SPEEDWAY RACING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21116, 25 February 1932, Page 5

SPEEDWAY RACING.

LOCAL RIDERS' MEETING. The cinder track races staged at Western Springs Speedway on Monday evening for purely local riders failed to attract even a fair attendance of patrons, although the actual racing was keen, the times consistent, and many of the finishes very close. A. Mattson and C. Goldberg were absent in Wellington representing New Zealand in the second test against the Englishmen. 'lhe fastest time of the. evening, ]m 22 2-5s for the four laps, was shared by Covin, Day and Butler in the rolling starts. The fastest laps went to I). Muttson's credit, who twice lapped in 19 2-5s and 19 4-ss. Ho showed good liead work, and several times gained an advantage by cutting in on the white lino. He was, however, a little unsteady and fell twice. A special challenge between Day, Coylo and Morgan resulted in a win for Day, who cleverly slipped past Morgan entering the final lap. Morgan fell on the last bend and Coyle, who had previously tallen, remounted and dashed round the track, narrowly beating Morgan, who was pushing his machine the last few yards in an endeavour to secure second place. The value of a quick-starting motor was demonstrated in the Auckland Handicap. In the semi-final and the final Mattson's machine fired immediately, and the advantage gained in the first second was sufficient to enable him to maintain a lead throughout. Shepphercl also rode well. Fast times were recorded in the B grade handicap, when 13. Walters lapped in 21s. This was Walters' first appearance on the track this year, and his exhibition was all the more meritorious. O'Brien lapped l-5s slower, this being his second ride for the season. A feature of the racing was the lack of engine trouble, and good, hard, clean riding. Next Saturday the annual contest between tlio Wellington and Auckland Speedways will take placo at Western Springs. The Wellington team will bo selected from W. Kilmister, T. Wilkinson, A. Hunger, C. Tonks, P. Phillips and A. Rait. Wilkinson will make his first appearance in Auckland, and on form he will bo in the running with Mattson and Kilmister. Auckland will be represented bv A. Mattson, C. Goldberg, F. Day, W. Coylo, T. Butler and B. Cairns. SPEED WITH SAFETY. Boasting of high average speeds accomplished on the road is an. old failing, whether motor-cyclist or car-driver is concerned. Little do the boasters realise that the experienced motorist knows that average speed is mainly governed by the risks the driver is prepared to take. Whether high speed is safe depends upon the man, the machine, and, last but not least, the road conditions. With a suitable mount it is easy enough to achievo a high average in the early hours of the morning, but—and this is where the danger lies —few who use the roads in the early hours re-, member that others, too, may bo taking risks. One or two narrow escapes from crashing owing to straying cattle or from colliding with other vehicles at cross-roads will soon instil common sense into a rider, that is, if he is lucky enough to escape; but is the risk worth while 1 A second may be saved here, another there, but what does it really matter whether the average for a 200-mile run is 40 miles an hour or 45 '! The difference is negligible compared with the possibility of languishing as a motor-cyclist on paper for weeks —perhaps for months, or even worse. In the daytime high averages —by which we mean those much in excess of 40—spell not only risks, but road-hogging, unless conditions are exceptional. Speed with safety is the maxim of the good rider, and those who boast of high averages would do well to consider whether they this category, or whether, on the other hand, they arc riot among those who foster the. prejudice which every motor-cyclist who has the interests of the sport at heart is doing his ] utmost to live, down LIGHT-WEIGHTS IN DEMAND. To the countries specialising in small, light motor-cycles must now be added the name of Belgium. A dozen or more new economical light-weights, varying in engine capacity from some 00 c.c. lo 175 c.c., were exhibited at the Brussels Show. Thus we now have France. Germany, Italy, Belgium and Britain all exploiting the demand for light, simple transport. The lines adopter! in France ;ind Belgium differ widely from those of British manufacture. In Ihe main, these countries are concentrating on the stepping-stone between bicycle and motor-cycle—in other words, upon tho motor-assisted pedal cycle. Perhaps the most significant fact is the Continent's wholesale belief in the smallcapacity light-weight. With the long, straight roads, often consisting of rough pave, that are a feature of certain parts of the. Continent, it might well have been thought that the light-weight had no future abroad, yet facts are proving otherwise. NORTON SUCCESSES. The list of Norton International successes for 1031 road racing is a long one, and it is interesting to observe that these machines- have won every senior road race in which they have been entered. The successes include wins in the English Junior and Senior Tourist Trophy, the Dutch ■Junior and Senior Tourist Trophy, and in various classes of the French, German, Belgian. Swiss, Swedish, Irish, and Italian Grand Prix. There have been also many good records in reliability trials held iii England and Scotland. NOTES. Only about 1000 motor-cycles, mainly under official ownership, are in use in Mexico. The number of motor cycles in use in Denmark has risen from 19,073 in 1923 to 24,009 in 1931. A motorist, had to pay £IOO damages to a. cyclist who was injured through skidding on a. patch of oil left on the road in England recently. "Safety Week" will be. celebrated in London this year from May 2 to 8, and during the same period the National Safety Congress will be held in London. The Pedestrians' Association in England states that during the last year the roads have, become for the walking public at least 10 per cent, more dangerous. According to a Russian journal, the manufacture of motor-cycles has recently started at the "Red October" Works in Leningrad. Tt. is hoped to turn out no fewer than 10,000 machines during 1932. The new Ministry of Transport regulations which came' into force in England on January 1, compel all new motor vehicles to be filled with safety glass on the windscreens and lower front windows. Already a large number of busowners and corporations have had safety glass fitted.