OTAGO MOTOR CLUB

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17884, 15 March 1920, Page 8

OTAGO MOTOR CLUB

•BACES AT WARRINGTON BEACH. FINE PERFORMANCE BY M'DONALD,

The growing popularity of motor oycle racing was evidencod by l-he large attendance at Warrington on Saturday afternoon to witness the racing arranged by tho Otugo Motor Club. There were probably at least 1000 spectators, and they wore rewarded by seeing some splendid racing. The visiting motorists included riders from Christchurch, and several keen sports from Gore, Oamin.ru, etc., and also one from Levin, these latter attending to watch tho racing The occasion was taken advantage of to give the Hospital soldier patients an outing, anct all the available men from tho Dunedin Hospital and the Woodside and Montecillo Convalescent Homes were taken out in motor cars provided by tho club's outing fund. Refreshments for the soldiers were kindly donated by Messrs Hudson and Co. and Thomson and Co., this attention being much appreciated by the men. The racing events .were carried out in a manner that reflected credit on officials and riders no hitch or ivccidcnt occurring to m<ir the programme. The handioappers (Messrs W. .F. .Mcelt and W. Gibb) were successful in: their work, the only rider to beat them • being A. Scott, but in fairness to them it., must be stated that Scott easily eclipsed. any of his past performances, and Jrodo well. As a matter of fact,, he had never; previously won a race, and few will grudge him his" success. Tho beach was in very good ' order, and high, speeds were the order of the day. Tho 20-mile Haaidicftp for a £10 10s trophy and a silver cup was oertainly the finest race ever run under the club's jurisdiction. F. M'Donaid, on scratch, was conceding to Scott 9min, and the result of the race was in doubt up to the last mile. Tho chief sources of speculation were whether M'Donaid could give G. Lambert (a Christchurch rider) 50sec and a beating, and whether he could catoli tho limit man, Scott. For the first 11 miles M'Donaid made only «, slight improvement in his position, as Lambert was travelling well, and riding with great judgment. At 16 miles M'Donaid was gaining appreciably, but he was still about 200 yards behind Lambert, both riders showing over 70 miles an tour on the straight run. At the 18th mile M'Donaid had taken the lead from Lambert, with Scott leading by nearly half a mile. Lambert's pace fell slightly, 'but M'Donaid was riding as fast ever, and flashed over the finishing lino a few seconds ahead of Scott, who was closely followed by Lambert. M'Donald's feat was warmly applauded! by the spectators. The ' time for tho 120 miles was 22min Msec, and considering that the track is only one milo in length, thus necessitating a turn at every mile, it was a great performance. M'Donald's time for the same race last year was 23min 6sec. ■ Lambert's riding was favourably commented upon. He is certainly one of the best riders who has ever tried conclusions with tho looal men, and it is hoped with the formation of the South Island Motor Union ' that ■ in the future entrants from kindred clubs will b& encouraged. L. Biggs - rode a good race on a light-weight machine. W. Justice, a new rider, showed considerable 'speed, and 'with more skill at the turns would have ha 3 to be reckoned with at tlfe finish. H. Burrow was very fast, but could not catch up : his handicap. T. Beo-dle, on a. 10 h.p. machine, travelled well on the straight, but lost a R>t of time on the turns. The officers in charge wcro: —Awards Committee —Messrs A. E. 'Ansell, C. King, and H. L. Jones; judges, Messrs H. Halliday and A. L. Fogo; timekeepers, Messrs W. F. Meek and AV. Wright; handicappers, Messrs W. F. Meek and W. Gibb; starter, Mr A. E. Ansell. The following are tho result?: — .

FOUR-MILE HANDICAP.—A. Scott, 120 sec, lj J. Martin, 12sec, 2; A. M'Dougall, 36sec, 3. Tims, 6min 27sec. Owing to a mishap - M'Donald lost several seconds at the start, but finished close up with the placed riders.

EIGHT-MILE HANDICAP.—J. H. M'Dougall, 18sec, 1; A. M'Dougall, 50sec, 2; G. Duncan, acr, 3. A good finish, several riders being bunched at the finishing post. Time, lOmin 20sec. \ FOUR-MILE HANDICAP (for Novices).— A. Scott, llOsec, 1; J. Martin, saec, 2; G. Duncan, lOsec, 31 Scott won easily. A good race 'for second, third, and fourth places. Time, Cniin IQse-c. FOUR-MILE SCRATCH. —J. H. M'Dougall, 1. There were only three starters. A good finish. 20-MILE HANDICAP.—F. M'Donald, scr, 1; A. Scott, 9min, 2; G. Lambert, 50s-ec, 3. Time, 22min 14sec. Fifteen starters. TWO MILE HANDICAP.—A. Scott, 35sec, I: L. Biggs, 26sec, 2. Time, 2min 56sec. SIX-MILE HANDICAP, FOR SIDECARS. —F. M'Donald, scr, 1; J. H. M'Doguall, 32sec, 2; .G. Duncan, 22sec, 3. Time, Bmin 2Ssec. McDonald quickly.caught the leaders, and rode home the-winner, closely followed by M'Dougall.