Eight-Lap Record Falls In Stock Rod Event

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31323, 20 March 1967, Page 10

Eight-Lap Record Falls In Stock Rod Event

A record-breaking drive by P. Annan in the eight-lap stock rod scratch, race for South Island championship points was the highlight of an entertaining meeting at the Templeton Speedway on Saturday night. He was under great pressure throughout the race from his younger brother, J. Annan, but made no mistakes and won in the outstanding time of 2min 53sec, 2.ssec below the record he set earlier this month. The win moved P. Annan into second place in the championship series, equal with the defending champion, D. Cameron. J. Annan is the leader on points. Earlier in the evening, W. Rusbridge lowered the six-lap stock rod record to 2min 20.1 sec. This was a brilliant performance considering that he started from a handicap of 170 yards. The manner in which he threaded his way through the large field was without equal on the night. However, the record might easily have gone to one of the front-markers, N. Quirk, who led for most of the distance. Rusbridge snatched the lead about 100 yards from the chequered flag. The new time took .7seq off the record set by the South Island champion, D. Cameron, in January. Meter Faded The South Island speedcar champion, R. T. Hall, was robbed of almost certain victory over the visiting Auckland driver, T. Morris, in the six-lap scratch race for South Island championship points when the motor of his Taubmans Special began to lose power on the final two laps. Morris was third in the world championship earlier this season.

Hall made a perfect start in his Repco-Holden powered midget and by the second lap was more than four lengths ahead of the Aucklander's Linklater Holden. Morris made a few yards over the next half-mile, but it appeared unlikely that he would get within challenging distance of Hall’s flying white car. Luck was not on the side of the local driver. As he accelerated down the back straight on the fourth lap his engine suddenly lost power and Morris began to narrow the gap. Hall hammered the dashboard with his fist in frustration. It was in vain. At the end of the penultimate lap Morris swept past and went on to win his third scratch race of the evening in the good time of 2min g.2sec. Hall managed to hang on for second place and take maximum points toward the South Island championship. N. Hawkins was The present points leader, R. Clive, was unable to start after damaging his car in the previous scratch race. However, he has nine points more than Hall and with only three more meetings to go seems unlikely to be beaten in the championships. Last Appearance The English rider, H. Cole, marked his final appearance at the track with three third placings. He would have done much better if he had not had to use a replacement motor In his motor-cycle which was obviously down on power. Afterwards Cole, who holds the New Zealand title, said that he was very sad to leave Christchurch and New Zealand, but hoped to be back next season. R. Wright was the only finisher in the solo scratch race, which had been expected to be one of the highlights of the meeting. On the opening lap the lead changed four times. Cole, T. Black and A. Brown all had

their moment at the front but before the third lap had ended all had been forced to retire with mechanical troubles.

R. Burt provided patrons with a few anxious moments when he rolled his three-quarter midget in the main eight-lap scratch race. He was fortunate to escape with a severe shaking. The race was won in fine style by D. Richens, who led from start to finish. Results: Motor-cycles Novice Solo Handicap, (four laps).—R. Clarkson 1, E. Gluestein 2, G. Gemmett 3. Time, 1:41. Solo Handicap Events (four laps).—Opening race: M. Salt (60yd) 1, A. Nesbitt (60yd) 2, K. Young (go) 3. Time, 89.2 Second race: A. Brown (120 yd 1, R. Wright (110 yd 2, H. Cole (130 yd 3. Time, 91.2. Third race: A. Nesbitt (50yd) 1, M. Salt (60yds) 2, C. Glasson (40yd) 3. Time, 92.7 Fourth, race: R. Wright (70yd) 1, A. Brown (80yd) 2, H. Cole (80yd) 3. Time, 85.9. Fifth race: R. Wright (110 yd 1. C. Glass on (go) 2, H. Cole (120 yd 3. Time, 90.2. Feature Scratch Race (four laps).—R. Wright only finisher. Time, 99.2. Sidecar Combinations (three laps).—Opening handicap: W. Philp and B. Savage (40yd) 1, R. Winstone and K. Perkins (40yd) 2. Time, 93.1. Second handicap: Philp and Savage (40yd) 1, I. Begbie and D. Harper (go) 2. Time, 95.2. Third handicap: Philp and Savage

(60yd) 1, Begbie and W. Savage (go) 2. Time, 94.6.

MIOGCT CARS Three-quarter Midget Racing Cars.—Opening handicap (four laps): S. Unwin (60yd) 1, P. Taylor (100 yd 2, J. Maher (20yd) 3. Time, 95.6. Second handicap (six laps): R. Burt (180 yd) 1, S. Unwin (160 yd 2, P. H. Taylor (100 yd 3. Time, 2.20.7. Scratch race for S.I. championship points (eight laps) : D. Richens 1. D. Harper 2, S. Unwin 3. Time, 2:56 Progress points: D. Harper 40, D. Richens 28, R. Burt 17. Speedcars.—Opening handicap (four laps): R. Mead (160 yd 1„ N. Hawkins (130 yd 2, R. Clive (160 yd 3. Time, 91.8. Rothmans feature scratch (six laps): T. Morris 1, N. Harding 2, R. Clive 3. Time, 2:9.8. Second scratch race (eight laps): T. Morris 1, N. Hawkins 2, T. Hall 3. Time, 2:48.6. Scratch race for S.I. championship (six laps): T. Morris 1, T. Hall 2. N. Hawkins 3. Time, 2:6.2 Progress points: R. Clive 44. T. Hall 35. N. Hawkins 13. STOCK RODS Stock Rod Events.—Opening handicap (four lap«): N. Quirk (80yd) 1. W. Rushbridge (140 yd 2, D. Cameron (140 yd 3. Time, 95.5. Second handicap (six laps): W. Rushbridge (170 yd 1, N. Qulrke (80yd) 2, D. Cameron (170 yd 3. Time, 2.20.1. Scratch race for S.I. championship points (eight laps): P. Annan 1, J. Annan 2, D. Cameron 3. Time, 2:53. Progress points: J. Annan 40, P. Annan 32, D. Cameron 32.