Doecke Surprise T.T. Winner

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32117, 13 October 1969, Page 18

Doecke Surprise T.T. Winner

Although the highlight of the New Zealand miniature T.T. championship at Clarkvilla yesterday was the brilliant riding of the Palmerston North scrambler, A. Collison and M. Shirriffs, it was the consistency of P. Doecke (Christchurch) in each of the races which finally won him the title. Doecke recorded three third platings and a second in the four heats to gain a total of 25 Points, which enabled him to beat Collison and Shirriffs by one point and two points, respectively. Collison and Shirriffs provided the thrilling duels throughout th* day’s racing, but both were plagued with fault* to their machines at th* most vita (..stages. Collison woft three of the heats with apparent ease but had already jeopardised his chances of winning the ehampionship in the .first heat when his brakes jammed and he . finished out Of. the first eight places. Shirriffs, too, rode brilliantly to record a first placing and two seconds and he needed only;* reasonable plating in the last best to take the How-

ever, bad luck again intervened when his engine cut out in the third lap and he could only manage an eighth placing. The . young Dunsandel scrambler, It. Mapper, rede extremely well to finish fourth with a total aggregate of 21, after finishing with a steady second, two fourths and a filth placing in the four heats. There were some disappointments for the organisers (the New, Brighton club). P.and o. Naylor (Auckland) and P. and n. Bavin (Hastings) failed to arrive for the event.. I. Boorer (Tlmarul was unable to start in the first heat because of condenser trouble And later scratched from the others. G. Holland (Christchurch), one of the pre-race favourites, had fuel trouble with hie see c.c. C.Z. and could only manage a fourth placing In the final heat oh a borrowed machine. In the fitst heat, Collison got away to a great start and with out. However, the brakes on Collison's machine jammed in the third lap and he was never able to make up the lost ground. Shirrifts opened up a lead the length of the back straight and maintained it throughout the rest of the 10 laps. Holland could make no Impression on him on his light machine and fellright back at the seventh Jh Vddstrom (Blenheim), on a e.c. Bitza, began well but then blew the ,gearbox of his I

uiacnine ane new to witnaraw (rom the event. The second heat was of *. similar pattern as the faster riders quickly drew away from the bunch. Shirriff* and Collison had a tremendous battle In trying to maintain the leading position and th* lead Changed hands several timet. By the sixth lap Collison had opened up a 10-length lead on Shirriffs but then his brakes jammed again and Shirriffs went ahead. However, Collison was able to overcome this handicap and Surge ahead of his opponent, finally crossing the finish line With a lead of half the straight. Collison never relinquished the lead he took at the grid in the third heat and rode off each .lap with an almost monotonous precision. Shlrrlffs and Doecke chased hard but the lead was never in doubt. When Shirriffs machine broke down in the third lap of the final heat, Collison was faced with little opposition. However, the fight tor the minor placing* was the most exciting of ill the rices as Doecke, A. fismiston, Holland, and G. Reid tried to attain supremacy. Holland's ride was an especially plucky performance for he laid his borrowed machine down twice In the third lap but fought back gamely to claim tourib placing. Results were:— New Zealand Open Miniature T.T. Championship.—First heat <lO laps): M. Shirriff* (Palmerston North). 330 e.c. Husqvarna. ; 3U c.e. 2;- K

c.c. Monteua, 4: R. Kllrour (Christchurch). 300 c.c. Metlaao, 3; B. Reid (Kaiapoi), 300 e.e. 8.5. A., «;,W. Wlgsel. 350 e.e. B.S.A. 7; M. Shurety (Christchurch). 250 c.c. Bultaco, 3. Secodd heat: A. Colliseh Eorston North), soo e.c. 0:23.2,, 1: Shirriff* 2, * 3, Hamper 4. G. Reid I. B. Retd 5. Kllgour 7, N. MeTalnsh, SOO e.e. 8.5. A., 3. Third beat: Collison, 0:33.2, 7: Shirriffs 2, Doecke 3, Happer A. A. Sablston (Christchurch), 3*o c.c. Greeves. S: Wigzel *. Kllgour 7, G. Reid S. Fourth heat: Collison, 0:37, V Doecke 2, Sablston 3, Holland 4, Happer S. Kllgour 5, G. Ret* 7, Shirriffs 8. Final points: Doecke 25. Ij Collison 24, 2; Shirriff* 23, 3; Happer 21. 4; G. Reid 12. 5: Kllgour 11, 5: Sablston 10, 7; B. Reid 8,8: Wigzel and Hollan* 5 (equal), •; Sherity and MeTalnsh 1 (equal), 11. Seaview 250 c.c. Scratch <S laps).—G. Holland 1, G. Reid. 250 c.c. Montoss*, 2; K. Mil** 3. . Castrol Scratch (* laps).—A. Sabiston. 3*3 c.c. Greaves. 4:44.3, 1: Kllgour, 500 e.e. Metiaao, 2; P. Doecke, 3M C.Z., 3. Clsrkvill* Scratch U laps).— G. Reid, 250 c.c. Monte***. 5:53.3, 2; K. Milo* 2, R. Rot*. 2M C.C. C.Z., 2. Darby Martin Scratch <3 laps).—G. Holland, 4:51, 1; K. Mlles 1, Wtgzel. 350 c.c. 8.8. A., Now Brighton all in Scratch tfi lap*).—M. fihtrrlffs 1, A. Collison 2, P. Doeeke 3.