STILL IN WINNING FORM

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 154, 27 December 1935, Page 14

STILL IN WINNING FORM

KEEN RACING AT STADIUM

NUMEROUS SPILLS

Although there were numerous counter-attractions the third meeting of the 1935-36 speedway season held at the Kilbirnie Stadium, last night attracted some 3000 spectators, who were treated to an exhibition of spectacular broadsiding and spirited competition. The track unfortunately was not in the best of condition. It was very dry, and the successful negotiation of the bends called for greater skill than usual. As a consequence there were several; falls, though none was of a serious nature. , There is no doubt that Wally Kilmister is going to be an extremely difficult man to defeat at the Kilbirnie Stadium this season. He gave evidence of this at his first appearance, and the maintenance of his good form at last night's meeting further consolidated his position locally. It will be very interesting to see how the English Test captain, E. Langton, fares with him at the next fixture on New Year's night. The Wellington rider has a flair for taking the turns at top speed; he often steals the lead by slipping inside his opponents in a daring and dangerous manner, and the man who defeats himin a four-lap race will have' to show exceptional skill as a broadsider. WON COMFORTABLY." Kilmister won each of the three international points races . very comfortably, and would probably have been successful in the Christmas Handicap had his machine functioned: at the start. He was very slow to begin, but once under way he cut down his opponents' lead in fine style, and came, up so well that he was only four lengths behind Van Praag in third place at the finish. L. Van Praag (Australia) accelerated faster—in one event last night his machine stood almost vertical at the start, such was his speed—than, any rider who has appeared at the Stadium this season. He almost invariably jumps into the lead at the start, but loses invaluable ground on the turns. In, particular does he lose momentum at the southern end of the track. This may be due to the fact that on this turn he generally swings very wide, thus giving his opponents the opportunity (frequently availed of) to slip through on the inside. When he does cling to the bends he is a difficult man to defeat ( as he. proved in the Champions Two Lap Dash last night. In this event he and Kilmister rode practically neck and neck all the way, the Australian, on the inside, winning by a wheel in an exciting finish. R. Harrison, the English Test rider, who did very well at Auckland last Saturday, was obviously not in his best form. He experienced machine trouble in several events, and his lack of knowledge of the capacity of the turns saw him squeezed back at the start of the important contests. With further practice he can be expected to perform much more prominently on his next appearance. ■ ' IMPROVED FORM. The Americans, particularly S. Arena and B. McKinney, showed much improved ■ form.' Arena, making his second appearance on the track, rode excellently to take second place in two of the international points races.- In each he stole the advantage from Van Praag by skilful and daring •acceleration on the bends. He shot away from the Australian as • though the latter were standing still.. McKinney repeated his achievement of the previous meeting by winning the Big Six Scratch Race from his countrymen, Lisman and Pee Wee Cullum. He gave a clever exhibition of the art of dirt-track riding, and there is no doubt that, as his knowledge of the intricacies of the track increases, so, in like measure, do his performances improve. His, time, 82 2-ssec, in the Big. Six Race was incidentally the fastest of the evening; though it should not be overlooked that the figures were made from a rolling start; ■; ...■-■ Lisman, a big man, appeared to experience some difficulty with the bends, but he nevertheless returned 83 2-ssec in; riding second to McKinney. Cullum took the curves in spectacular style, but he could not muster sufficient speed from his 'machine to do himself justice. The meeting was, as last Saturday, again a'model of efficiency, and reflected great credit upon those responsible for its. smooth, running. THE RESULTS. Results were as follows:— ■ ' Grand Christmas Handicap—For 16 selected riders. Four laps. Firsts and seconds in heats and semi-finals . to start-in semi-finals and■ final re- ■ First Heat—George Corneal (6sec), 1; Jim McLeod (Bsec), 2. Also started: Sam Arena (U.S.A.) (scr), Bill McMahon (12sec). Arena.fell in the second lap when rapidly overhauling his field. He remounted, but .his task was an impossible one. Times: 96 - 2-ssec, 98 l-ssec. ■ Second Heat.—Wally Kilmister (scr), 1; Snowy Stone (7sec). Also started: Byrd McKinney (U.S.A.) (scr). .Bernie Appleyard (ssec). McKinney was slow away, and just failed to overtake Stone for second place. Times:' 86 1-5 sec. 94 3-ssec. ~ Third Heat.—Lionel Van Praag (Aus.) (scr), 1. Also started: Pee Wee Cullum (U.S.A.) (2sec), Peter Phillips (3sec), Eddie Naylor (7sec). Van ■Praag was the only rider to finish. Naylor came down in the second lap, and Cullum brought Phillips to earth oh the south bend when he touched, the rear wheel of Phillips's machine. Time, 87 l-ssec. Fourth Heat—Howard Tolley (ssec), 1; Bill Moulton (Bsec), 2. Also started: Bob Harrison (Eng.) (scr), Bo Lisman (U.S.A.) (scr). Lisman's machine failed in the first lap.' Tolley won easily. Times: 90 3-ssec, 102 l-ssec. First Semi-final.—Wally Kilmister (scr), 1; Snowy Stone (7sec), 2. Also started: George Corneal (6sec), Jim McLeod (Bsec). With the exception of Kilmister, all the riders fell, but Stone remounted and. took second place. Time, 85 3-ssec. ■■:-■■• Second Semi-final.—Howard Tolley (ssec); 1; Lionel Van Praag (scr), 2. Also started: Bill Moulton (Bsec). Tolley won comfortably. , Times: 90 3-5 sec, 87sec. FINAL. ' Tolley ...:.. 4 . 1 ■ Van Praag 2 . Kilmister 3 Kilmister. was yery slow away, and thus what would probably have been an excellent race was robbed of much of its interest. He made a great air tempt to get up but his leeway was too' much. Tolley won well.. Times: 90 2-ssec, 86 l-ssec. Consolation Handicap.—For eight selected riders. Four laps. First and second in heat to start in final. ' First Heat—Bernie Appleyard (200 yds behind), 1; Alex. Pratt (150 yds behind), 2. Also started: Bill McMahon (scr). Times: 108 sec, 116 2-ssec. Second Heat.—Bill Moulton (130 yds behind), 1; Jim McLeod (130 yds behind), 2. Also started: George Corneal (200 yds behind), Snowy. Stone (170 yds Also started: G-6 Black Shadow scr, 4-3 Lazy Pete scr, 3-4 Garry Thorpe 24. Half a length: length. Time, 3min 29 2-ssec. Dennlston Handicap, £80; 2.25 class; 4 mile —6-6 Shore Leavo, scr (J. Frost), 1; 8-8 Parallax, scr, 2; 1-1 Welcome Stranger, ser 3 Also started: 7-7 Brian Boru sec, 2-3 Hannt scr, S-9 Skllllcorn scr, 3-2 Snluto scr, 4-4 Awa Dillon 24. Five lengths; one length. Time 2mln 13 2-sscc. President's Handicap, £80: 5.0 class; 2 miles.—l-1 Lucky Kose. scr (L. Berkett) 1 ■ 2-2 Debutante, 24, 2; 4-4 Corrianda, scr, !). Also started: 5-5 Royal Ascot scr, 3-3 Fairy Brooka 81. Three lengths; three lengths Time, 4mln 4(i 2-Ssec." Stockton Handicap, £S0; 2.H7 class- Hi miles.—l Guyzlah, 12 (L. Frost), 1; 3 Belie Derby, 12. 2; 1 Treasure Bond, 12, 3. Also started: 2 Travis Thorn scr. Two lengths; two lengths. Time, 2mln 43sec.

