MOTOR CYCLE RACES

Evening Star, Issue 21993, 1 April 1935, Page 4

MOTOR CYCLE RACES

180 MILES CHAMPIONSHIP EIGHT RIDERS FINISH The 100 miles motor cycle championship and a handicap event were run off on the AVaikouaiti Beach by the Automobile Association (Otago) on Saturday afternoon. Owing to the recent very heavy, rains, the beach was bumpy, hut -nevertheless some excellent performances were put up, and the crowd was thrilled by the brilliant cornering and flashing speed of the riders. Excitement was added by the efforts of cars to cross the Hood waters from the Waikonaiti flats flowing across the sand. So soft was the sand at this portion of the beach that a Chevrolet car sank almost out of sight, and other cars were rescued only with difficulty.

To a rolling start in the championship event, the fifteen riders were soul away by the official starter, Mr W. M‘lnnes. Unfortunately, Thomas, who rode well the previous Saturday, lost his crash helmet, ami had to stop to have it adjusted. With brilliant riding he caught up several places in the next round. Anderson, riding a .‘U Budge, had lapped several riders by the fourth round. Stewart was the first to strike trouble, coming in for repairs on this round. Anderson, Ryders, Evans, and Douglas took turns at leading, the others being so strung out that there was almost a continuous stream of riders rounding the post. Stewart kept the officials, whose jobs were most exacting in checking each rider’s round, very amused by his vivid remarks at the hard work it was chasing ilie leaders. His cornering, too, kept the officials awake, as be did not waste any room turning the post. At the twenty-mile Douglas, on a fast Ariel, was first, with Nyo, on a Velocotte, lying second. _ Nyc, however, had to retire for a time for repairs. Evans was always lying in a handy position, and from the thirty-mile post until he had to retire permanently at the sixtymile post through internal engine trouble, ho was well in the lead. Evans was riding brilliantly, and on his fast Budge, which was an Ulster model, bo completed the first fifty miles in 50min, which is a remarkable avm-p-m. At fifty miles Lyders, on his fast Excelsior, was lying second, but was unfortunate the whole day, as he burnt out ping after plug, each change, of course, meaning lost time. The Excelsior was undoubtedly the fastest on the beach, as Lyders was doing ninety-five miles per hour down the straight. Douglas was third with Gntawita riding a very steady race lying fourth. Cornering was made more difficult by the wet sand, and one or two riders lay down, while King bad an anxious moment, and so did the officials, when 1m developed a had wobble near tbo post. At sixty-two .miles Douglas was first while Gutawiiz had Crept up to second place. At this stage Haggitt retired. Ho had ridden a very steady rate. The first two riders kept their places until

at the seventy-fourth mile when Gutzwitz went into the lead and maintained it to the end.

Gutzwitz, on a beautifully timed Volocettc, comes from Southland, and his maroon supporters were enthusiastic when their representative rode home the victor. Gutzwitz thoroughly deserved his win. He did not push his machine at the beginning, but rode at a very steady rate all through, and not once did his machine give trouble. Madigan and Swan were at_ the;' eighty-mile post lying in a prominent position. Madigan, on an Ariel, was also a very steady rider, hut Swan caught the eye as the one who perhaps showed the best judgment on the day. Swan rides a four-cylinder Ariel. For eighty miles Swan toured steadily along, nursing his , machine, and. only when the goal was almost iu sight did he give it its full power. From the eighty-six mile post Swan maintained his position of third. C. H. Bingham, who was fourth, was also very steady, and his R-udge gave him no trouble. T. .King,- from Tomuka, riding a Sunbeam, was fifth. King did, some very fine riding and was unfortunate that ho did not gain a belter place. Lyders was sixth, completing the distance in spite of very bad luck throughout the race. Douglas, who was first for twelve miles, had to he content with seventh place, as his Ariel was beginning to show the strain of the fast pace. J. R. Rodgers, who finished eighth, should be classed the hero of the day, as on an ancientlooking Harley-Davidson, with only the top gear left for most of the way, and. with & no brakes, ho completed the distance with 7 3-ssec to spare in the two hours and a-half allowed to complete the course. His cornering with no brakes was necessarily wide, and latterly it was not only a race lor him a>ninst time, but also against the tide. '■’RHit machines out of fifteen comnlqlccl the 100 Miles Race. In the 50-Mile Race recently held at Christchurch, where Evans was the victor, 'only four machines finished. . 'fhe following won miniature cups, bavins completed the course within' Sin of the winner’s timo:-W. R. Gutzwitz (Velocette), H. M. Madigan (Ariel), J. R. Swan (Ariel), C. H. Bingham (Rudgo). Tom King (Sunbeam), P. H. N. Lyders (Excelsior), G. P. Douglas (Ariel). The handicap event resulted as follows ; H. M. .Madigan (Ariel), 17inin 30sce handicap ... ... 1 W R. Gutzwitz (Velocette), 7min ’ 30sec ... ... 2 J. R. Swan (Ariel), 4min ... ... 3 Gutzwitz’s time for the 100 miles was llir 47min —an average of 56 miles per hour. RECSRSS BROKEN (i’BR United Pubes Association.) J AUCKLAND, March 33. Several records were established at the ihotor cycle races held at Onehunga. | Averaging slightly over sixty miles an

hour, A, Mattson, the New Zealand cinder track champion, covered one lap in 29 3-ssec, which was 1 2-ssec faster than the best lap recorded at any previous meeting. Mattson also set a repord of 2min 7 3-ssec for the Fonr-lap Race from a standing start, this time also being a record for two miles. After R. M‘Kenzie had set a four-lap record of Smin 36 4-ssec, D. M, Robinson reduced the 'time to 2min 32 4-sseo in a match race against M'Kenzie.