SPEEDWAY RACING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 27, 2 January 1931, Page 2

SPEEDWAY RACING

KILMISTER IN FORM. NEW TRACK RECORDS. Riding with wonderful skill to establish a new track record of 1.30 2-5 from a standing start in bis first appearance, W. Kilmister, the New Zealand champion and holder’ of the Gold Helmet, electrified a huge crowd at the Manawatu Speedway last evening. He gave a daring display of broadsiding in several events and was at the top of his form. Unfortunately, after he had won the first semilinal in the New Year Handicap, he was beaten into third place in the final after experiencing engine trouble which definitely eliminated his chance. There was only one serious accident during the evening, although the events were most exciting and there were several spills. One of the rakemen, venturing too close to the track, was struck by' Appleyard’s machine and had to be removed to Hospital by ambulance. Phillips, a Wellington rider, gave a convincing display in winning the final of the New Year Handicap. Paton won the final of the Palmerston North Handicap, engine trouble putting a formidable rival in Higgins out of the running. The third heat of the Big Nine scratch race did not eventuate. There were numerous delays, engine defects, and false starts, with the consequence that the race was called off. Phillips also accounted for .jthe final of this event, engine trouble again being the misfortune of Kilmister. It was announced that, at the meeting on ' Wednesday evening next, Roger Erogley, and Norman Evans, the two great English dirt track stars, would be competing. Music was amplified from a gramophone loaned by Mr W. Oates. Officials controlling the fixture were Messrs G. H. Adams, A. Woods and F. Swindell (judges); Messrs G. Remington and H. Palmer (timekeepers). Details are as follow: NEW YEAR HANDICAP, of £l2; four laps. Standing start. First heat. —W. Kilmister (Wellington), scr. 1; P. Phillips (Wellington) osecs, 2. Also started: A. Hunger (Wanganui) 4secs; H. D. Ross (Palmerston North) Bsec. Time, 1.30 2-5. Second heat. —H. Lucchesi (Wellington) 6sec, 1; R. Ranby (Wellington) 3 sec, 2. Also started: H. Durkin (Australia) scr; M. Smith (Palmerston North) 7seo. Times, 1.43 3-5 and 1.41 2-5. Third heat. —S. Palmer (Wellington) 3sec 1: AV. Harvie (Wellington) lsec 2. Also started: H. Santi (Wellington) 6sec; R. Paton (Palmerston North) lOsec. Times, 1.43 1-5 and 1.42 4-5. Fourth heat.—J. Spencer (Wellington) ssec, 1; E. Naylor (Wellington) 2sec, 2. Also started: E. Hamberger (Australia) scr; F. B. Appleyard (Wellington) 6sec. Time, 1.50. First semi-final. —Kilmister (2sec behind scr.) 1; Phillips 2. Also started : Ranby. and Lucchesi. Time, 1.34 4-5. Second Semi-final. —Harvie 1, Spencer 2. Also started: Palmer and Naylor. Time, 1.43. Final. —Phillips 1, Spencer 2, Kilmister 3. Time, 1.44 3-5. There was a thrilling race in the first heat, which provided a remarkable finish. Kilmister was conceding a big handicap, but one by one he overhauled the other riders and, with a great final burst up the shortstraight, snatched; victory by inches from Phillips. In securing the decision Kilmister created the new track figures of 1.30 2-5, clipping seconds off the previous best time for the mile. Durkin appeared likely to win the second heat, but was a little erratic on the course and swung wide at the corners to lose his position. Lucchesi got home from Ran by by ten yards. There was no outstanding incident in the third heat, which Pal- - annexed by 15 yards. The fourth heat was a good one.' Bamberger went out early with engine trouble. Appleyard. off the limit mark, uas taking the bends wonderfully well and was retaining his position in front when he struck a track raker at the edge of the grass in the final lap and had to pull up. There was a sensational race in the first semi-final. Hilmister got all the worst of the stait owing to engine defects, while Luccliesi, was soon out with engine trouble. Kilmister wrested the lead from Phillips in the third lap and went on for a fine win, while Ranby crashed unhurt. Palmer was leading in the second lap of the second semi-final when engine trouble put him out. Harvie won by 20 yards. Kilmister experienced engine trouble in the final and never really raced. Harvie came down when in the and Phillips won by 20 yards from bpencer. PALMERSTON NORTH SECOND DIVISION HANDICAP of £ls; four laps; standing start. First heat. —H. Santos (Wellington) 2sec.; 1. Also started: R. lolley (Feilding) scr.; M. Smith (Pa merston North) 4sec.; C. Barltrop (Palmerston North) 6sec. Time, 1.51 2-o. Second heat. —J. Gower (Foxton) 1. Also started: F. Appleyard (W ellingtnnl scr., A. Waters (Palmerston North) 4sec., C. Trilford (Palmerston North) 4sec. Time, 2.1. Third heat—D. Higgins (Wellington) scr. 1; R. Paton (Palmerston North) 3sec 2. Also started : J. Thorn (Palmerston North). Time, 1.46 l-o. Final. —Paton 1, Gower 2. Time, 1.51 3-5. There were numerous falls in ' the Palmerston North Second Division Handicap. Santos was the only one to finish in the first heat, lolley pulled out in the seoond lap with engine trouble and the other two contestants retired for the same reason. Ihe next heat was sensational; Appleyard and Waters collided to come down together, badlv damaging the latteFs maclnne, but 'doing the riders no injury. Tnlford crashed with a somersault on the corner when he was unable to control a front wheel skid and Gower went on to win. Thorn crashed in the third heat and Higgins won easily from Paton. The final provided two races. Paton experienced' engine trouble, Gower was unable to start and the other two crashed. The race was restarted, but Higgins was out with engine trouble and the race went to Paton. BIG NINE SCRATCH RACE, of £24; four laps; rolling start. First heat. —W. Kilmister 1, A. Hunger 2. Also started: S. Palmer (Wellington). . Times 1.31 and 1.51 2-5. Second heat.—Phillips 1, Durkin 2. Also started: E. Naylor (Wellington). Time, 1.37 1-5. , • Final. —Phillips 1, Harvie 2, Ivilmister 3. Kilmister speedily went to the front in the first heat and wtm very easily in time which reduced Whittle’s track record for the rolling start by four seconds. Durkin nearly crashed twice in the first lap of the second heat, which provided a great race and ,a spectacular finish. Durkin caught Phillips, but the latter beat him round the bend. Durkin snatched the lead again) and looked a certain winner when, with great riding, Phillips came through on the

