MOTOR-CYCLE RACES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19264, 1 March 1926, Page 6

MOTOR-CYCLE RACES.

THE TAKAPUNA MEETING.

COLEMAN'S THREE VICTORIES

WORLD'S RECORD BY GOODWIN

Despite tlie wintry weather conditions a fairly large crowd attendee] the iiucitland Motor Radius Club's motor-cycle races on 'Xakapuna Racecourse on Saturday afternoon. Early in the morning it was decided to cancel the. fixture, but on the weather breaking the executive immediately notified that it would hold the races in order rot to disappoint the largo number of visiting .riders, The club is to be commended for its action for the decision at the last moment to race must mean- a heavy financial loss. The racing was highlv spectacular, as the dampness of the grass made the corners very treacherous which called for the exercise of the highest skill in riding. In the Snorts Handicap, run immediately after a sliower of rain, only four out of fifteen starters finished. The remainder were put out by v, nter of! the tyres lodging in the unprotected sparking plugs, and shorting them, caused the engines to misfire. Coleman was at the top of his form and gave a truly remarkable display. He and Managh rode neck and neck for six laps in the Great Northern Handicap. Managh. if anything had the advantage on the long back stretch, but rain fell and caused him to fall back. spoiling what promised to be a magnificent race. Of the lighter division Goodwin (A.J.S.: was an outstanding figure. Late in the afternoon he successfully attempted to break the world's record for one mile. The time of 55 seconds stands to the credit of Woodman, and was established on the Takapuna track in 1921. Goodwin's new time is 54 2-ss.

The track was too unsafe for the high speed of the big-powered machines and consequently Coleman did not attempt tho world's records for unlimited motors. His best lap for the day was just over 495. What might have been a serious accident was prevented by good riding. B. Bray, on leaving the straight, ran wide on the greasy surface. Finding it impossible to miss the fence, he laid his machine right over, he himself falling into a water-filled ditch and allowing the machine to slide into the fence. Bray was uninjured although his machine was somewhat badly damaged. Tho control of the track, especially in the matter of keeping competitors' assistants clear until every rider had finished his final lap, was not quite up to the usual standard of the Auckland Club. Tne delay between some of the races was also a little prolonged, especially as the weather was so bleak. Otherwise the organisation of the meeting was excellent and arrangements were carried out without a hitch. At the conclusion of the racing P. Cole-| man .was presented with a set of fish knives and forks as a token from the club to mark his recent marriage. Coleman intimated that he would be racing next year. The results are as follow: — .NOVICE HANDICAP, 5 miles. Oi J, 10; second £2, third £l. R. Ranby (7 Harley-Davidson), 5s . . 1 H. North (7 Harley-Davidson), ss' . . 2 G. Tate (31 Zenith], scr . . . . . 3^ Also Started.—J. Gardiner (31 Norton), scr; T. Dennis (2J A.J.S.), ss; L. 'Coulthard (31 Triumph), 20s.

