DIRT-TRACK RACING

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 51, 24 November 1930, Page 13

DIRT-TRACK RACING

Riders in Good Form EXCITING CONTESTS ' : ■ ■ * Bishop Wins “Big Nine” Racing at the Kilbirnie Speedway Stadium, on Saturday evening, was fast and exciting. All the riders were in good form, and the first division men provided many thrills for the spectators. The New Zealand riders gave first-rate exhibitions of broadsiding, as did also the two visiting Australians, J. Bishop and C. Anderson, both scratch men. The two main events on the programme were the Miramar Handicap and the Aus-tralian-New Zealand “Big Nine” Invitation Scratch Race. Both were for first division riders. The former was won by W. Viggars, whose time for the four laps was 90 3-ssec. .and the latter by J. Bishop (Australia), whose time was 82 seconds. J. Richards won the Wellington Handicap for second division riders. This race was a departure from the usual type, in that it was only a three-lap contest. There were some very close finishes, especially in the heats 1 for the Miramar Handicap. Several spills occurred during the evening, but only one was serious. A. W. Hunger fell in the second semi-final of the Miramar Handicap, and was out of action for the rest of the programme. He suffered concussion and facial cuts. Detailed results are as follow: — MIKAMAK HANDICAP. Four laps. For first division riders. Standing start. First heat: W. Viggars (4sec.), 1; J. Bishop (Australia) (scr.), 2. Time, 94 l-ssec. B. F. Appleyard fell toward the end of the race, and 8. Palmer rod© off tho track. Second heat:<H. Santi (ssec.), 1; P. McGhee (3sec.), 2; W. Harvie (2sec.), 3. Time, 94 3-ssec. A. V. Radcliffe also started, but pulled out. The finish of this race was almost a dead-heat between Santi and McGhee.Third heat: T. Wilkinson (scr.), 1; V. Mangham (usee.), 2; E. Naylor (2sec.), 3; V. Grove (4sec.), 4. Time, 88sec. There was only half a wheel between Mangham and Naylor. Fourth heat: C. Tonks (2sec.), 1; A. W. Hunger (ssec.), 2; C. I Anderson (Australia) (scr.), 3. Time, 88sec. H. Lucchesi also started, but fell in the third lap. First, semi-final: W. Viggars, 1; P. McGhee, 2. Time, 90 l-ssec. J. Bishop could not get hie cycle to start and H. Santi crashed in the first lap. Second semi-final: C. Tonks, 1; V. Mangham, 2. lime, 87 2-ssec. T. Wilkinson fell in the first lap and A. W. Hunger at' the beginning of the second. Final;W. Viggars, 1; P. McGhee, 2 Time, 00 3-Sscc. Also started: C. Tonks (2sec.) and V. Mangham (ssec.). All riders got away Well, and were having a good race when Tonks fell at the beginning of the second lap, and Mangham at the end of the same lap. Both men remounted later, but neither finished. AUSTRALIA-NEW ZEALAND “BIG NINE” INVITATION SCRATCH RACE. Four laps. Rolling start. First heat: J. Bishop (Australia), 1; E. Naylor, 2. Time, 81see. C. Tonks, when running second, fell in the third lap. When the race was first started, Tonks fell in the first lap and another start had to be made. Secdnd heat: C. Anderson (Australia), 1; W. Harvie, 2; S. Palmer, 3. Time, 85sec. This was the most exciting -race of the night. Harvie stood a good chance, of winning, but had trouble at the last bend, after which he lost ground. Third heat: P. McGhee, 1; V. Grove, 2. Time, 83 3-ssec. T. Wilkinson also started, but fell at the north bend in the second lap. Final: J. Bishop, 1; P. MeGhee, 2. Time, 82sec. C. Anderson also started, but fell when coming into the straight at the end of the third lap. At the end of the first lap. Bishop was leading, with McGhee and Anderson some distance behind. McGhee gradually crept up, and at one stage was almost level with Bishop. Bishop, however, leaped ahead, and finished with a good margin. WELLINGTON HANDICAP. For second division riders. Three laps. Standing start. First heat: F. P. Jones (3sec.), 1; C. R. Tilley (sse&). 2; D. Higgins (Isec.), 3; G. Lowndes (2sec.), 4. Time. 77 3-ssec. Higgins and Lowndes collided just after the finish, which was a very close one, the first three riders being almost abreast. Second heat: J. Richards (Isec.), 1; C. Ussher (scrJ/2; A. Walling (3sec.), .3; J. K. Watt (Isec.), 4. Time, 75 2-ssec. Third heat: R. Hooper (Isec,), 1; J. Leslie (4sec.), 2. Time, 77 3-ssec. L. Rin-aldi-also started, but fell in the last lap. Fourth heat: G. Trllford (Isec.), 1; J. McKay (3sec.), 2. Time, 84 l-ssec. L. McKeenan could not get started. First semi-final: J. Richards. 1: C. Ussher, 2. Time, 73 3-ssec. F. P. Jones and C. R. Tilley also started, but Jones pulled out during the race and Tilley, who was running third, hit the fence and fell just before the finish. . Second semi-final: R. Hooper, 1; J. Leslie. 2; J. McKay. 3. Time, 76sec. G. Trllford also started, but cut a corner in the first lap and had to pull out. Final: J. Richards. 1; J. Leslie, 2: R. Hooper, 3. Time, 75sec. Hooper fell In the first lap, but remounted and finished. C. Ussher also started but fell in the second lap.