SPEEDWAY Allan wins in record time

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33706, 2 December 1974, Page 12

SPEEDWAY Allan wins in record time

A record-breaking win by M. Allan in the 10-lap supermodified car feature race was the highlight of the speedway meeting at Templeton on Saturday night.

Allan came from behind with a drive of rare skill to defeat the New Zealand champion, P. Annan, by more than a third of a lap. But Annan not only lost the race. He also lost the 10-lap record he set last season. The timekeepers credited Allan with 3min 17.8 sec for he race of two miles and a half — I.2sec faster than Annan’s record. Allan was also close to Annan’s lap record of 19sec. His best time was only two-tenths of a second outside this. Allan must now rate as one of the strongest challengers for Annan’s crown when the 1974-75 New Zealand championship is held at Templeton later this month. But Saturday’s competition indicated that Allan will not be the only local driver Annan will have to watch. In an earlier eight-lap event, R. Gleeson led for five! laps in his American-designed, sprint car. Both he and Allan? who was running a close second, had outdistanced Annan. They were both well within! record schedule when disaster; struck. Gleeson allowed the tail! of his car to swing out too far’ on the Prison Bend, and lost momentum — and Allan was j left with nowhere to go. He' smashed into Gleeson, and they! both came to a grinding halt. Annan went on to gain the easi-! est of victories. Gleeson had previously demon-! strated the potential of his new! car by comfortably winning the opening scratch race from Annan and S. Everett.

ROSS IMPRESSES The young solo rider, L. Ross, must be strongly favoured to till one of the two vacant places in the New Zealand team to race against the British league rider’s team in the final test at Templelon next Saturday. He was beaten only once in three starts in the scratch events. The rider who ended Ross’s hopes of a hat trick was S. I’oster, who waited until the final motor-cycle event of the night to produce some of the form which promised to carry him to the highest honours in the sport two seasons ago. After an abortive trip to England. Foster never realised his lull potential, and this season he has been a mere shadow of his former self. However, he showed that he was still capable of reaching the lop in this final race. He took the lead on the first lap, and, once in front he never looked like being caught. His time of ?>o.ssec was the fastest of the night and he must now come under consideration for a place in the New Zealand team. But in team racing, consistency is regarded highly and for this reason the second place will probably go to G. Rhodes, who was twice runner-up to Ross. T.| Black, another leading contender, won his qualifying heat but was; lot down by his machine. He was leading the super six final! when he was forced out at the, end of the first lap.

CASUALTY There was one casualty in the, motor-cycle racing. P. Fewings, was taken from the track by ambulance after being Hung intci the safety fence on the first’ corner of the first A grade han dicap race. He was knocked out ■ by the impact, but later rc l

covered in the pits. His machine was so badly damaged that it had to be removed by a tow truck. The fence also suffered. A section of about 6ft had to be replaced before racing could resume. Honours were well spread in the sideear class. L. Dwight and S. Unwin recovered from an unnerving confrontation with the safety fence in the opening handicap event to claim a second and a first in the two scratch races. The other scratch winners were I. Begbie and A. Henrey. The New Zealand three-quarter midget car champion, R. Burf, gained his first win of the season in the final eight-lap feature. He was under constant pressure from N. Chandler, who had won the two previous races, but was equal to the occasion. Results were:— MOTOR-CYCLES Novice solo final (four laps).—K. Robinson 1, W. Aldridge 2, G. Fanskitt 3. Time, 88.2. B grade scratch events (four laps).—First qualifying heat: W. Irvine 1, VV. Skilling 2, M. Ritchie 3. Time. 92.0. Second heat: P. Salt 1. B. McMillan 2, L. Chatterton 3. Time, 85.7. Consolation race: T Jemmett 1, G. Bennett 2. K. Robinson 3. Time, 89.6. Final: W. Irvine 1, B. McMillan 2, M. Ritchie 3. Time, 83.5. A grade handicap events (four laps).—First race: B. McMillan (go), 1, T. Black (20vd), 2. G. Rhodes (20yd) 3. Time, 82.2. Second race: W. Irvine (go) 1. D. Sincock (10yd) 2, S. Foster (20yd). 3. Time, 82.6.

A grade solo scratch events | (four laps).—First qualifying heat: L. Ross 1. G. Rhodes 2, B. Read 3. Time: 81.0. Second heat: ! T. Black 1. IV. Irvine 2. S. Foster 3. Time. 81.2. Pall Mall scratch: D. Sincock 1. G. Stewart 2, R. Abel 3. Time, 81.2. Tommv’s ! Suzuki Centre Super Six: Ross 1, Rhodes 2. Read 3. Time. 82.1. Ballins flying four: Foster 1. ! Ross 2, Read 3. Time. 80.5. Sidecars (four laps).—Qualify. Img race: B. Turner and W. Turner 1, K. French and P. I French 2, D. Arnold and R. Arnold 3. Time. 1:41.4. Edox handicap: H. Jones and B. Beadle | (70yd) 1. French and French (go) ?-L. Be S bie and A. Henrev (70yd) 3. Time, 93.4. Rex Russell scratch: Befbie and Henrey 1, L. Dwight ?■ Unwin 2, Jones and Beadle 3- Time. 86.0. Tommy’s Suzuki , Centre feature; Dwight and Unwin 1, Beghie and Henrev 2 Turner and Turner 3. Time, 83.4. CARS Three-quarter midget cars.— Auto Salvage handicap (six laps): N. Chandler (8O'd) 1. R. Whiting (lOvd) 2. D. Cawlev (40yd) 3. Crowe Garage scratch (six laps): Chandler 1. R. Burt 2. W. Denolyan 3. Time, 2.78. Garden Cify Motors feature (eight laps): Burt 11' , 2, Denovan 3. Time. 2:JK j. Midget cars.—-Wvnn’s feature ! 'six lans): B Ju’ett 1, L. Millar 9 . M. Burt 3. Time. 2:6.5. Pall ;*Jali feature (ei"ht lans): Burt i. K. Pro^tor 2. Firostnne scratch 'eight boo: Caldwell 1 K. , Proctor 2. M. P"rf 3. Time, 2 T-.S. Suoer modified —Fdov scratch (si'- ]*ns»- R. Gl<*es**n 1. Ann*n 2. S. Everett 3. Fnrrv Poad Rvbadub scratch ’ausr P. Ar*'an 1, T. 2 K 'Vnnd« 3. Timp, ”-47. Featu*’*' ‘lo l a*'«v M Allan P £ Everett 3. Time.i 13:17.8 (record.*.