GRASS TRACK RACING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20514, 15 March 1930, Page 14 (Supplement)

GRASS TRACK RACING.

COLEMAN APPEARING. * The world's grass track champion motorcyclist, P. Coleman, will again thrill enthusiasts when attempts to lower existing worlds records at the motor-cycle grass track sports, to be held at Takapuna this afternoon. Goleman was recently nominated by the New Zealand Auto Cycle Union to represent the Dominion at* the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy races. There will, of course, be the usual gathering of racing specialists from all centres, as well as a good representation from local riders. The races will commence promptly at 1 p.m., and will finish early, so as not to make a rush for those spectators who visit the cinder sport in the evening. MENACE TO MOTOR-CYCLISTS. The amount of loose metal that is being spread on the Franklin County section of the South Road has resulted in many and various breakages and spills to motor-cyclists. The rider of the twowlieeler pays his taxes in the same way as other road users, and probably his share of taxation is much heavier in proportion than many cars, but yet he receives absolutely no consideration from local bodies who maintain such a treacherous surface as that experienced in the vicinity of Drury this week. THE CINDER SPORT. Pearce lived up to his reputation as a world beater last Saturday, when he lowered the lap record at the Western • Springs Cinder Speedway. He will again appear to-night, and will be opposed by S. Perkins, whose worth has been demonstrated previously. The local riders are still showing improvement, and will contest the second race for the Pascoe Cup during this evenings! sport. ! At Blandford Park last Monday, keen racing was witnessed in two events between Walker and Curtis: - The latter is rapidly approaching an unassailable position, and richly deserved his win in the Gold Helmet race. With the exception of these two experts, and perhaps occasional bursts from Goldberg, the racing lacked merit, and was of a very amateur standard. The lady exponents looked very nice and business like, but their riding failed to impress. ' BRITISH POLICY UPHELD. ■ 1 A prominent Continental critic has expressed the opinion that if British motorcycle manufacturers may be classed as too conservative, Continental manufacturers may be classed as too revolutionary. His preference is for the former policy, as the one more likely to provide the public with trouble-free motor-cycling. It is certainly undeniable that drastic experiments in design have their risks, and the typical caution of the British manufacturer does at 'least ensure a remarkably high standard of reliability for his productions. REMOVING RUSTED COACH BOLTS. Sidecar-makers are very fond of attaching the body of the sidecar* by means of coach bolts. Exposed to mud and water, the nuts rapidly rust, and often become almost immovable. The wood yields round the squared parts of the bolt-heads, and when it is desired to remove the body, or even to tighten up the nuts, the bolts turn and the difficulty is apparently insuperable! Many mechanics attempt to cut a glot in the bolt-head with a hacksaw, and to hold the bolt with a screwdriver, but this is not very satisfactory. Cutting the bqlt off with a chisel is an equally thankless task. If, however, an gin. hole be drilled through the round head as near its edge as possible and parallel to the bolt, arid if a piece of stout spoke or a wire nail be driven through into the wood, the increased resistance offered against turning will enable the nut to be unscrewed. PACED RECORD LOWERED. 0. Nicholson, the Victorian cyclist, lowered 11. Opperman's one-hour Australasian motor-paced record at the Melbourne Motordrome last week by covering 55 miles 910 yards in the 60 minutes. The previous record was 53 miles 953 yards, made by Opperman on the same "track in 1925. Nicholson's intermediate times, compared with Opperman's are as follows; —

AUSTRALIAN T.T. SELECTION. In accepting tho invitation issued by the Auto Cycle Union of Great Britain for an Australian rider to compete in this year's Tourist Trophy races on the Isle of Man, a selection has been made by the Auto Cycle Council of Australia in the person of Stuart Williams—a wellknown Sydnev inotor-cyclist. Williams is one of the only two men in Australia at present with Tourist Trophy experience, having competed in this classic event in cpmpany with A. W. Stratford in 1925. Ilis past performances in Australia have been very good and together with his previous experience on the Isle of Man course, his selection is warranted. In 1926 he won the Junior Grand Prix, held in New South Wales, and in 1929 ho accounted for several long-distance races, including the All Powers' Championship of New South Wales, the 150-mile Grand Prix of Australia, and the New South Wales Senior Tourist Trophy. In this series he also secured second place in the junior event. NOTES. Jn order to speed up the delivery of telegrams in the city, Cologne Post Office is to liavo messenger Loys mounted on motor-cycles. The second annual motor-cycle show in Australia will be held in the Melbourne Town Hall frocn March 11 to 15. Thirteen exhibitors liavo taken stands for the display, which will be a complete index to motor-cycle development for 1930. Messrs. J. and W. White, Newmarket, liavo recently landed a 1930 Model Sunbeam, the first of this well-known make to be brought into New Zealand-by an agent. The Sunbeam, has the distinction of having won tho Senior T.T. for two years in succession, 1928-1929. A test of motor-cycling experts was recently held in Holland to decide the champions of various classes, and it is worth while noting J.hat British motorcycles wero first in all the classes, excepting one, in which there wero no British entries. Competing against tho bfcst makes of foreign machines, riders of Ariel motor-cycles secured no less than three .separate championship awards and two second places.

Nicholson. Opperman. Miles. Min. See. Min. Sec. ' 5 . . 5 27 5 33 2-5 10 .. 10 55 11 10 1-5 15 . . 16 22 36 44 1-5 20 .. 21 51 24 4 1-5 25 .. 27 9 29 33 2-5 30 .. 32 25 34 56 4-5 35 .. 37 , 45 40 16 3-5 40 .. 43 7 45 35 45 .. 48 44 50 58 53 . — 59 19 55 !! 59 25 — —