SPEEDWAY THRILLS

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 70, 16 December 1929, Page 23

SPEEDWAY THRILLS

KILMISTER DOMINATES AGAIN ESTABLISHES NEW RECORD MANGHAM FALLS HEAVILY Ten thousand spectators witnessed the motor-cycle races at the Wellington Speedway Stadium, Kilbirnie, on Saturday evening -under ideal weather conditions. The dirt track proved faster than on previous occasions, and this, added to a further improvement in the skill of the riders, resulted in speedier races and a substantial reduction in the existing track record. W. Kilmister, the Wellington rider, was again the dominI ant figure of the evening, winning the final of the First Division Handicap from scratch, with a standing start, in Imin. 29sec., and establishing a new New I Zealand record for a mile, from a rolling start, his time being Imin. 23sec., which is 6 seconds faster than the previous record, held by himself. His new record is only 1 second slower than the Australian record. In his start in the second semi-final of the First Division Handicap Kilmister won, from a standing start, in the record time of Imin. 27 4-ssec., which is 1 l-ssec. faster than his previous record for a rolling start. The match between Kilmister and H. Mangham, the New Zealander who gained fame on the Australian dirt tracks, had to be abandoned after Mangham had crashed three times and was so badly shaken that he could • not continue. The Silver Gauntlet Challenge Race between E. Naylor (holder) and A. Pratt (challenger) was again postponed. The latter’s motor refused to function. Naylor thereupon set out to establish a “B” grade riders* record for one mile from a rolling start, and covered the distance in Imin. 28 2-ssec., which was 3-5 sec. faster than the previous New Zealand record for any grade rider. During an interval in the racing W. Sticpewich, the Australian rider, attempted to lower the one mile, rolling start, record. He covered the first qiiarter of a mile in 21sec., the half-mile in 42 2-ssec.. and then crashed. He was well within the record established prior to Saturday evening, but was 4-ssec. slower than Kiimister’s record on Saturday evening. Sticpewich’s performance, however, was most creditable. He managed to qualify for the first semi-final of the First Division Handicap, but another rider falling in front of him spoilt his chance of a place. R. Ranby, New Zealand light-weight grass-track champion, finished second to Kilmister in the. final of the First Division Handicap, with P. McGhee third and T. Wilkinson fourth. The Second Division Handicap went to T. J. Firth, with ,T. W. Richards second and L. Rinaldi third. All events were a mile, comprising four laps. The meeting was well managed throughout, and there were no avoidable hitches. Falls were fewer than in the past, and the only rider to receive injury was W. Mangham, who cut his upner lip. He fell in four out of five starts. The racing, on the whole, was thrilling. Following are the details of the events:

FIRST DIVISION HANDICAP.—Prizes £l5. £B. £5 and £2: first and second in heats and semi-finals receive £1 and 10/- respectively, if not placed first or second in final. First heat: T. Wilkinson (uses.), 1;

