MOTOR-CYCLE THRILLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20427, 2 December 1929, Page 14

MOTOR-CYCLE THRILLS.

DIRT TRACK RACING. WESTERN SPRINGS SPEEDWAY OPENING NIGHT'S SPORT. MANY EXCITING CONTESTS. " Dirt track racing has made auspicious beginnings in the other three principal cities of Now Zealand, and, judging by tho crowd here to-night, the sport should bo immensely popular in Auckland," said tho Mayor, Mr. Georgo Baildon, in officially opening tho Western Springs speedway on Saturday evening. "Wo liavo a very good track, and the suitability of tho site will bo recognised by those who know tho city. Riders who have had experience in other parts of New Zealand and in Australia consider our track is as good as any on which they have ever ridden. Up to the present time £24,300 has been spent on the work of constructing the speedway, and in providing a stadium the City Council has' done a great deal to relieve unemployment in Auckland." • Long before tho races were duo to commence the crowd started to collect, and by 7.30 p.m. there were close on 15,000 people present, seated on the terraces which surround tho greater portion of the track. Loud-speakers at intervals round the track announced that the grand parade of competing riders would place, and, as his name was called, each rider wheeled his machine into position on tho track. Enthusiastic cheering greeted each man's appearance, some of the better known riders being referred to by popular nick-names. The First Real Thrills. The roar of an open exhaust was almost simultaneous with the crack of the starter's pistol, and the people gasped as witnessed their first " broadside," a deliberate skid of rather terrifying proportions. The first real thrills came in the fourth heat, when all four competitors crashed before the completion of the third lap. J. Garmson (Rex-Acmo) had a rather fortunate escape, his machine taking fire when ho skidded after failing to correct a terrific broadside. Track attendants quickly extinguished the flames, and tho crowd cheered when tho rider was seen to pick himself up unharmed. The art of dirt track racing lies in successful broadsiding, with the result that thero were no dull moments during tho whole evening, as every rider skidded on each corner, and there were usually ono or more falls in each race. The spectators seemed a little fearful for the safety of tho riders during the early stages, but when it was seen that a man and his machine could part company without either being injured, no atmosphere ot danger marred tho enjoyment of the racing. Tho two Australian men,_S. Perkins and A. Mann, were matched in a special race, but Perkins crashed, leaving Mann as easy winner. Aucklanders Successful. Of the local ridevs, L. Coulthard, the well-known grass-track performer, proved perhaps tho most successful. Riding a Rex-Acmo machine, he won tho Western Springs Handican easily, in spite of being matched against tho more experienced Australian, A. Marin. C. Goldberg, the Royal Enfield rider, won the opening handicap, being the only rider to finish in tho final. Tho best time for ing was put up by W. Alien, the Norton rider, who completed four laps iu lm. 37 l-55., which is equal to about 37 miles an hour. In spite of heavy showers of rain the enthusiasm of the crowd was in no way diminished, and the spectacular nature of tho sport should continue to attract largo audiences to the speedway. Tho results were as follows: — OPENING HANDICAP.

Firßl Heat.—W. AHen (Norton). 3s. 1: A. McLaren (0.E.C.). Ob. 2. Allen, the scratch man. won by 50yds. Time, lm 50 4.5b. Second heat: C. Goldberg (Royal Enfield). 63, 1: A. Lemon (Rex-Acme). ss, -2. Won by 30yds. 'J'imo, lm 47 4-ss. Third heat: C. Goodwin (Royal Enfield*, fis. 1; L. Coulthard (RexlAcme), Cb. 2. There wag keen competition between tho two placed men in this heat. Coulthard led until (he beginning of the third lap, when Goodwin passed him on a comer. Time, lm 445. Fourth heat: All four riders in this event crashed before the end of the third lap. K. Yeats (Rex-Acme) crashed in tho first lap, and B. Herbert. (Royal Enfield), who was travelling well, fell within a few seconds. P. Buttler (A.J.S.) and «T. Garrrison # (.Rex-iAcme), skidded also, Garmson's machine taking firo as it lay on the track. Buttler. left alone, fell at the end of the third kp. Final,—C. Goldberg (Royal Enfield), Cs. 1. A. Lemon (Rex-Acme) started well but soon crashed, and on restarting Ins motor was missing badly. Goldberg, who rode well, proved superior to W. 'Allen (Norton), who crashed toward tho finish. Q.ime, lw 40 2-ss. WESTERN SPRINGS HANDICAP.

