MOTOR-CYCLE RACE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20901, 17 June 1931, Page 9

MOTOR-CYCLE RACE.

isle of man event. JUNIOR TOURIST TROPHY. CONTEST WON BY HUNT. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright, (Received June IG, 8.45 p.m.) British Wireless. RUGBY, June 15; In tho Islo of Man to-day P. Hunt, riding a Norton motor-cycle at an average speed of 73.94 miles an hour over tho tortuous course of 264 miles, "won the Junior Tourist Trophy Race for motorcycles under 350 c.c. Guthrie or another Norton was second, and Nott, on a Rudge, third. Dray (New Zealand) retired through engine trouble, as did his fellow countryman Tolley as a, result of damage to his back wheel.

The race was one of the most fiercely contested on record. There were 50 starters, representing many parts of tho world, although all rgdc British-made machines.

Tho principal motor-cycling events of tho. year, the Tourist Trophy races, are hold annually in tho Isle of Man. Tho distance is 264 miles 300 yards, representing seven laps of the course, which follows the roads round tho mountain on tho island. Each year there are three races, tho junior, for machines up to 350 c.c. capacity, the light-weight for machines up to 250 c.c., and tho senior, for machines up to 500 c.c. The light-weight'contest will be run to-day, and tho senior ou Friday. There wero 149 entries received for this year's races. Of tho total, 56 were for the senior, 48 for tho junior and 41 for tho light-weight, as well as four unclassified. This is tho largest entry since. 1923, and tho total is 27 above that of last year. Tho winding course over ordinary tarsealed roads includes hairpin bends, steep climbs, several humps where the .mounts frequently leap into the air, and a long descent of the mountain, where riders in the senior often exceed 100 miles an hour. Foreign competition was strong in the junior, and machines from overseas have also been entered in the two other races. Last year there were also many foreign entries, but the race resulted in a sweeping victory for Britain, Rudge-Wbitworth machines being first, second and. third. The history of the T.T. races lias, shown British models in a most favourable light, the only foreign victory being in 1907, when tho rider of an Indian machine won. The Tourist Trophy races are of farreaching importance in the motor-cycling industry, as the designs for the coming year aro largely influenced by lessons learned on the island course. Competition between rival manufacturers is extremely keen and riders impose the greatest strain on their mounts in endeavours to gain a place, or at least, a replica. The fact that the races aro held over a road, course, under very arduous conditions, helps manufacturers to cater for discriminating purchasers who require reliability and ease of handling in their machines. T.T. riders have to faco slippery roads and banks of mist which hide sharp bends on the mountain course on full throttle, and their lives depend on their skill and the sterling qualities built into their machines. The official New Zealand representatives in tho junior and senior races this year are B. Bray and H. Tolley. Bray, wliq obtained a Norton machine for each race, is well known in Auckland, having ridden with success on the grass track- at Takapuna, and also on the cinders at the Western Springs Speedway. He has not visited the Isle of Man previously, _but has many local victories to hi?; credit. In last year's junior race, H. G. TyrrellSmith was first at 71.08 miles an "hour, G. E. Nott second and Graham Walker third. Nott holds the lap record at 72.22 miles an hour. > Following are the winners of the junior race for the last six years:— l > M.P.Hi 1925 W. L. Handler (Rex-Acme) . . 65.02 192G—A. Bennett (Velocctte) .. .. 66.70 1927 F. W. Dixon (H.R.D.) .. .. 67.19 1928—A. Bennett (Velocette) . < .. 68.65 1929 F. G. Hicks (Velocette) . . 65.71 1930 —H. G. Tyrrell-Smith (Rudge) .. 71.08