Coukhard led for the first lap and a-half, , when Ranby went to ihe front fcnd .held his position to the finish. North ran consistently behind him, being beaten by lis. T.he third man was well behind, The heavy track and high, wind prevented the lighter machines developing their speed and Allowed the 7 h.p. motors to secure a run-away victory. Winner's time: 5m 8 l-5.5. TAKAPUNA HANDICAP (Open), 7 jniles. Of £2l; second £6, third JO 3. C. Goodwin S2J h.p. A.J.S.), 50s . . 1 11. Mangham (7 h.p.' Harley-Davidson), 15s . . . . .... . . . . 2 P. Coleman (7 h.p.' Harley-Davidson), ecr 3 Also Staffed.—D. Managh (7 HarleyDavidson), ss; C. Lowe (7 Zenith), 15s; 11. McCfeady (7 Harley-Davidson), 15s; O. Shakespear "(7 Harley-Davidson), 171s; H. Moller (31 Norton), 255; A. Bray (2J A.J.S.), 555; 11. Herbert (31 Norton), 355; R. Jones (21 A.J.S.), W. Viggers (2| Har-ley-Davidson). C. Goodwin (2f A.J.S.), 60s; L. Curtis (2J A.J.S.), A. Harker (2? Zenith), A. Lemon (2J A,J.S.), 555: W. .White (22 Conn aught), 60s; J. Williamson (2J Connaughil. F. Staig (2} A.J.S.), Gss; W. Allen (31 Norton), 455; M. Scott (2J A.J.S.), 55a. Staig flashed past the post on the end of his first lap before Coleman, who made a bad start, got away. Bray, who vras lying foiirth, was making fast time, and crept up to second place by the • end of the second lap. Managh and Coleman were in close company. Coleman passed Managh and then Managh regained the lead, only to be finally passed in the next lap. Entering the fourth lar> Goodwin was leading with Allen, Bray, and Staig very close. The order continued much the same with the backmarkers creeping up. Herbert held second place at. tho beginning of the sixth lap but he was passed by Mangham, who only jest failed to catch Gpodwin >on the post &t the finish. Coleman was clipping off the miles and passing Herbert, gained . thiid . place. The first and second men finished vrithin half a second of one another. Winner's time:' 6m 48 3-ss. SPORTS HANDICAP (GOO cc.), 5 miles. Of £l3; second £4, third £l. T. Dennis (2J h.p. A.J.S.), 25s .. . . 1 C. Lowe (31 h.p. Zenith), 53 . . . . 2 R. Jones (2f h.p. A.J.S.), 15s . . . . 3 Also Started.—Hi Moller (31 Norton), scr; C. Goodwin (2$ A.J.S.), ss; W. Herbert (3£ Norton), ss: J. Gardiner (3i Norton), /w. Viggers (2J Harley-Davidson), 15s; A Lemon (2-J A.J.S.), L. Curtis (2J A.J.S.). 17F. Staig (2J A.J.S.), L. Coul•thard (31 Triumph). 20s; M. Scott (2J A.J.S.), 255: C. Walker (23 Counaught). W. White (23 Connaught), 30s. Dennis took the lead but Goodwin, Moller and Herbert were coming up fast when a shower of rain fell. The pace .immediately slowed. Goodwin coming off on the corner at the members' stand. Most of the rest of the field pulled up with plu.'f trouble caused by water being thrown up off the tyres which were, of course, unprotected by mudguards. The race developed into a tour of four or five machines. Winner's time: Cm 50s, / ALISON HANDICAP (Open), 6 miles.. Of £ls; second £4, third £l. P. Coleman (7 Harley-Davidson), scr . . 1 H. McCread.y (7 Harley-Davidson)., 10s .. 2 H. Moller (31 Norton), 20s . . . . 3 Also Started.—D S: Managh (7 HarleyDavidson) scr; H,* Mangham (7 HarleyDavidson), 10s; T. Bell (7 Big X), 10s: W. Herbert (31 Norton), 255; P.. Ranby (7 Har-ley-Davidson' E. Luks (7 Indian), 355; A. Lemon (21 A.J.S.), A. Harker (21 Zenith), L. Curtis (2J A.J.S.), L. Coulthard (35 Triumph). J- Williamson (2f Connaught), T. Dennis M A.J.S.), B. firay (2J-'A.J.S.J; 45a. ft Bray, on the limit, soon established a good lead, which he held until the end of the third It'.p, when Lemon displaced him. Moller. Herbert and McCready came down the straight in a bunch and left it at the beginning of the fourth round as Coleman, leading Managh, entered at the road-end. Manasrh almost came to grief on entering the second rottnd and Coleman, taking advantage of the clear apace near the rails, cut in and gained an advantage which he steadily increased. Moller was first to receive the white flag- denoting one lap to go. and was followed by McCready and Coleman, who had crept up from sixth place in the last mile. The finish wtss exceptionally exciting, Moller and McCready entering the straight together with Coleman just behind. Never easing an inch the scratch man swung wide and tearing down the rough outside grass, passed the other two with not a machine's length separating them. In this race Bray got into difficulties in the fifth lap. Being unable to hold his machine on the wet grass when he ran \vide, he showed commendable presence of mind by laying it right over, causing it to slide into the fence. He saved himself by taking a water-filled ditch. Winner's time: 5 m 22 1-53.

GREAT NORTHERN HANDICAP. Open. 12 miles. Of £4l; second to take £lO, third, £6. P Coleman (7 Harley-Davidson), sc:i; .. 1 D. Managh (7 Harley-Davidson), 5s . . 2 H. Manaham (7 Harley-Davidson), 15s . 3 Also Started.—C. Lowe (7 Zenith). 10s; H. McCready (7 Harley-Davidson), 17Js; 0. Shakespear {7 Harley-Davidson). 20a; H. Moller (3! Norton), 2w.'; W. Herbert (3J Norton), R. Ranby (7 Harley-Davidson). 30s; "VV. Allen (3f Norton), 355; \V. Viggers (2; Hurley-Davidson), J. "Williamson {22- Connaueht). 60s. Williamson took the lead which he maintained for three miles, when he waß replaced by Herbert. The handicaps granted the smaller machines v/f.re obviously too limited and the scratch men took the lead in the lap. Managh led Coleman by the length ot the straight in the first lap and passed Mangham before another mile had gone. Coleman was creeping up mainly because of hi 3 wonderful cornering and again