behind). Corneal and Stone fell. Times: 104 l-ssec, 106 4-ssec. FINAL. Appleyard 1 , Moulton 2 Also started: McLeod, Pratt. McLeod fell when in a winning position. Times: 107 sec, 109 3-ssec. Champions' Two-lap Dash. Rolling start. Lionel Van Praag (Aus.) . 1 Wally Kilmister 2 An excellent race with never a length between the two riders. Time, 41 2-ssec. Big Six Scratch Race.—For six selected riders. Four laps. Clutch start. Heat winners and fastest second to start in final. First Race. —Bo Lisman (U.S.A.), 1; Peter Phillips, 2. Also started: Howard Tolley. Lisrhan led all the way. Times: 87 l-ssec, 89sec. Second Race (rolling start).—Byrd McKinney (U.S.A.), 1; Pee Wee Cullum (U.S.A.), 2. Also started: Eddie Naylor. McKinney jumped to the front at the start and won easily by 20 lengths. Times: 85sec, 86 3-ssec. FINAL. . McKinney 1 Lisman 2 Also started: Pee Wee Cullum. McKinney assumed the lead at the start and gradually drew away to defeat Lisman by 20 lengths. Cullum's machine was hardly up to it. Times: 82 2-ssec, 83 2-ssec. International Points Race.—For four selected riders. Three races of four laps. Clutch start. Points: First, 3; second, 2; third, 1. ■ First Race.—Wally Kilmister, 1; Sam Arena (U.S.A.), 2; Lionel Van Praag (Aus:), 3. Also started: Bob Harrison (Eng.). Kilmister quickly ran into the lead to win comfortably from Arena, who passed Van Praag in the last lap to take second place. Times: 83 2-5 sec, 84 2-ssec, 85 4-ssec. Second Race.—Wally Kilmister, 1; Lionel Van Praag, 2; Bob Harrison, 3. Also started: Sam Arena. Kilmister again' won easily. Arena's machine failed in the second lap. Times: 85sec, 87 2-ssec, 91sec. FINAL RACE. Kilmister 1 Arena .....'....... 2 Van Praag 3 Also started: Harrison. An excellent race ; with Kilmister winning comfortably from Arena who slipped past Van Praag on the last bend. Harrison did not finish. Times: 84 l-ssec, 85sec, 85 4-ssec.