MOTOR-CYCLE RODEO

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 73, 19 December 1935, Page 15

MOTOR-CYCLE RODEO

Daring Riding By Visiting Americans SPECTACULAR EVENTS There was a good attendance at the Kilbirnie Stadium last evening to view the display by the visiting American Motor-cycle and Radio Circus under the leadership of Putt Mossman. The events, which consisted of stunt and trick riding by Mossmai), assisted by his wife, a miniature tourist trophy race, polo, balloon bursting and races against time, were run off with the minimum of delay. All the participants showed remarkable control over their machines, handling them with great skill and daring. An attempt on the track record of 76 sec. was made by M. Trujillo during the evening, but although he made the cinders fly the best time he could return was 80 of the programme were the stunts performed by the American chainpion and his wife. This pair gave a truly wonderful display of intricate balancing and perfect timing. Mossman also gave a solo display, riding side-saddle, leaping from one side of hi« machine to the other and standing upright on the saddle, leaving the handlebars unattended. These tricks . were all performed while travelling at high speed. Ladder Climb. After his failure on Saturday night, Mossman was particularly keen to succeed in his ladder climb and after a couple of preliminary essays he finally stepped over the top rung and climbed down the other side, from wheie he immediately reversed the process, regaining his seat amid hearty applause. He repeated the feat twice and the crowd was not slow to show its appreciation. Special mention should be made of the. riding by Miss Dessie Grant, who more than held her own against her more formidable team-mates, winning a balloon bursting competition in which the competitors, with balloons tied to the back of their helmets, circled round each other endeavouring to burst them withshort rubber truncheons, the last rider with an intact balloon being the winner. This event was quite spectacular, the riders throwing up showers of cinders and tumbling off their machines in their endeavours to reach their opponents. Blindfold Ride.. Another excellent stunt'was the blindfold ride by Mossman over his wife and Pee Wee Cullum. With Mrs. Mossman and Cullum lying at right angles at the end . t a twenty-foot plank raised about two fest at one end, Mossman, with a, hood over his head, took a 50-yard run, speeded up the plank and cleared his wife and Cullum by inches. It was a marvellous display of accuracy on the part of the rider, and the human obstacles showed, great nerve in remaining motionless while the heavy machine leapt over them.No circus is complete without a clown, and this role was filled by the diminutive Pee Wee Cullum, who, clad in the usual regalia, amused .the spectators with his humorous attempts to imitate Mossman’s stunts. The tourist trophy race was a thrilling affair, the starters riding over a miniature course with obstacles placed at intervals on the track. This event was won by B. Lisman from scratch, Miss Dessie Grant falling when in a winning position. The climax of the show was the attempt by Mossman to ride through it burning board fence erected at the north end of the ground. The fence, which was about eight feet square, and built of inch planking, was saturated with motor spirit and ignited. Mossman, wearing no protective covering other than his leather riding suit and helmet, took a hundred yards run, tore down the field, and with a roar crashed through the structure, the blazing timbers flying in all directions. It was an unsurpassed piece of daring, and he thoroughly deserved tile applause he received. ,