vercoe (Blenheim), 250 c.c. Bultaco, 5:48.3, 1; R. Plummer (Christchurch) 2, R. GHlard (Christchurch 3. Second race: R. Uddstrom (Blenheim), 5:38.5, 1; W. Horton (Christchurch) 2, R. Boyce (Blenheim) 3. Third race: G. Stapleton (Christchurch, 5:22, 1; R. Plummer (Christchurch) 2, R. Gillard (Christchurch) 3.