after challenging Managh gained the lead. Managh ran wide in an endeavour tojiola more speed on the bend. With the litiislx of the seventh mile Coleman had an advantage of EOyds. Ham was now falling and Managh had 'a close escape »ram a spr>.. Coleman was leading by a quarter of a mile when he almost spilled efitoring the eleventh lap. He righted himself, however, and passed Mnngnam a lap behind, and finished three-quarters of a milct in front of him. Mangham was third. This promised to b<> a most exciting struggle between the two premier riders but was spoil,d by the rani which Coleman alone seemec; to disregard. Winner's time, 10m 48s. AUCKLAND HANDICAP. . Open. 7 miles. Of £'l9; second to take £5, third, £2. P. Coleman (7 Hurley-Davidson), scr . . 1 L. Curtis' (2J A.J.S.), 57is 2 H. Moller (3J Norton), 27Js 8 Also Started.—lT McCready (7 HarleyDavidson), T. Bell (7 Big X). 20s; 0. Shakespear (7 Harley-Davidson), 30s; W. Herbert (3J Norton), 3715-; E. Luke (7 Indian), L. Coulthard (31 Triumph). 455; K, North (T Harley-Davidson), R. Jones (SiS A.J.S.), 555; T. Dennis (23 A.J.S.). 57;5: S. White (23 Conn,night), A. Lemon (2J A.J.S.), F. Staig (23 A.J.S.). 60s. Of the limit men White waft first away, followed at. the end of the first mile by Lemon, Curtis, St.iig and Dennis. After three miles the order was unchanged, except. that Lemon was lending White, and Herbert had crept up to fifth place. Entering the final lap Curtis still led. with iioiler. Shakespear and Mc.Cready following ; n a bunch and Coleman close up. McCready passed <ho judge's box with his front tvre up on the handle bars. Cornering. his_ tyre came off and, spinning between the forks, rose in the air where McCready seized it and held it up thnu_ prevented from cfpsizing him. The finish looked like a win for Curtis, but Coleman was not to be denied and again flashed down the straight to win by a narrow margin. The next three men were all close together. \\ imier'a tus.e. Cm 15 2-ss. PRESIDENT'S HANDICAP. Open. 10 miles. Of £3O; second £3, third .C 4. D. Managh (7 Harley-Davidson). 20s . . ! H. McCready (7 Harley-Davidson). 30s . . 2 P. Coleman (7 Harley-Davidson), scr . . 3 Also Started.—H. Mangham (7 HarleyDavidson), 30s; 11. Moller- (3} Norton). 4215; C. Lowe (31 Zenith), W. Herbert (31 Norton), J. Gardiner (3} Norton), C. Goodwin (2J A.J.S.). 655; R. Jofces (21 .A..1.5.). 77*s; A. Harkei- ('2 J Zenith), SOs; C. Lemon (2J A.J.S.). J. White '25 Connaught), F. Staig (21 A.J.S.), J. Williamson (22 Connaught), 90s. Williamson and Staig had completed 1} laps before Coleman started. This meant that in 10 miles Coleman had to concede half a mile moie than he was asked to do in the 12-mile race. Giving Managh 20s handicap it was apparent he could not win. Showing good sportsmanship, however, he rode the race of the afternoon. Even against, such odds he gained third place, but recovered only 8s of Managh'* start. Herbert overtook the leaders in the fourth lap, only to be replaced by Lowe, who held his position for another two miles, when Managh, who was riding like one possessed, thundered past with McCready on his heel*. At the beginning of the last lap Managh was a short distance ahead of McCready, with Lowe 300vds. away, "and Coleman another 100 yds. further back. Coleman, lapping in 49 4-ss. mowed down the opposition and finished third. 12s behind tlie winner. Managh. and 8s behind McCready in second place. Winner's time, fim 365. FINAL HANDICAP. Open, 5 miles. Of .£M; second to take £4, third £2. W. Herbert (3} Norton), 35s I H. McCreadv (7 Harley-Davidson). 15s . . 2 O. Shakespear (7 Harley-Davidson), 30s 3 Also Started.—D. Managh (7 HarleyDavidson), scr; C~ Lowe (7 Zenith). 15s; H, Mangham (7 Harley-Davidson). 17ls: H. Moller (31 Norton), 255; R. Ranby (7 Harl6y Davidson), 11. North (7 Harley-David-son), 355; A. Lemon (2J A.J.S.), 3715: L. Curtis (2J A.J.S.), J. Gardener (31 Norton), L. Coulthard (31 Triumph), 40s; G. Tate 25 Zenith), R. Jones (2s A.J.S.). 4215; F. Staig (25 A.J.S.), T. 'Dennis (2? A.J.S.). C. Walker (22 Connaught), W. White (2J Connaught), -455.' Managh's engine refused to fire for several seconds arid when he finally got away -he had lost all chance of securing a place. Herbert took the leadinc position in tho second lap and maintained his position, just gaining the decision by a flash from McCready. Shakespear was close up third. Winner's time, 4m 42 2-ss.