MOTOR-CYCLING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20384, 12 October 1929, Page 14 (Supplement)

MOTOR-CYCLING.

DIRT TRACK RACING.

Within a few weeks cinder tracks will bo opened in tho four main cities in New Zealand. Practice will bo commenced immediately in order that tho riders will havo an opporunity of becoming efficient before tho first night's racing. Tho stadium at Western Springs has rapidly advanced, and many of tho fittings to bo provided bv tho motor-cyclo company for its dirt track racing will considerably improve facilities for the holding of other sports on various nights during the week. A dirt track association has been formed to. control tbo activities of tho clubs throughout tho Dominion, and all of theso clubs will have to pay a standard scale of prize-money to riders irrespective of whether tliero is a poor attendance or a largo gate. Tho four principal companies havo arranged a very comprehensive benevolent fund for tho provision of funds to support any rider who suffers injury, and generally every effort has been mado" by the promoters to cater for tho welfare and protection of tho riders and at tho same timo ensuring tho maximum entertainment for tho public.

NORTH SHORE CLUB.

Tho annual meeting of tbo North Shore Club was held last Tuesday, when a good attendance of members assembled to receive the annual report and balance-sheet. Tho past year has been a very successful one, and for the coming season an interesting programmo has been arranged. A club run to Waiatarua will bo bold next week-end, and at tho end of November tho beach races at Orcwa will be run. Tho following officers wero elected: — President, Mr. T. Walsh; vice-presidents, Mr. T. L. Blomfield, Mr. If. Martin; treasurer, Mr. A. R. Myers; secretary, Mr. R. Richardson; executive, Messrs. A. Christie, J. Parker, C. Richards, E. Walls, and T. Roach. WHANGAREI RACES. The motor-cyclo racing season will be opened at Kensington Park Racecourse on Labour Day, when tho Whangarei Motor-Cyclo Club will hold its annual grass track raCes. Entries closo next Saturday.

AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX. British motor-cycles won the 500 c.c. and 550 c.c. classes in tho Austrian Grand Prix, which was hold near Vienna recently. A. Simcock (Sunbeam) was first in tho 500 c.c. race, while G. E. Rowley (A.J.S.) was the only finisher in tho 350 c.c. event. Wolf (M-T-Jap) was second in the 500 c.c. class, and W. L. Ilandley (Motosacoche) third. The lightweight class was won by Runtsce (O.K. Supreme). Tho 1000 c.c. and 750 c.c. classes were combined, and tho winner in this case was Steinfellner (8.M.W.). AUSTRALIAN VISITORS. Tho Auckland Speedway Company, which will bo racing on tho dirt track at Western Springs ou Saturday evenings during tho summer, has engaged a team of Australian dirt track exponents to compete for a period of the season. Other Australian riders have been engaged to appear in Wellington, and it has now been agreed to exchango these teams so as to provide extra entertainment and vary the competition.

i TT. INFLUENCES ROADS. Tho value of road racing and of the Tourist Trophy races in particular has often been stressed from the point of view of tho development of motor-cycle design. Something, however, remains to be written regarding tho influence of racing upon an entirely different matter, namely, that of. road construction. The T.T. was instituted primarily to give the world better motor-cycles; it appears now to bo evident that it may help to provide safer highways. A study of the Islo of Man circuit reveals some very instructive facts. Very large sums of money have been expended by tho Manx Highway Board on improving tho roads used in the races and with markedly successful results. Tho problem beforo the authorities was to provide a surface that could bo taken fast under any conditions of weather, and it was thereforo necessary to devote special attention fo the skidding question. Roads had to bo laid that would dry quickly after a shower and that, when wet, would provide tho maximum grip for tho tyres of the competing machines. Those requirements havo been met remarkably fully, and it is suggested that highway engineers throughout tho world might well study the constructional methods employed for the T.T. course, with a view to"turning'them to practical use.

NOTES. It is belioved that tho production of motor-cycles in Germany will this year reach a total of 190,000 machines. Of tho 20,006 motor-cycles registered in Czecho slovakia at tho beginning of tho present year, 7885 were British. In Auckland alone fifteen specially constructed dirt track racing machines havo been delivered to riders, while a number of other orders have been placed for motors now oil tho water. A number of motor-cycles fitted with light van bodies for tho collection of mails from street pillar-boxes havo lately been put in service in Brussels by tho Belgian post and telegraph authorities.