SOME FINE RACING

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 131, 1 December 1930, Page 15

SOME FINE RACING

BISHOP'S GOLDEN HELMET

The speedway crown, termed the "Golden Helmet," was won at the Kilbirnie Stadium on Saturday night by the noted Queensland cinder-track motor-cyclist, J. Bishop, who was opposed by two o£ New Zealand's best riders, W. Kilmister and T. Wilkinson, in the final race for the trophy. Bishop reeled off the. four laps of the final in 81 3-ssec, time which was splendid in view of the strong northerly wind. With such a fine trio in the final a battle royal was expected, and when the riders flashed away on a_ flying start there was a thrilling tussle for the lead on the first bend. The Australian was just too good, and while he led the way, Kilmister and Wilkinson had a great duel as far as the next bend, where Wilkinson fell. The race was stopped, each* ridei^ being allowed a fall in the first lap. The re-start was just as thrilling, and this time Wilkinson came down in a great shower^of cinder on the northern bend, leaving Kilmister to fight it out with Bishop. Kilmister's machine did not appear to be at its best, and Bishop maintained a comfortable lead, though he gave a fine display all the way. He had" a groat reception on being presented with the Golden Helmet by Mr. T. Coltman, chairman of the New Zealand Speedways Association and Wellington Speedways. Kilmister, who was making his first appearance after a season in England, was able to demonstrate that he has lost none of his. former brilliance. He put up an excellent performance in winning his heat of the Golden Helmet contest. Both he and Ranby were given a rousing "welcome home' when they appeared on the track early in the evening. Quite the best race o£ the night, and one of the best ever seen on the track, was' the first heat of the Consolation Scratch, in which the riders were Harvie, Tonks,. and Palmer. ■ At the outset Tonks was cut out, but he gradually made up tlie lost ground and engaged in a great tussle with Harvie, whom ho actually passed before the last lap was entered. Harvie opened out on straightening up for the last time and won narrowly. Tonks turned the tables on Harvie in the final. Harvie gave some vfiry spectacular displays, and his fine efforts carried him to victory in the Grand Welcome Handicap, in which V. Mangham was second. Wilkinson crashed in the final of this event, and the Queenslanders, Bishop and Anderson, were eliminated in the semi-finals, Bishop having trouble with his machine, an experience which also befell Kilmister in one of the heats. The racing had many interesting and exciting features, and there were quite a few extra thrills from spills. In a heat of the Silver Gauntlet —the second division trophy, which was won by D. Roberts, with J; Richards second—all three riders fell, two crashing almost simultaneously. None, however, was seriously hurt. Viggars received a nasty jar. when ho struck the fence in a heat of the handicap. Harvie and Wilkinson made the best times from a standing start—B9see and 80 3-ssec respectively. Bishop's 81 3-ssec was the fastest from a flying start, but Tonks and Kilmister were not far behind, each registering 82 3-ssee. -Wilkinson was next best with 83sec. The fastest laps were by Bishopj who covered one in 20see and each of two others in 20 1-Ssee. Tonks, Harvie, and Kilmister all registered 20 2-5 see for a lap. It was stated during the evening that team racing would be held next Saturday, the teams being captained by Bishop and Kilmister. ~