inside at the final bend to win narrowly. Phillips had a comfortable win in the final, Kilmister pulling out with engine trouble in the third lap after opening up a big lead. EVENTS AT AUCKLAND. . Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Dec. 31. The defeat of .J. Kempster, the noted English rider, by A. Mattson, the Dominion champion, was the outstanding feature of broadsiding at the Western Springs speedway on New Year’s Eve. Mattson was in good form and beat Kempster easily, although he started from an outside position. F. Bond, the other Englishman, had trouble with both his machines. C. Anderson and J. Bishop, of Australia, rode extremely well, Bishop’s best time being 83 2-ssecs. Results are as follow: England v. Auckland.—A. Mattson (Auckland) 1, J. Kempster (England) 2. Time, lmin 26secs. Auckland v. Australia.—C. ' Anderson (Australia) 1, A. Mattson 2. Time, lmin 25sec. England v. Australia.. —J. Bishop (Australia) 1, J. Kempster 2. Time, lmin 23 2-ssec. A grade match race. —J. Garmson 1, A. Way 2. Time, lmin 26 3-ssecs. New Year Handicap.—W. Herbert (sisec.) 1, A. Way (4i) 2. Time, lmin 32 4-ssec. Christmas Handicap. —B. Bray (4J sec.) 1, J. Garmson (3) 2. Time, lmin 32 4-ssec. . B grade handicap.—J. Stewart (4secs) 1, D. Mattson (3) 2. Time, lmin 35 2-ssec.