MOTOR CYCLE RACING.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 8 March 1921, Page 8

MOTOR CYCLE RACING.

THE HAWERA ,MEETING

To-morrow, on the Egmcnt Racing Club's racecourse, the Hawera Motor Cycle Club will hold their annual race meeting. . The rapid growth of the sport can be gauged from the fact that in 19U*; when the club had their first meeting, the prize-money totalled iJ7O, while, for tomorrow's' meeting the club are'in a position to offer no .less than £240—£200 cash and trophies valued at £40. This represents the largest ever offered by any club in Australasia. That the club will always rank as the foremost club in the Dominion is the promoters' aim, arid, given fine weather, this year's meeting will help materially in that direction. Most of the prominent riders in the Dominion will. be competing at to-morrow's fixture, among whom are Mangham, Whitehead, Moller, Sykes Claringboid, Jones, Davy, Gaisford, Sweeney, Shearsby, and Smith.

Sykes' recent three successes at New Plymouth, although there was a certain amount of luck attached to two of the.se, stamp him as a rider of exceptional merit.

To say that Mangham electrified the onlookers at New- Plymouth is putting it mildly. His great nerve in rounding the bends, sometimes in the ,air, had many people holding their breath. H'.s flying mile effort in 55 seconds was a wonderful .effort on the New Plymouth racecourse.

\V. Davy, the popular local rider, on his Douglas always seems to get in the money, scoring a first and second at New Plymouth. He should do well on; the Hawera track.

Whitehead. who hails from Hamilton,, rides a Big X machine and is competing for the first time in Hawera. At Hamilton recently he carried off the largest race on the programme and also a minor race. He was unfortunate at New Plymouth; when looking all over a winner his back wheel collapsed, and he very skilfully avoided a spill. His chances here in the long distance races are. very* rosy. The race for the New Zealand Middle weight Championship, which will be decided at this meeting, should be very interesting. The competitors are L Mangham (3J Harley)", F. Sykes (3* Ruby), J. Sweeney (3J Indian), R J. •Io"es (3 N..TJ.T.), .11.- C. Gaisford <3* Indian) B. Shearsby (3* Indian). This should be one of the best races of the day. Another fine race will be the Hawera Handicap, of 12 laps for 7-9 horse-power machines only;'while the President's Cup, of 10 lips, open to any machine, will provide further investing racing. The winner of the middle-weight championship will be decorated with the blue championship rib bon by Mrs. B. L. Joll. All the events' will be run strictly to advertised time, thus avoiding tiresome delays. The first racewill be run at 1 p.m. sharp, and officials are requested to be at their appointed posts at 12.30 sharp