Spectacular Crash At Speedway

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31335, 4 April 1967, Page 18

Spectacular Crash At Speedway

A spectacular threemachine crash In the final, and the subsequent disqualification from the rerun of T. Black, were features ot the South Island solo speedway motor-cycle championship, held at Templeton last evening.

Black made a brilliant start In the final to lead the field Into the first corner, but at the apex of the bend his machine swung broadside on to the track, R. Wright, following close behind, hurtled straight into it, and G. Ray added to the confusion when he slammed Into the two fallen riders at full throttle.

Although disqualified from the re-run . for causing the plle-up—one of the worst since racing began at TempletonBlack would have been unable to take part because of a broken collarbone. Apart from a few bruises, the other riders were not hurt. In the four-lsp rerun the defending champion, A. Brown, the only finalist not involved in the crash, somersaulted his machine at the start and although he managed to remount, was never again in the race. The final and championship was won by Wright on a machine borrowed from Black. Ray was second in the final but on a count-back of points Brown took the runner-up position. Black was third and Ray fifth. Wright was unbeaten on the night and although the two favourites, Brown and Black, eliminated themselves from the finish he thoroughly deserved his title. His winning time of 82sec in the fianl was outsanding on a strange motor-cycle. Brown had some consolation for the loss ot his title by recording the fastest time of the night. He won hie first heat in 80.3 sec. The championship was decided on points over nine heats and a final for the four leading scorers. The new South Island speedcar champion, R. Clive, was In impressive form to win the main eight-lap scratch race in the good time of 2mln 48.5 sec. N. Hawkins was also in good form, winning the other two speedcar races on the programme. W. Rushbridge set ■ new record of 2mln IS.Ssec In the six-lap stock rod handicap but was disqualified from all placing's for starting off the wrong mark. Results were:— MOTOR-CYCLCS South Island Solo Championship (4 laps).—First heat: A.

Brown 1, C. Glasson 2, K. Young 3. Time, 80.5. Second heat: T. Black 1, G. Ray 2, I. Begble 3. Time, 83.3. Third heat: R. Wright 1, A. Neabltt 2. M. Salt 3. Time, 82.2. Fourth heat: Black 1, Nesbitt 2, K. Young : 3. Time, 84.6. Fifth heat: I Wright 1, J. Jewell 2, Begbie 3. Time, 81.7. Sixth heat: i Brown 1, Bay 2, R. Jemmett 3. Time, 85.1. Seventh heat: Black i 1, Nesbitt 2, Begble 3. Time, 84.4. Eighth heat: Brown 1. Ray 2, Salt 3. Time, 83.7. Ninth i heat: Wright 1, K. Young 2. Jemmett 3. Time, 85.2. Runoff for fourth finalist: Ray 1. Nesbitt 2. Time 87.2. South Island Solo Championship Final (4 lap*).—R. Wright 1, G. Ray 2, A. Brown 3. Time, 82.04. Overall pointe Wright, 12, 1; Brawn, 10, 2; T. Black, 9,3; Ray, 8,4; A. Nesbitt, 6, S. Novice Solo Event (4 lap*).— R. Clarkson 1, G. Jemmett 2. R. Hill 3. Time, 92.0. Sidecar Handicap* (4 lap*).— First event: I. Begbie and D. Harper (go) 1, W. Philp and B. Savage (80yd«) 2, R. Winstone and K. Perkin* (40yds) 3. Time, 94.2. Second event: Begble and Harper (go) 1, Winstone and Perkins (20yds) 2. TitnfL 93.4. Third event: Begbie and Harper (go) I, Philp and Savage <6oyds) 2, Winstone and Savage (40yds) 2. Time, 93.0. MIDGOT CARS Three-quarter Midget Racing Cars.—Opening handicap (4 laps): D. Richens (140 yd*) 1. P. Taylor (110yds) 2, J. Maher (go) 3. Time, 92.0. Second handicap (6 laps): D. Richens (160yds) 1. R. Burt (160yds) 2, J. Maher (go) 3. Time 2:13.8. Scratch race for South Island championship points <8 laps): S. Burt 1. J. McKlherick 2, R. Burt 3. Time, 2:53.0. Speedcars.—Opening handicap (4 laps): N. Hawkins (150 yds) 1, A. Cole* (150yds) 2. G. Trekink (50yds) 3. Time. 88.8. Rothman's feature scratch (* laps): N. Hawkins 1, R. Clive 2. T. Hall 3. Time. 2:8.3. Scratch race for South Island championship points (8 laps): B. Clive 1, N. Hawkina 2, M. Sloan 3. Time. 2:48.5. STOCK RODS Stock Rods.—Opening handicap (4 laps): D. Cameron <l2O yds) 1, W. Rusbridge (150yds) 2. P. Annan (160yds) 3. Time. 94.9. Second handicap (6 laps): P. Annan (180yds) 1. J. Annan (180yds) 2, B. Harbrow (20yds) 3. Time, 2:13.8. Scratch race for South Island championship point* (8 laps): P. Annan 1. W. Rusbridge 2, J. Annan 3. Time, 2:51.4.