FAST BROADSIDING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21358, 6 December 1932, Page 12

FAST BROADSIDING

TWO RECORDS BROKEN SUCCESS OF ENGLISHMEN PHILLIPS AND STEVENSON MANY EXCITING RACES The fastest riding seen at Western Springs Speedway delighted an enthusiastic crowd of about 2000 people last evening. when the visiting riders were at the top of their form. Two track records were broken and two moro equalled, and there were many extremely exciting finishes. The outstanding performer was W. Phillips, who created a favourable impression when he first appeared at the opening meeting on November 26. 'Die track seemed to suit him to a nicety, his motor was running particularly well and ho set & new standa'ul by breaking one record and equalling two others, all in the one event. Before the first race ho made an unsuccessful attack on the rolling-start mile record of 7 <s, held by T. Farndon, but took J2-5s more. In the second heat of a later event, however, when matched against two other fast riders, T. Stevenson and R/Tauser, he covered the mile in 775, breaking by 2-5s the previous fastest time for a rolling-start race and equalling the mile record. His fastest lap was 18 4-5s v equal to A. Mattson's record for the distance. A Thrilling Contest The other record-breaker was T. Steveneon, another visiting rider. In the third event he "covered the mile in 1m 21 l-5s from a standing start, beating by 3-5s N. Key's time of lm 21 4-ss. Both races in which records were sot were particularly exciting, the two successful riders handling their fast motors with nice pre-

cision and apparent ease. The race in which Stevenson broke the standing start record was one of the most thrilling. The English rider, together with his team-mate, W. Phillips, started from 90 yards behind and before a lap had been covered it was that the backmarkers would have to ride with all their skill to overtake C. Goldberg, a local man, who had smarted from 35 yards behind. Phillips' motor was slow to fire, but Stevenson was quickly off tho mark. He went into the first corner with his throttle wide open and the spinning rear wheel sending a long black shower of cinders

far up the banked cycle-track. On bis first lap Stevenson swept past M. Silicb, who bad started 75 yards ahead of him, and closed up considerably on Goldberg. The local man was riding a fine race, however, and it was not until the last lap that Stevenson was close enough to challenge him. Goldberg surprised the crowd by holding his place as the two men went into the last corner, but his mount slid a trifle wide, and in a flash the Englishman was through the gap and in the lead. He won by a length and was cheered repeatedly by tho deliglited crowd. Evening ol ITast Speeds The racing was unquestionably ihe finest seen at the track and speeds that would ordinarily have been regarded as phenomenal became so common as to pass almost unnoticed. Times within a fraction of a second of records were recorded repeatedly and on several occasions ihe first two riders were so close that it fras difficult to distinguish the v,'inner. In this respect the match races were outstanding. E. Gregory defeated A. Mattson, the Dominion champion, by two lengths, while Phillips beat Key by a smaller margin. The third race provided the closest finish, Stevenson crossing the tine with the front wheel of his machine barely a foot ahead of that ridden by Tauser. In the final Phillips won easily, again : equalling the previous record of lin 17 2-ss,

A spectacular crash in the final of the Speedway Handicap resulted in both Goldberg and Mattson being unable to ride again during the evening. Goldberg was taken to hospital with concussion, while Mattson' was too shaken to continue. Both had been riding particularly well. Other local riders who showed good form were M. Silich, winner of the Local Handicap, W. -Allen, who won a heat and a semifinal, an'd B. Walters, who was placed twice during the evening. Track in Better Order The condition of the track was conF.iderably improved, it being possible for riders t(5 keep close to the white line and thus save fractions of seconds each lap. The surface had been carefully prepared and, although it had become a trifle hard as a result of rain during the day, the improvement was reflected in the faster speeds that were general. A beneficial effect of the rain was the laying of the dust that- frequently tends to blind the riders, and also to screen them from the view of spectators. During the evening the Coltrnan Cup, for the rider scoring most points in tho 1931-32 season, was presented to C Morgnn bv } Mr. A. C. Jacob, chairman of Auckland Speedways, Limited. The results are as follows: — MATCH RACKS First Heat.—E. Gregory (J.A.P.), 1; A. T.lottson; (J.A.P.), '2. Tune, lin' 183. Second heat: 'J'. .Stevenson f.T.A.f'.). 1; R. Thutter (•1.A.P.). 2. Time, lm J9 4-ss. Third heat: V. Phillips (J.A.P.). 1; N. Key (J.A.P.). 2 Time, Jin J3 I'jnol.—W. Phillips, 1; T. Stevenson, 2; E. Gregory, 3. Time, lm 17 2-58. , SPEEDWAY HANDICAP '' —-K. Oresory (J.A.P.), 90yds behind, 1 D. Malison (Norton), 20yds beJimd, 2. Time, lm 2-'! 2-ss. Second heat: A. Mattson, (J.A.P.), 90yds behind, 1; P. Day (Norton). 20yr;s hihind. 2. Time, lm 235. s'hird heat: T. Stevenson (J. A.P.). 90yds behind, 1: C. r,ol" l .>r.-r.r (J.A.P.), 35yds hehind, 2. Time, 1m 2] l-5s (record). Final: E. Gregory, 1. -Time, lm 2 f J 1 53. LOCAL HANDICAP First Tlent.--B. 'Walters (Norton), limit, 3: V. /Herbert (Pudge), 'loyds behind. 2. t':rne, lm '27s. Second heat: W. Allen (Rudsc), loyda behind. I; S. Sheppard U-Judge), 23yds behind, 2. Time, lm 275. Ihird heat: C. Mor«iui (Rmlse), 15yds hehind, 1; D. Mattson (Norton). 25vds i>>hind, - Time. Jm 2S 2-51. Fourth 'beat: M. Sihch (J.A.P.), 25yds behind, 1, U. I'ctley I'Jhidge), 23yds behind. 2. Time, lm 30 3-ss. First semi-fmol: W. Alien, 1; B. "Walters, , rae > * ru 25 3-ss. Second semi-fin,'d: M. oilich, 1; C. Morgan. 2. Time, lm 255. I* mal: j.l. Silich, 1; C. Morgan, 2. Time. I'm 26 3-ss. PLAZA SPECIAL SIX I Heat.—Yv. Phillips, 1: T. Stevenson, 2; E. fanser, 3. L'irne, lm 17s (record). St.c o nd heat: E. Greimrv, 1; N. Key, 2, Time, lm 20 15s. Final: V,'. Phillips. 1; I. Stevenson, 2. Time, lm 17 2-ss.