MOTOR-CYCLING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20235, 20 April 1929, Page 12 (Supplement)

MOTOR-CYCLING.

THE SPORTS CLUB. BEACII RACES. The final beach races of the season of the Sports Motor-cycle Club will bo held at Muriwai Beach to-morrow. The programme caters for all makes and powers of machines, and the handicap races will allow for the difference in the experience of the competitors. A number of tioncompoting enthusiasts will be making the journey to the beach and a good day's sport is assured. While the club is to be commended on its sportnumship in giving up its date for its speedway races to the Muriwai Motor-car Racing Company, motor-cycle enthusiasts regret that the two-wheelers will not be in charge of' t'.rills, spills, etc., at the Man cere Speedway next week. The Sports Club lias made no announcement, re the definite date on which it is now proposed to hold its dirt track races, but it is feared that by allowing the cars' preference the weather may make further racing impossible. TOURIST TROPHY RACES. Recognised as the premier annual event in ,the motor-cycle world, the English Tourist Trophy races will be hold on the Isle of Man on Jtino 10, 12 and 14. The conditions and course are the same as last year with the exception of a small adjustment in the amount of entrance fees. DIRT TRACK AFFAIRS. Messrs A. J. Roycroft and J. Kay, two members of the recently registered company which will conduct dirt track racing on the quarter-mile stadium next summer are at present in Australia visiting the various speedways. They were present at tiro Australian T.T., and have seen several dirt track meetings. They state, that the sport has a tremendous hold in Australia and are arranging for some of the best riders to visit New Zealand next year. MOTOR-CYCLING IN FRANCE. Definite proof of the wonderful growth of the motor-cycle movement in France is to" be found in Government statistics for 1928, which reveal an increase of 30.5 per cent, in the number of machines exported and of 71 per cent, in imports. Contrary to the general impression it is not Great Britain which supplies the greatest number of machines to France, but Belgium, which last year sent in 1998 motor-cycles, having a value of about £55,000" British machines numbered 482, valued at £23.740.

It is curious to note that while the British machines have the normal average value of about £SO. the average value of the Belgium machines is under £2B. This suggests that the British machines are mostly of t'ns highclass, expensive type. Evidently American motor-cycles are not appreciated, for only 24 were imported into France last yea r. France exported 6773 motor-cycles during 1928. of which 1400 went to Switzerland and 1148 to Spain. Other good clients were Algeria, Tunisia, Germany, and Morocco. The average value of the French motorcycles sent abroad was a little over £26. AUSTRALIAN T.T. The recent Tourist Trophy races held in New South Wales were the first of its kind since 1919. Intousc public interest was aroused and hundreds of spectators lined the circuit of a little under seven miles, which the competitors had to complete fifteen times. Five sha.ip corners, including a dangerous right-, angle bend, tested the skill of the riders and there were frequent spills, although none of the casualties proved serious. A number of prominent dirt track riders competed, and their experience on the cinders stood them in good stead on the sharp road corners. S. Williams, a wellknown Australian spesdman, besides accounting for the premier event, the Senior T.T., also filled second place iri tlio Junior Race, an equally gruelling evont. K. Soames scored a brilliant 1 double, winning the Junior T.T. and the All Powers Solo Handicap. The following are the detailed results: — Senior T.T., 100 Milss. Open to all makes and powers. S. ( Williams (349 c.c. o.h.v. A.J.S.) Biding time, 2 hours, llmin., 42 sees 1 W. James (498 c.c. o.h.v. A.J.S'.). Biding time, 2 hours, 13min.„ 9 sees . . . . 2 A„ Boxall (498 c.c. o.h.v. BudgeWhitworth). Biding time, 2 hours 14min., 25 sees. .... - . . 3 Fastest Lap:—W. James, 7min., 51 sees. Nineteen started. Junior T.T., 100 Milss. Open to all machines of not more than 350 c.c. K. Soames (348 c.c. o.h.v. Velocette). Biding time, 2 hours 9 min., 52 sees 1 S. Williams (349 c.c. o.h.v. A.J.S'.V Biding time, 2 hours 11 min., 33 sees 2 C. Thomas (349 c.c. o.h.v. 8.5.A.). Biding time, 2 hours, 14 min., 49 spes, 3 Fastest Lap:—o. Bobbins (349 c.c. o.h.v. A.J.S. Bmin., 15 sees. Ten started. Side Oar Handicap. 27 Miles Open. 11. J. Bird (1200 c.c. Harley-David-son). (See). Time, 36min., 30 sees . . . . < 1 Don Bain (996 c.c. s.v. A.J.S.) (1 inin., 40 sees). Time, 38min., 54 B. Ball (493 c.c. o.h.v. B.S.A.j (3min., 45 sees. 'lime, 40niin., 47 sees. . . . . . . • • Fastest Lap:—ll. J. Bird, Bmin., 30 sees. Four starters. Solo Handicap. 27 Miles. Open. K. Soames (348 c.c. o.h.v. Velocette): Time, 33min., 57 sees. . . 1 Lance Watson (348 c.c. o.h.v. Douglas). Time, 35min., 35secs. . 2 D. Bain(34B c.c. o.h.v. Douglas.) Time, 37min., 4secs. . . . . • • 3 Fastest Lap:—K. Soames. Bmin., 15 sees. Fifteen starters. NOTES. It is estimated that the number of motor-cycles produced in France last year was approximately 100,000. This year there will be a massed start in the Ulster Grand Prix. It will probably be on the lines of the Ulster car race, the riders running to their machines parked on the opposite side of the road. Pulling up rocently to assist a motorcyclist who had had a spill, I inquired for a spanner. " Never bother with one." he blandly remarked. The practice is an unwise one, but in this instance is testimony indeed, to the reliability of the modern motor-cycle.

A large gathering assembled recently at an English aerodromo to witness tests of aircraft running on fuel distilled from British coal. The spirit was obtained by tho low-temperature carbonisation process and the tests loft the spectator wondering how soon this fuel would be available for road vehicles.