CRAZY DRIVING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23275, 18 February 1939, Page 18

CRAZY DRIVING

RACE ROUND STREETS CARS TURN ON TWO WHEELS SETTLING AN ARGUMENT THREE DRIVERS IN COURT [BY TKLEGIIAPH —PRFSS ASSOCIATIONj CHRISTCIIUHCH. Friday An amazing story of a race between three motor-cars around a block of streets in South Brighton was related to Mr. E. C. Lewey, S.M., by SeniorSergeant Felton in the Magistrate's Court this morning, when three motorists were each charged with dangerous driving and among them fined £42. Mr. Felton, describing the race, said witnesses were amazed at the display of crazy driving. The cars swerved around corners in shingle, veering right over to tho wrong side, and at times turning on two wheels. Motorists in the vicinity were scared to move. The three men, who were represented by Mr. C. S. Thomas, were Douglas Ireland Wakeley, Patrick John Flood and lan Ross Little. Each had his driver's licence endorsed, and Wakeley fined £lO and Flood and Little each £l6.

Quoting different witnesses, Mr. Felton said one described the cars' speed as terrific. Another said he saw one car take a left turn so fast that when it straightened up it was about 4ft. from the right hand gutter, while another said he saw one car travel for about 30ft. on two wheels after taking a corner. At length the cars stopped outside a house and the drivers wont inside. On getting out of his car one driver was observed to stumble and practically fall. Police and a traffic ; inspector called at the house later in the day, when they found the men in a room which simply reeked with the smell of beer, Baid Mr. Felton, but a man who had been a passenger in one of the cars was the Only one under the influence of liquor. It all arose from an argument as to whether a small car could beat a large one around a short course, said Mr. Thomas. The argument got hotter during the day, and in tho end they decided to find out. Mr. Thomas made a plea that, rather than cancel the men's licences, the magistrate should make the fines heavier. Little's licence in particular was his livelihood.