ROAD CYCLING

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 242, 9 July 1938, Page 18

ROAD CYCLING

Port Nicholson Open Race

THE WEMBLEY SIX

(By

SPROCKET.)

Port Nicholson riders again dominated the Port Nicholson open cycle race last Saturday. The short distance 2-1 miles, together with the fact that they were’riding on their own course, was largely responsible for this. L. Sowerby won narrowly from N. Gestro, a new rider who has ridden well, for a newcomer. This is Sowerby s first win this season, although his handicap was rather a liberal, one for such an experienced rider. Fastest time wae gained by that crack sprinter J. Wilson, who fought out time honours with another noted fast finisher, O. Disley. The race was rather uneventful but for one bad accident. At the turn in Happy Valley one of the officials, Air. Sowerby, who acted as turn steward, was knocked down by a motorist who ignored his etop signals. He escaped with superficial injuries. Only one of the several riders who were turning there was involved in the smash. Although badly shaken, K. McLeod wae unlucky enough to have bis machine almost entirely wrecked. In the junior race T. Walsh secured fastest time from P. Pollock, Petone, and S.- Webber, Port Nicholson, by a margin of one minute. He put up an excellent performance. R. Howard and the diminutive P. Anderson secured first and second place respectively. During the senior race a strangely garbed rider Was seen in long white tights which aroused considerable comment among both the competitors and spectators. Many assumed he wae an English rider, but it proved to be one ot the scratch riders defying the cold weather.

Wembley Six-day Race. After one of the most spectacular and thrilling six-day races ever witnessed in England, Buysse and Billiet, the tw-o great Belgian riders, won from their Dutch rivals, Slaats and Pellenaers, by 418 pointe. The only team to surpass the winners for speed were the veterans Piet van Kempen and Cor Wais, who secured 139 points above them but were one lap behind. The fastest riding, however, was the sensational display given by Karel Kaers, Belgium, the 1934 world road champion. On the second night, using a gear of 91 inches, he completed the mile in 1.52 2-5. On the Thursday night he put up another wonderful performance by doing one lap of the track, a distance of 17G yards, in 9 3-seec. He is the only rider who has this amazing time to his credit. Tyres supplied by the promoters during the race had green treads to prevent the riders using ultralight sprint tyres, which after some use generally blew out. The fact that Kaers first attempted to use such tyres but was forced by the referee to use the standard ones greatly enhances the merit of his performance. On the Friday evening Kaers broke Goulette 1911 record of 1.51 for the mile by three-fifths of a second. • Robert Naeye was the first casualty of the race, his crash being due to a faulty change-over. The race was on the whole very free of accidents. J. Buckley, Australia, proved himself a worthy partner to Kaers when they formed a new team on the last day. Starting four laps in arrears, they made up two to finish in fifth place. The distance covered by the winners for the 143 hours of riding amounted to 1950.4 miles. The construction of the track required an enormous amount of timber. Twenty miles of wood, weighing approximately 50 tone, and three-quarters of a ton of nails were used to build it. The bankings at their steepest part were 16 feet wide and were set at an angle of 45 degrees. The straights measured 115 feet long and 15 feet wide and were set at an angle of 18 degrees. To" direct the riders during sprints a black line was painted 18 inches above the runway and further above this was another coloured line on which riders were to change partners. Centre’s New Rule.

The Wellington centre has- decided that all riders under its jurisdiction when sending entry forms- for open races must have the forms approved by the centre handicapper. In the event of a rider winning a race after forwarding his entry form he must notify the promoters of the race. To-day’s Race.

The Wairarapa Cycling Club will hold its open race over a distance of 40 miles starting at. ’the Queen’s Hotel, Masterton, at 2.15 p.m. to-day. A bus will leave Bunny Street at 10.30 a.m. for Masterton, and riders are requested to be punctual. Next Week’s Races.

The Poneke club will bold the Aldridge Cup race of 40 miles and a junior 10mile T.T. for the Loader Cup next week. Port Nicholson will hold the Priston ’Cup 22-mile race for the juniors and the Ericsson Cup, 33 miles, for seniors. The Petone club will hold a 35-mile handicap race.