THE MOTOR SECTION

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 72, 26 March 1931, Page 19

THE MOTOR SECTION

NEW ZEALAND T.T.

I/reparations are being made for a New Zealand Tourist Trophy race to bo held next month. Tho x'rimc mover in tho event is the Aucklaud Sports Motor-cyclo Club, which has the ap-' proval of the A.C.U. for the meeting to bo held under the auspices of the club. It is ilkely that the race will be held on Waiheke Island. Advice from Auckland states that tho officers of the club have inspected the roads on Waikhekc and state that conditions there aro ideal for a tourist race. Tho club has written, to the Waiheke Road Board asking permission to hold tho raco on the island, and pointing out that it will porbably draw a big crowd to the various resorts for the week-end. Waiheke is considered the best place in New Zealand for such an event, us it would not interfere with traffic on any main routes, and thcro aro normally very few vehicles on the island itself. In any case, the club is determined to hold the meeting, if it is humanly possible to do so, and in the event of it being refused permission by tho AVaiheko Road Board it will approach some of the other local bodies. In communication with tho A.C.U., the club pointed out that tho form shown by tho riders in a local T.T. race would bo a guide to the union in the choice of representatives for tho Isle of Man meeting next year, and to this tho union agreed. The race will therefore be held under the supervision of the A.C.U., ar.d it is expected that most of ■ the riders who aspire to representing the Dominion in the Isle of Man contest will compete. Wellington's Finale. . Many notable performances have been registered at the Kilbirnib' Stadium this season,.and it is on tho cards t at there will bo further additions.to tho list as a result of doings in the various events to be decided at the iinal meeting on Saturday night, Kilmister and van Praag will bo. on the ,job, and these two should account for some very fast moving. Others will be there in plenty to assist in giving the final flourish to tho season's events. The Golden Helmet is to be won on Saturday night, and the cup for aggregate points is also to be handed over tc tho winner. Kilminster and Mattson. The much-debated question as to which is the better rider, Kilmister or Mattson, is still unsolved. It is to Mattson's credit, however, that ho holds the New Zealand championship title. Those two fine riders hav.o met for tho last time this season, and as a result of their series of contests it seems that Kilmister is the better ou the Wellington track, and Mattson the better on tho Auckland track. In any case, there is not much between them, with Kilmister showing tho faster times. ■ After their match races at Auckland last Saturday, when Mattson won both, the two New Zealand stars come together again in the final of the Big Nine. This time they provided an unexpected sensation, as shown in the following report in tho Auckland "Star":— Mattson and Kilmiste-r were con-

corned in a sensational crash, one of the most spectacular seen ou tho track for along time. After half a dozen falsestarts, Anderson, Kilmister, and Mattson got away in the linal of the Big Nine, in that order of placing. Matlson, determined' to get tho iusulo running, opened his throttlo wide in tho first bond'in a magnificent effort t., ride round tho field. As tho riders came out of the bend Mattson was a length ahead, but he was tavclling so fast that lie gut into a terrific slide, and could not "pick his machine up." Ho crashed and rolled along tho track. Kilniistur, travelling almost as fast, had no time' W"tnTow"his lnofrir' down, antl' a.ppeared to ride over Mattson. Kilmistcr was thrown into the air, somersaulted, and fell near Mattson. Whitecoated officials and ambulance men raced to the aid of the fallen riders. Kilmister recovered quickly, but Mattson had an arm of his leathers hopelessly tangled-up in Kilmister's machine, and iiis suit had to be cut before he could be released. After a time, ho got up and walked away, to the cheers of the crowd. It was an astonishing escape from serious injury. Mattson, suffering from concussion, wanted to ride .again, but tho doctor barred him. It was a very disappointed Mattsoii. who watched the AustraliaNew Zealand match race from the pits. A Fine Spirit. Both Mattson and Kilmister rode brilliantly on Saturday night at Western Springs. They know no fear. They have . courage, brilliance, daring, and skill; both are true sports, who ride for the sheer joy of. riding (states the Auckland "Star"). Between them, there is very ■ little difference. The vanquished of one race is' the conqueror in tho next, and there is grim rivalry between them, but when they represent their country, ill 1 those things arc forgotten, and they ride with the will to win supreme. They are real stars, Kilmister and Mntlsou, and both have announced that they propose to light hard for dirt track laurels for New Zealand. It is a fine spirit, typical of the. riders. In addition to Mattson and Kilmister there will be other New Zealandcrs competing 'in' England this year. Bray and Tollcy will be the Dominion's representatives at the Isle of Man, and Blacklock (Christchurch), Gavmson and Allen (Auckland) will bo among thoso trying their luck on the- cinders. One-Lap Record. According.to.an .Auckland report Alf Mattson is the holder of tho New Zealand one-lap record. His brilliant ride of 19sec dead at AVestcrn Springs on Saturday, night has been officially recognised as a Dominion record. Five official watches ticked the seconds off as Mattson desperately circled the track. Throe-" of them registered 19scc and two IS 4-sscc. Mn.ttson's style during tho race against time was different from that' of any other rider who has attempted a. record at the Springs.' Most of them have done their best to cling to tlie white line, but Mattson kept to the middle of the track most of tho way, swung out to the fence entering a corner, clung to the white" liiio' ;i's rbcst he could,""and" found himself in the middle of the track when he had got out of tho bend. It was. a magnificent.ride. The registration of 19sec for a lap has been made frequently on the Kilbirnio track, and that time has been bettered on several occasions.. Notes.- ■:■■:..,' After the speedway test at Aucklaud tlio members'of the English team were presented with ribbons by Mr. A. Spragg, president of. the. New Zealand Auto-cycle Union, while mementoes in the form of travelling rugs were pro-: serttcd to the successful team. ■'•; After exciting contests, Bay Tauscr, the American, defeated' Vie. Huxley, world's champion, in both heats of the international triangular match, at Adelaide. '. -.-:.'.■:'...: ■■.■;-..;.2 %":-.\--:. . . '.-. •.. " - .'■ ' ■■'■