HALL WAS RIGHT

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32563, 24 March 1971, Page 36

HALL WAS RIGHT

$5O win at speedway

The former South Island midget car champion, R. T. Hall, had his most profitable night of the season at the Ttempleton Speedway on Saturday without even going on to the track. Hall won $5O in a wager with the Auckland driver, D. Harding, who, in amoment of rashness, had announced at a drivers’ meeting the previous week that he would break the lap record on Saturday night. The record of 19.2 sec was set by Hall in 1968. Harding agreed to pay the experienced Christchurch driver $5O if his attempt failed. Hall, in reply, offered Harding $lOO if he could better 19.5 sec for a lap. The stakes were held by the South Island champion, J. McKitterick. On the night, Hall and several other enthusiasts clocked Harding from the embackment The Auckland driver failed to better 20.5 sec, although he won the eightlap feature scratch race with a commanding display. “I couldn’t see him doing it without a Jato bottle attached to his car,” Hall said yesterday.-“ There is no grip in the track at present. I offered to call the bet off on several occassions but he seemed confident he could break the record.” Hall was admitted to hospital yesterday for a corrective operation on his right leg. He broke both legs many years ago (not in speedway) and one had never completely healed. He expects to be in hospital for about a week.

Athletics. The Australian champion sprinter, E. Bigby, and C. Fisher, this year’s winner ot the Australian 1500 metres championship, are to compete in the Hastings Highland Games.