GLOUCESTER PARK TRACK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22004, 10 January 1935, Page 14

GLOUCESTER PARK TRACK

SUCCESS OF FIRST MEETING

OVERCOMING DUST NUISANCE

Tho successful first meeting held at Gloucester Park Speedway, Onchunga. last Saturday, augurs well for the future of tho joint enterprise of the Onehunga Borough Council and the New Zealand Motor-racing Drivers' Association. The crowd of 6000 people was given a thrilling afternoon's entertainment, and the organisers should be able to rely with confidence on good "houses" if they continue to provide such splendid racing as that seen last week.

The dust nuisance, one of the worst features of racing at Mangere, is also distressingly apparent at Gloucester Park, and at present members of the Drivers' Association are devoting their best efforts to finding some means of overcoming the trouble. There has been talk of spraying the circuit with some special preparation, but this would involve expense that it is desired to avoid if at all possible. On the other hand, watering the track did not appear last Saturday to be entirely successful. Some drivers complained that the effect was to turn parts of the circuit into miniature seas of mud, and at the conclusion of the racing the spattered appearance of maay of tho cars tended to bear out this contention.

The support of the public for the new sport on such a conveniently located track is assured if only the dust trouble can be overcome. Moreover, speeds will increase when drivers can see where they are going, and can use the capabilities of their cars to the full with no fear of colliding with slower machines in front.

Future racing at Gloucester Park should be interesting. t,ast Saturday all drivers were new to the track, some indeed not having done more than one or two laps by way of practice. The majority were wisely "feeling their way" instead of running wild under unfamiliar conditions. By the time the next meeting is held, early in February, drivers are likely to have become acquainted with the peculiarities of the circuit, and higher speeds can be anticipated.

MOTOR-CYCLING TOPICS

HELENSVILLE HILL-CLIMB

Keen competition between experienced riders is expected at the hiilclimb to be held at Bell's Hill, Helensvine, on Sunday. The meeting has been organised by the Kaipara Motor-cycle Club, and the principal award is the Texaco Cup. All clubs in the vicinity of Auckland have been invited to compete, and several teams should be seen in action. The Ixion Motor-cycle Club has decided to send two or more teams, while the Auckland Club hopes to be represented if teams can be arranged in time. Three machines make up a team, and it is provided that one rider must use a 250 c.c. mount, one a 350 c.c. and the third a 500 c.c. It is stipulated that only commercial fuel may be used. The provisional placings announced at the conclusion of the Dominion Tourist Trophy race held at Waiheke Island recently were considered at a meeting of the executive of the Auckland Club, organisers of the event, during the week. The final placings are as follows: —F. Bradley, 1; A. Mattson, 2; L. Sowerby, 3; C. Goldberg, 4; L. Perrv, 5; J. Dale, 6; M. C. P. Jones, 7. The only alteration to the original- list is the inclusion of Perry's name. A special award for the best performance by a first-year rider has been made by the club to Jones, of Wellington, who finished seventh on an Excelsior machine. L. E. Dixon, _ of Kawakawa, was also awarded a special prize. A beach championship meeting and speed trials will be held by the Auckland Club next month. The date will be announced later. Provided the beach is in good order, and the surface not too heavy, really high speeds are likely, and it is possible that a_ number of riders will achieve the distinction of touching the coveted 100 miles an hour mark.

NOVEL WHEEL PLACING

European designers have always displayed originality in the introduction of freak cars, but many of their ideas have been well founded and in modified forms have been accepted and adopted by other producers. One of the latest developments is a remarkable model which M. Gabriel Voisin, the well-known French manufacturer, is said to be constructing. The lay-out of the chassis is designed to facilitate the fitting of a fully streamlined body, and although there are to be four road wheels, these will not be in the normal positions. Instead, it is proposed to have a single central wheel at front and at rear, interconnected in such a way that both are actuated by the steering mechanism. The engine will be placed toward the back of the chassis, and its drive will be taken to a normal pair of road wheels situated somewhat in advance of the single back wheel which runs free. Doubtless a differential mechanism will be provided, in which case it is apparent that the vehicle should steer easily provided the lone front and rear wheels movo in unison.