First Heat.—S. Perkins (Barley-Davidson), scr, 1; A. Naylor (R.udge-Whitworth), !)s. 2. C. R. McKenzio and A. Mattson both crashed Time, lm 4r> 1-ns. Second heat. C Harvey (Norton), 1; P. McGhee (Now Hudson), 2. W. Allen (Norton) retired with engine trouble. Time, lm 43 2-5s T" , heat: A. Mann (Douglas), scr, 1; C. Goodwin (Royal Enfield), 2. Tho efficiency of the red-light danger sysi.em was shown m this heat, when Goodwin crashed directly in front of Lemon, who avoided the prostrate rider with commendablo skill. Tho race was stopped and rerun. .lime, lm 52 4-ss. Fourth heat: L. Coulthard (Ivex-Arme), scr, ]. C. Goldberg (Royal Enfield), scr, 2. Coulthard led all the way and won by half a lap. Time, lm 44 ■i-ss. First Semi-final.—C. Harvey Norton). 1; A. Naylor (Rudge-Whitworth), 2. S. Perkins nn his Harley-Davidson crashed, tho other three competitors finishing well. Time. Ini 31s Second semi-final: L. Coulthard (Rex-Acme), 1; A. Mann (Douglas), 2. Coulthard rode cleverly throughout and well deserved his win. Mann crashed, his machine turning completely over. Ho restarted, finishing second. Goldberg was unlucky to fall when practically suro of second place. Time, lm 43 3-ss. Final.—L. Coulthard (Rex-Acme). Bs. .1; A. Mann (Douglas), scr, 2. Coulthard took tho lead from the fltart. and was 70yda ahead at the end, of the first, lap. A. Naylor and C. Harvey, the two Wellington men, fell early in the race and were unable to restart, within tho allotted three minutes. Coulthard gave perhaps the best, performance of the evening in winning this event, hiß cornering being particularly steady. Ho won by over 200 yds. Mann, the only other competitor left., skidded and fell a few yards from the post. Ho pushed his machine homo within tho three minutes, and was thus placed second. Time, lm 40b. SPECIAL CHALLENGE RACE. A special challenge laco between Auckland and Wellington riders resulted as follows: First heat,: A. Mattson (Norton), Auckland, 1; P. McGhee (New Hudson), Wellington, 2. Tho four riders got of! well together, B. Bray (Douglas) being prominent in tho corner work. He was unlucky to fall while leading in tho third lap. Riders in this event wero given n. rolling start. Time. 1111 44 4-sa. Second heat: W. Allen (Norton), Auckland, 1; C. Harvey (Douglas). Wellington. 2. W. Herbert, Auckland, was travelling very fast 011 a corner when he broadsided a littlo too far and fell. Laving to make a hasty leap over the safety fence to avoid being run down by tho following riders. C. R. McKenzie (A.J.S.) lmd engine trouble early in the race. Allen and Harvey rode extremely well, and provided the closest finish of all the events. Allen's time, lm 37 i-fifl, whs the fastest of the evening. Final.—C. Harvey (Douglas), Wellington. 1; P. McGhee (New Hudson), Wellington, 'I. This raco was particularly spectacular its W Allen (Auckland) was lending on his Norton in the third lap when his machine stopped de'ad 011 a corner in the centre of tho track. Harvey and McGhee, who were cornering together, both went into deliberate broadsides, which they checked only a few feet of! tho fence, and successfully avoided a collision. Timo, lm 38 2-ss. MEETING OF AUSTRALIANS. A final match raco between the two Australian riders resulted:—A. Mann (Douglas), 1; S. Perkins (Rex-Acme). 2. From a rolling start tho two riders got away together, and there wan littlo between them when Perkins, who was riding Lemon's Rex-Acme, instead of his "Peashooter" Barley-Davidson, fell when coming out of 11. skid. Mann thus gainod a-lead of half a lap. which he maintained until tho finish, although Perkins successfully restarted.