MOTOR-CYCLING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20306, 13 July 1929, Page 14 (Supplement)

MOTOR-CYCLING.

RIVAL DIRT TRACKS. The iliit track which is bein? constructed at the municipal stadium at Western Springs will be available before the end of the \catj Tho tout:oiling bodv, .\llckland Speedways, l.td., has lon 1 tii"in"cd organising, among rideis. An agreement is being circulated for .signature by intending riders It provides for training under supervision cf the company, decisions in the case of disputes, and the acceptance of riding risks by the competitor. Two clauses are:—(l) "Tho rider agrees and undertakes that ho will, not, until March 31, 1931, compete at any other motorcycle race held or organised by any other person, firm, or company in New Zealand, so long as the company is holding meetings at Western Springs, without tho written consent of the company having been obtained, but this re straint shall not apply to any grass track meeting held in the dav time." (2) "" Tho rider shall not bo a member of any other association or society unles3 it is aililiated with the N.Z. A.C.U." Theso two clauses aro obviously in tended to re.-!rain riders from competing on the rival dirt track which is proposed bv the organisers ot too southern tracks. A representative of this organisation stated this week that tho scheme would proceed in spite of tho Auckland Speedways' activities. It was proposed to construct a track also at the Western Springs and already half of the capita! of UIO.OOO was assured. Tho organisation had recently completed arrangements for tho capital for tho Clnistehurch and Dunedin tracks, and tho Invoreargill proposal was in hand It was desired to establish a chain of tracks which would tempt crack riders to p-> through the circuit. Unfortunately, this would conllict with the stadium track, but it was thought that tho sport would be wider and rnoro competitive by this system of central tracks. Motor-cyclists aro divided on the action of Auckland Speedways, Ltd., in signing up riders. Some contend that they want freedom 1o compete on cither track, and tho liberty to enter for southern competitions. Other riders aro signing tho agreement with the view that, the Auckland organisation which is first in (be field is entitled to tako steps to secure itself as far as possible from rival operations. ft is unfortunate that this position has developed. There aro argu incuts for both sides, and it is certainly very desirable that inter-city competition should not suffer by tho existence of two tracks in Auckland. So far, no com promise has been suggested, and those who aro looking forward to dirt track racing can only hope that the quality of the programmes will not suffer. BELGIAN GRAND PRIX. To-morrow the Belgian Grand Prix will bo contested. British riders have in tho past been very successful, and a representative team will again be racing. THE FIRST TWIST GRIP. The origin of tho twist grip control is said to date back to 1068, owing to a titling 011 a machine called the " Velocipede." It had a straight handle-bar, lotatablo in tho bearings of a Y-carrier. On the handle-bar was a hook. Attached to the hook was a cord. The far end of tho cord was fixed to the front brake. So by rotating tho haridle-bar you wound the cord round the bar, and applied the brake. DRIVING PAST HOSPITALS.

Motor-cyclists are urged to observe the great necessity for driving past hospitals m tho most considerato manner possible. .Many machines are not effectively silenced and it is a fact that in cases of Serious illness unnecessary noise can turn the scales in the worst direction. Only those who liavo been seriously ill cdn rcaliso liow noise affects tho invalid. In the cause of humanity, motor-cyclists should keep a loo.'* out for not only public hospitals, but also for private institutions. NOTES. A so'J c.c. A.J.S., with a side-car attached, recently covered U6.G miles in one hour on Brooklands track.

Special tyres which have been made for the world's largest aeroplane aro 7Aft. in diameter and 16in. in cross section.

At the end of last year there were 2255 motor-cycles in use in lndo-China. About 180 machines were imported during 1928.

Several members of the Mexican Motor Cycle Traffic I'olieo aro touring on a American vaudeville circuit, with a trick and fancy riding turn.

In England aeroplanes may now bo obtained oil tho deferred payment plan, in tho same way as car 3 and motor-cycles. Light planes cost upwards of £6OO.

A vertical twin-cylinder two-stroke engine is the source, of power in a car •which has been placed on tho French market to sell at £75. A maximum speed of 43 m.p.h. is claimed.

In spite of counter dirt-track attractions the Watford, England, Motor-Cycle Club recently staged a grass-track meeting at which over sixty different competitors entered and a record crowd witnessed tho pports.

Tn England recently, .T. If. Simpson, one of the most famous English T.T. riders was prosecuted for " riding in

such a manner that he did not have con

trol of his machine." This, iri spite of the fact that ho was not exceeding 30 m.p.h.