P. McGhee (4sec.), 2; F. Tliarman (Christchurch), (6sec.), 3. V. Rinaldi also started, but his motor gove trouble. Won by 15 yards, 30 yards between second and third. Time, Imin. 36 l-ssec. Second heat: W. Thomas (Christchurch), (4sec.), 1; W. Sticpewich (2 sec.). 2; J. McKay (Tsec.), 3. .McKay fell and remounted. A. Pratt retired owing to a fall. Fifty yards separated each of the placed riders. Time, Imin. 41 1-0 sec. Third heat: C. R. McKenzie (4sec.), 1; R. Ranby (Ssee.), 2; H. Maughan (scr.), 3. Mangham fell in the third lap, but remounted. Won by 40 yards, with 70 yards between second and third. Time, Imin. 38sec. Fourth heat: E. Naplor (lOsec.), 1: M • Kilmister (scr.), 2. T. Morgan and JLawton fell, but the latter remounted. Won by 30 yards. Time. Imin. 36sec. Kiimister’s time was Imin. 2S l-ssec. First semi-final: P. McGhee (4sec.). 1; T. Wilkinson (ssec.), 2. W. Thomas crashed, and AV. Sticpewich nearly coming down over him, pulled up. Won by 50 yards. Time. Imin. 33sec. Second semi-final: W. Kilmister (scr.), 1; R. Ranby (Bsec.), 2; C. R. McKenzie (4sec.), 3. E. Naplor (rehandicapped. Ssee.). also started. Won by 30 yards, with quarter of a lap between second and third. Time, Imin. 27 4-ssec. Ranby’s time was Imin. 37sec. Final. W. Kilmister 1 R. Ranby 2 P. McGhee 3 T. Wilkinson 4 Won by 10 yards, after a thrilling race, with 20 yards between second and third. Kilmister rode brilliantly. Time, Imin. 29secs. SECOND DIVISION HANDICAP. Prizes, £B, £5, £3 and £l. First and second in heats and semi-finals receive £1 and 10/- respectively, if not placed first or second in final. First heat: J. W. Richards (6secs.), 1: A. Blair (scr.), 2. The only other starter, A. C. Rait, had trouble with his machine and was left. Won by 10 yards, with three-quarters of a lap between second and third. Time, Imin 45 4-ssecs. Second beat: D. Phillips (7secs.), 1; L. Rinaldi (scr.), 2. R. Appleyard and H. R. Anderson both fell. Won by 50 yards. Time, Imin 48see. Third heat: W. Viggars (2secs.), 1: H. Luccbessi (scr.), 2; O. Lunduis (7 secs.), 3. A Phillips fell, but remounted. Won by five yards, with 25 yards between second and third. Time, Imin. 42 l-ssecs.

Fourth heat: T. .1. Firth (7secs.), 1; C. Tonks (scr.), 2; J. IV. Burt (scr.), 3. J. Woodcock (Bsecs.) also started. Won by 110 yards, with 20 yards between second and third. Time, Imin 43secs. First semi-final: J. W. Richards (6 secs.), 1; A. Blair (scr.), 2; L. Rinaldi (scr.), 3. D. Phillips also started. Won by 100 yards, with 30 yards between second anil third. Time, Imin 44secs. Second semi-final: 7/ J. Firth (4secs.). 1; W. Viggars (2secs.). 2; H. Lucehessi (scr.), 3. Won by 100 yards, with 120 yards between second and third. Time, Imin 41 4rssec. Lucchessi’s motor gave trouble. Final. T. J. Firth (4sec.) 1 J. W. Richards (6sec.) - A. Blair (scr.) « W. Viggars retired owing to motor trouble. , Won by five yards, with.quarter of a lap between second and third. Time, Imin. 41 _ 4-ssec. SPECIAL INVITATION RACE — H. Mangham (Australia) and W. Kilmister (New Zealand). Winner to be first in two out of three heats. In the first attempt, after a good rolling start, Mangham crashed at the first bend and gashed his upper lip. Another start was made, and Mangham fell again ifi the same place. At the third attempt the referee ruled a “false start:” At the fourth attempt another “false start was ruled, but not before Mangham fell heavily. As Mangham was considerably

shaken by his three falls the race was abandoned.

SPECIAL RECORD-BREAKING ATTEMPT ON ONE-MILE RECORD (previous to Saturday night, Imin. 29sec., held by W. Kilmister). Kilmister himself was invited to make the attempt. From a rolling start he rode magnificently and succeeded in lowering the record by 6 seconds. His times were: Quarter-mile, 20 4-ssec.; halfmile, 41 3-s§ec.; three-quarters of a mile, Imin. 2see.; one mile, Imin. 23sec. Kilmister received a tumult of applause when the result was known. , SILVER GAUNTLET. The final of the Silver Gauntlet, which had been postponed from the previous Saturday owing to E. Naylor (the holder) being unable to get his motor to function, was again postponed, as the challenger. A. Pratt, had similar trouble. Naylor thereupon essayed to establish a one-mile (rolling start) record for “B” grade riders. He covered the mile in Imin. 28 2-ssee.. which’prior to Saturday evening was 3-5 of a second faster than the track record by an “A” grade rider. His times were: Quarter-mile, 22sec.: half-mile. 44sec.; three-quarter mile, 66 2-sscc.; one mile. Imin. 28 2-ssec.