SPEEDWAY THRILLS ATTRACT PUBLIC

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 113, 6 February 1935, Page 13

SPEEDWAY THRILLS ATTRACT PUBLIC

Sport Growing Overseas AUSTRALIAN STARS IN WELLINGTON Two well-known dirt-track riders, Messrs. L. Van Praag and R. Case, arrived at Wellington by the Monowai from Sydney on Monday to ride at the Kilbirnie Stadium on Saturday. Both have ridden at numerous important speedways in Australia and England, and stated that the sport was being followed more enthusiastically than ever in those countries.

Mr. Van Praag rides for the Wembley team in England, but this summer has been in Sydney with the English representatives, riding in all the tests. These tests, he said, were official, being authorised by the Auto-cycle Union, the British organisation which controls motor-cycle racing throughout the world, except the United States of America. Last season tests were held in England, and were won by Australia. He represented England in a number of these. Australia had won two out of the three held in Australia this season. The greatest crowds that had ever attended the speedways were watching dirt-track racing in Sydney this season, the spectators numbering forty thousand on occasions. The sport was so popular in England that 80,000 attended the first test at Wembley last season, and 74.000 the last test.

Racing with the miniature motor-cars similar to those introduced to dirttracks in other overseas countries, had been tried in Melbourne without great success, said Mr. Van Praag, the engines fitted to the machines not being powerful enough. Mr. Case’s home is in Queensland, but he has ridden a great deal in England as well as in his own country, having captained Walthamstow in the competitions in England. Among the prominent riders he has defeated arc “Tiger” Stevenson and Eric Langton, and he has competed in every test held in Australia. Mr. Case said that electric starting is now used on the English dirt-tracks, and is being introduced to Australia. By this system false starts are avoided without resort to rolling starts, the machines being lined up behind a barrier somewhat similar to the devices used, on racecourses, with their engines running, and. the riders starting their mounts by letting in the clutches. Both Van Praag and Case have been Australia’s outstanding riders in the test matches for the past three years. In the test match against England in Sydney in December last Van Praag scored eight out of a possible nine points, and Case scored seven points. Case, with B. Wilkin-

son as partner, scored the maximum 15 pionts in one test. Australia won the first test in December, scoring 37 points to England's 17, Respite the fact that the Old Country was represented by such riders as Tiger Stevenson (captain), Eric Langton, Joe Abbott, Frank Varey, Clin Parkinson and Wai Phillips. In the second test match, at Melbourne, Australia won by seven points, Case scoring eight points out of a possible nine, and Van Praag scored five, owing to meeting with engine trouble. In the third test, at Sydney, England won an exciting contest uy one point. Van Praag fell in this test, and Wilkinson, his partner, was disqualified after winning his heat. “Teams’ races have made the sport in England,” said Van Praag, “and it attracts far larger crowds than any other sport. No fewer than 84,000 attended the first test nt West Ham, whieh was won by Australia, who consequently took ‘The Ashes.’ Moro people attended the dirt-trncli racing in England in.one night last year then attended the cricket Test between Australia and England in three days.”

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiliiiiliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiininiHHfl! 1 The appearance of “Bowls Without Bias,” which is usually published on Wednesdays, thus been postponed this 4 week. It will be published to-morrow. Illlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllinillllllllllllllllllllllll