MOTOR-CYCLING RACES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18334, 26 February 1923, Page 9

MOTOR-CYCLING RACES.

V MEETING AT TAKAPUNA.

WORLD'S RECORD BROKEN.

COLEMAN'S PERFORMANCE.

The second annual race meeting, of the Auckland Motor Racing Club "was held at Takapuna Racecourse on Saturday, before 9000 spectators. Good fields and keen finishes helped to make a splendid afternoon's sport.

The riding of P. Coleman was a revelation, his effort in the flying mile clipping 1 2-ss. off the old record. At the speed recorded this represents an improvement of over 160 ft. His time was 48s. S. Whitehead gave his usual splendid display, and although ■ beaten put up some very fast times.

In the fourth lap of the Great Northern Handicap Coleman had a spill, but as he was on a corner and travelling between 60 and 70 miles an hour, which is comparatively slow for him, he escaped unhurt. Whitehead had a spill in the same place during practice before the races commenced. McCready ran wide and hit the fence on the same turn, but no serious injury resulted. iStratton's machine backfired at the post in the Great Northern Handicap. A few handduls of earth were sufficient to extinguish the flames. .

At the conclusion of the 15-miles Heavy Weight Championship of "New Zealand, which Coleman won in the world's record time of 12m. 295., he was carried shoulder high by the other riders in front of the grandstand, where he was presented with the championship cup and ribbon by Mrs. P. A. Mitchell. With the exception of the one mile flying record, Coleman's best performance was in the President's Handicap, in which ha covered the six miles in 4m 495.

Results are as follows: — Qualifying Handicap, 5 miles.— W. Powell (4 h.p. Harley Davidson). 90a, 1; C. Walker (8i h.p. Indian). 7b», 2; H. A. Grayson (2i h.p. Douglas), 90s, 3. Sixteen started. Time,. 5m 445. Takapuna Handicap (open), 7 miles, —C. Goodwin (2} h.p. Douglas), 1555. 1; P. Coleman (7 h.p. Indian). ss, 2; S. Whitehead (7 h.p. Big X), scr. 3. Sixtee" 8 a-"d. This was one of the most interesting, races of the day. The. limit man,.., .; •, gn ot headed, won by a very narrow margin. Coleman and Whitehead, see-sawing for position throughout the race, fought out an exciting duel, which ended in favour of Coleman by a couple of lengths. Coleman lapped between 50s and 51s throughout the race. Timo, 8m 32 2-sb. -

Five Mile Handicap, 600 c.c—A. J. Roycroft (21 h.p. Matchless), 110s, 1; S. J. Blackmoie (3i h.p. Indian), 20s, 2; A. J. Grayson (21 h.p. Douglas), 110s, 3. Ten started, the limit man winning by nearly half a lap. Grayson lost second place by "lowing up as he neared the post. Time, £im '435.

Great Northern Handicap (open), 12 miles, for "Big Tree" Cup.—T. J. Laughlin (7 h.p. Harley Davidson), 135 a, 1; L. Mangham (7 h.p. Harley Davidson), 465, 2; S. Whitehead (7 h.p. Excelsior), scr, 3; N. R. Souter (7 b.p. Indian).. 355, 4. Pleven started. Coleman early started to make up time, and by, the. end of the third lap looked • a certain winner. However, when entering the members' ptfnd corner, he came to grief, .leaving Laughlin to win by one second from Mangham. Coleman was lapping in 49 3-ss. Time,'l2m 22 3-ss.

First Appearance Handicao. 5 miles.T., Cragg (3J h.p. Triumnh), 80s. 1; H. A. Steinert (21 h.p. A.J.S.). 755. 2; A. W. Powell (4 h.n. Harley Davidson), 60s, 3. Ten started. The first and second men were within a second of each other practically throughout the race, th<» third man -finishing about 10s away. Time, 5m 55 3-ss.

New Zealand Heavy-weight Championship. 15 miles (for Challenge Cup, value of £50).—P. Coleman (7 h.p. Indian), 1: S. Whitehead (7 h.p. Excelsior), 2; N. R. Souter (7 h.p. Indian), 3. Five started.. Whitehead gained the 'advantage with a good start and, with Coleman close behind, the rest of the field wa« le f t far h»bir>d. After the second lan Coleman overhauled Whitehead, passing him going out of the straight by a particularly pretty piece of riding. Coleman was not afterwards headed, and after lar>ning Souter he won comfortably from Whitehead. He established a world's record for ft one-mli» *•«.* Kra«s track of 12m, 295. Mangham and Blackmore did, not . finish, the former blowing his cylinder-head off and damaging his crankcase.

President's Handicap (open). 6 miles.—P. Coleman (7 h.p Indian), scr, 1; P. S. Nash (7 h.p. Harley Davidson), 80s, 2; O. Shakespeare (7 h.n. Excelsior), 755. 3. Ten started. Beating all his previous times, and completely foiling the handicapper. Coleman left the other competitors standing to win in the almost unbelievable time of 4m 495. which equals 48 l-6s a lap. , WorldV Mile Record —Coleman put up a sensational performance in reducing S. Whitehead's record of 49 2-5 a for one mile flat grass track. He traversed the eight furlongs in 48s dead. The time was taken by no fewer than six watches. Consolation Handicap, 5 miles.—Mouat (2$ h.p. Matchless), 100s, 1* Armitage, 2! h.p. Scot), 110s. 2; Steinert, (2} h.p. A.J.S.), 1008, 3. Nine starters. Won by about 100 yds. Time, 5m 335.