MOTOR-CYCLE RACING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 21049, 7 December 1931, Page 11

MOTOR-CYCLE RACING.

EVENTS AT MANGERE. HIGH SPEEDS REGISTERED. SUCCESS OF R. VINALL. High speeds were registered at the first motor-cycle races of the season, held at Henning's Speedway, Mangere, on Saturday afternoon, under the auspices of the North Shore Motor-Cycle Club. The track was In particularly good order.: In spite of the large fields and the high speeds there were no mishaps, and during the seven races held none of the riders crashed. There were several retirements during the afternoon on account of mechanical trouble, one of the most unfortunate being that of A. Lemon, who was leading with iiis special A.J.B. machine in the open championship when the bottom of the float-chamber of his carburetter became loose and the engine stopped. Undoubtedly the most successful rider of the afternoon was E. Vinall, who was using a Yelocette. He won both the 515 c.c. and 365 c.c. championships with a 350 c.c. machine, and was also first in the 515 c.c. open handicap and second in the open handicap. His motor, which had been carefully tuned, gave no trouble, and the rider handled it with remarkable skill. Using a 500 c.c. Sunbeam machine he attempted to lower the track lap record of 545, made some time ago by P. Coleman, with a model of almost double the capacity. Vinall covered the dis-. tance in 54 2-ss, just 2-5s outside the record, bub he succeeded in establishing a record for machines up to 3£ horsepower. Of the other riders, L. Sowerby (Douglas and Velocette), L. Perry (Royal Enfield), and F. Lindesay (Rudge), were the most successful. Perry gained one first place, two thirds and a fourth, while each of the others also won several places.! The side-car event resulted in an easy win for W. Marett's outfit, which received a generous handicap and was not challenged during the race. The results were as follows: HANDICAP, machines up to 365 c.c. Four Laps. L. Perry (Royal Enfield) .. .. *. 1 L. Sowerby (Douglas) .. .. .. 3 S. Brookes - (Broadway Special) . . 3 Competition was keen in tho opening event, there being little to choose between the placed men. Brookea was leading after three laps, and then slowed down, imagining the race to be over. Before he realised that there was another lap tP 6° Percy and Sowerby had passed him. In spite of his best efforts Brookes could only finish third, although at one stage the race had been well within his grasp. No time was announced. SIDE-CAR RACE, Three Laps. W. Marett (8.5.A.), 15a .. .. . . 1 J. Roberts (Indian), 20s R. G. White (Douglas), 15s .. ..3 Marett's outfit was evidently faster than had been bargained for, as he was not challenged from the start, actually drawincr nway from the scratch' man. W. Marshall (Norton) was second all the_way,_but did not actually cross the finishing line, running into the pits just before the end of the last lap. He was thus disqualified, allowing Roberts to claim second place, while "White, whose Douglas covered the greater part of the distance on only one cylinder, came in third. SCRATCH RACE, One Lap. Machines that have lapped faster than 635. A. Lemon (Special) .. .. .. 1 L. Coulthard (Sunbeam) .. .. ..2 L. Sowerby (Velocette) .. ~.. ..3 At the flying start Lemon was about 10 yards ahead of the field and was actually leading the pacer, but thp race was allowed to proceed. Lemon, on the machine with which he won several races at the last Takapuna meeting, increased his lead all the way, although Coulthard and Sowerby left the field and were travelling really fast. Lemon won by over 100 yards, with Coulthard five yards ahead of Sowerby. Time. 575. £ 515 C.C. HANDICAP, OPEN, Seven Lapi. R. Vinall tVelocette), 30s .. .. 1" B. Cuthbertson (Sunbeam), 153 .. .2 L. Perry (Royal Enfield), 20s . . 3 There were 10 starters, the limit man. S. Brookes, getting away well. K. Yeats (Rex-Acme) completed only one lap,_ while It. Sowerby (Dorffelas) also retired in the early stages. R. Vinall, whose Velocette was extremely fast and nicely handled, took the lead from Brookes at the beginning oJ the second lap and forged ahead steadily. He was first home by a large margin. Cuthbertson showed a good turn of speed with his Sunbeam, while Perry rode a steadyrace, gaining considerable distance at each ccrner. Brookes retired in the last lap. just as Vinall lapped Forder, whose Norton was slower than usual. Time. 7m 5 2-ss. 365 C.C. CHAMPIONSHIP. Four Laps. R. Vinall (Velocette) .. .« .. 1 L. Sowerby (Velocette) .. •.. .. 2 W. White (Velocette), .. 3 L. Perry (Royal Enfield) .4 There were five starters, but CoulthaTd's motor stopped in the preliminary lap, leaving the four others to complete the race.The four riders went past the flag together, but Vinall immediately went ahead, with White close behind. Perry, who was lying last' the second time round, was third on the next lap and was challenging White for second place, but the Velocette was too. fast. Sowerby just managed to pass Perry in the last 100 yards, to take third place. Time, 3m 595. OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP, Five Laps. R. Vinall (Velocette) .. ... 1 F. Lindesay (Rudge) 2 L. Sowerby (Velocette) ... .. .. 3 From the rolling start A. Lemon (A.J.S.Spccial) took the lead, with W. Whit» (Velocette) in close company. White fell back a long way on the straight, and retired at the end of the first lap. Vinall passed Lemon, but could nol hold his lead, the A.J.S. repassing easily. Lemon waa well ahead when the bottom of the floatchamber of his carburetter worked loose and the engine, starved of petrol, promptly stopped, the rider having to push his mount half-a-mile to the pits. Vinall again went ahead and met with no competition, winning easily. Coulthard did not finish. Lindesay completed the distance well behind Vinall. Time, 4m 5Ss. OPEN HANDICAP, Five Laps. F. Lindesay (Rudge), 2?s 1 R. Vinall (Sunbeam). 10s .. .. * L. Perry (Royal Enfield). 20s .. ..3 The limit man. S. Brookes. encountered trouble on his first lap, leaving H. \Vay in the lead. Vinall. who was on scratch, went steadily until the third lap when he passed three men. falling m be bind Lindesay, who was close to Way. Sowerby a motor was misfiring badly at tins stage and he fell back to last. Way's Velocette also lost speed, end Lindesay moved into first t)lace with Vinall 300 yards ITo could not overtake the leader, nnishinc 50 yards behind, with L. Perry. - ridden another good race, in third place. Time, sni 16 4-ss.