Commentary On Competition

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33625, 29 August 1974, Page 10

Commentary On Competition

NEW CHASSIS The leading Christchurch sidecar racer, Ivan Clarke, has had a new chassis built up for his Kawasaki-powered machine and has high hopes of some improved performances next season. The chassis was constructed by the reigning New Zealand sidecar champion, Stan Corbett, in. Blenheim, Although most racers appear to favour a left-hand sidecar, Clarke has retained his sidecar on the right. He expects to use the same Kawasaki twostroke triple which brought him limited success last season but is still on the lookout for a Kawasaki 900 unit. “We haven’t been able to find one yet that is a reasonable price,” Clarke will again be fully sponsored by Norjo Motors, Ltd. CUSTOM EVENT The first official run for the newly-formed Christchurch Custom Motor-cycle Association will be held on Saturday and Sunday. It will begin at 10 a.m. at the Northlands shopping centre and proceed to Gore Bay, near Cheviot. Riders will stay overnight on the beach at Gore Bay and return to Christchurch on Sunday afternoon. The patron of the association, the Minister of Police (Mr Connelly), will start the motor-cycles and their support vehicles on their way. POSTPONED

The opening round of the South Island Gold Star moto-cross series, which was to have been held at Teddington on September 22, has been pbstponed untjl October 6 because of the wet weather. The course at Teddington has become saturated with water and access has also become a problem.

NEW FORMAT A sub committee consisting of Messrs K, Duncan (Dunedin), M. R. Butler and W. Campbell (both Christchurch) has been established by the New Zealand Auto Cycle Union to prepare a new format for this seasons South Island Gold Star moto-cross series. Because of the tremendous increase in the number of competitors, the old system of having three heats in each class at every meeting is no longer workable. Some form of competition which involves heats and a final is almost certain to be introduced. Mr Butler has indicated that entries will be closed on a certain date before every meeting and that no late entries will be accepted. Clubs are to be encouraged to produce printed programmes. UNRESOLVED The appeals to the New Zealand Auto Cycle Union regarding the rejection of late entries by the Tai Tapu club at the final Gold Star meeting of last season have still not been resolved. The union was scheduled to meet on August 10 in Auckland but because of accommodation problems it was postponed until September 14. The appeals are expected to be considered at this meeting. MISSING TROPHY The inter-island motocross trophy is still in Christchurch in the hands of members of the South Island team. The trophy mysteriously went missing after the North had won the annual contest at Wairarapa in April. The suggestion made at the time that it was spirited away by members of the South Island team later proved not to be without foundation. The South Island riders are now contemplating having the trophy suitably engraved. SCRUTINEERING New Zealand Auto Cycle Union stewards arb planning to toughen up m scrutineering in the season now approaching. At their recent meeting, a decision ts appoint chief scrutineers in each district was made. They will oversee the work of the normal scrutineers.