MURIWAI RACES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22974, 28 February 1938, Page 5

MURIWAI RACES

SPEED ON THE BEACH STOCK CARS PREDOMINATE G. SMITH WINS MAIN EVENT DRIVER'S ESCAPE IN CRASH Keen interest was shown in the annual race meeting of the New Zealand Racing Motor Drivers' Association, held at Muriwai Beach on Saturday afternoon, when well over 1000 people and several hundreds of cars were assembled, tp watch a thrilling programme. A feature of the meeting was tho number of stock cars competing, only a small proportion of tho entries being racing models. Heavy rain the previous week-end made tho beach bumpy and rough and, although the competitors were not troubled by tho tide, there were many hazards. There were 110 serious mishaps, although M. Jones, of ltotorua, had a remarkable escape from grave injury when liis car, a large new Ford V 8 closed model, failed to take a bond. The race was the stock car championship. Jones was well up and was taking the corners fast. In tho ninth lap he was rounding tlio Hags at the northern, end of the beach when spectators were horrified to see the heavy car somersault three times. Willing helpers assisted the driver from the badly wrecked car, and a St. John Ambulance dashed along the beach. Apart from a badly bruised right forearm and shock, however, Jones escaped lightly, and was taken to his home after the meeting. The car had to be towed back to Auckland. All the races were run over two-mile laps, with one-mile straights. Tho chief event of the day was the race for the Miller Michelin Championship Cup donated by Mr. W. S. Miller. The race resulted in an excellent win for the ■ well-known Auckland racing driver, G. Smith. Smith drove a Ford V 8 chassis which was entered by S. Casey, and once in the lead be was never headed. A. Dexter (Riley), who finished close behind him, made a determined effort to catch him over several laps, but was nearly a quarter of a lap in'the rear at the finish. All outstanding performer was D. Young, who drove a Forcl V 8 sedan consistently well in the stock car events. Young was first 111 the stock car championship, second in the Robinson Handicap, and second in the Tappcnden Stock Car Handicap. The same car was driven into first place in the Butcher Closed Stock Car Handicap by M. Hughes. The results were:— MOTOR-CYCLE HANDICAP (Four laps, standing start) H. Matthews (Rudge), scr .. .. 1 P. Clarkson (Velocettc), 5a .. 2 L. Perry (Norton), scr .. .. 3 Perry had a difficult task ahead of him in making up Ihe leeway with his Norton. Matthews, however, had soon overhauled the front-markers, and once in the lead he was never headed. The only other starter was J. R. Phillips (Royal Enfield), off 10s. Time, Gm 2 l-os. ROBINSON HANDICAP (Three laps, standing start) W. N. Silich (Silich Special), 28s .. 1 D. Young (Ford VS), 20s .. ..2 F. Brewer (Ford VS), 15s .. ..3 Ford Vh's, of which there were six entered for this lace, rapidly overhauled the frontmarkers, and appeared to have the race oil their own when A. Dexter in his Riley commenced to thread his way through the field. G. Smith, driving his supercharged Austin Seven off scratch, appeared to bo having trouble anil was never dangerous. Dexter, however, was doing well and was overhauling S. Casey (Ford VS) when the midget skidded round on a bend. The winner, W. N. Silich, in his special, made the best of his handicap and drove consistently well, to stave off Young and Brewer, both of whom were forcing their Ford VS's along in the straights and taking the corners close. Time, 5m 33 3-ss. TAPPENDEX STOCK CAR CUP Seven Laps, Standing Start L. Flexman (Ford 8), 3m 30s .. 1 D. Young (Ford V-S), 10s .. .. 2 i W. Hillson (Willys 77), lm 45s ..3 The smaller cars with their large handicaps made the running for tho first two or three laps, the back-markers having Eonie difficulty in making up the leeway. The Fords were once again the outstanding competitors, although W. Hillson drove a good race in tho Willys. Young drove with dash And verve to finish second off 19 seconds. M. •lones, in another Ford V-S, was fourth. Time, 15m 50s. MOTOR-CYCLE HANDICAP Four Laps, Standing Start L. Perry (Velocette), scr .. .. 1 J. It. Phillips (Royal Enfield), 15s .. 2 P. Clarkson (Norton), IDs .. ..3 As they passed the judge's stand for the first time Phillips was leading Clarkson by nearly half-a-lap. There was a quarter of a lap to H. Matthews and Perry, the scratch men. The back-markers closed up the leeway as they came down the straight for the second lap, and as they entered the southern bond Clarkson fell. Perry was In tho lead as they came up the straight, followed 20 yards behind by Matthews, with Phillips, well back, third. Matthews met trouble in the fourth lap and retired leaving Clarkson, who iiad remounted, to tako third honours. lime, (jm 13 I-ss. CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS 25 Miles, 12Mi Laps, Standing Start New Zealand Light Car Cup. for Automobile Association (Auckland) trophy.—A. Dexter (Riley), I; J. E. Gill (Austin 7), 2. Time. 20m 7 L-ss. Stock Car Championship.—D. Young (Ford V-8), 1; F. Brewer (Ford V-S), 2. Time, 20m 27 1 ss. Miller Michelin Championship Cup.— G. Smith (Ford V-S), 1; A. Dexter (Rifey), 2; F. Brewer (Ford V-S), 3. Time, 19m 50 2-ss. With the three events run concurrently this was the most exciting race of the day. Dexter was tho first to show up when the cars were sent away, but D. Young had taken the lead when the first half-lap had been covered. As they entered the southern bend lo complete the first circuit, Young was still leading, with Smith replacing Dexter in second position. Silich, Brewer and A. Donald (Hudson) followed Dexter. Dexter was again ahead of Smith in the second lap. but as they passed the, judge's stand for the third lap the Ford chassis was again in the lead. In the fourth lap Smith had established a lead of 100 yards on Young, who was 75 yards ahead of Dexter. Brewer was next, with M. Jones (Ford V-8), J. E. Gill (Austin 7), and W. Hillson (Willys) well bunched half-a-lap further back. . Dexter had caught Young in the sixth lap and although lie made a determined attempt to head Smith over the final laps, the last-named kept his lead to win comfortably. Tho Hudson retired, early in the race and the Silich Special also was forced to retire when it blew a cylinder head gasket. In the eighth lap M. .Tones, who was fighting hard with the Willys further back, somersaulted three times on the northern bend and several competitors wero forced to ease up when onlookers rushed to tho overturned car. In the 101 h lap, Smith was still ahead of tho field. The order past tho post was Smith, Dexter, Young, Brewer. CLOSED STOCK CAR HANDICAP Three Laps, Standing Start, for Butcher Cup M. Hughes (Ford V-8), scr. 4 .. .. 1 R. Marmont (Ford V-8), 10s .. .. 2 J. Oxenham (Ford V-8), 10s .. .. 3 Fight cars were sent away to an excellent start, with three Ford V-S's leaping into the lead. Marmont was 30 yards ahead of Kay (Chevrolet) as they rounded the bend to enter the second lap, Oxenham was third, with W. Hillson (Willys) and R. M. Grierson (Termplane) close. Hughes took the lead as (hey passed the judge's stand, with Marmont and Kay still handy and tho others well up. Hughes retained his lead to win bv 150 yards from Marmont with a further 80 yards to Oxenham. Tho next three cars finished with yards between them. Time, Om 30 1-ss.