BROADSIDING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20962, 27 February 1930, Page 12

BROADSIDING.

NEW SPEEDWAY OPENED. THRILLING AND SPECTACULAR SPORT. BENNISH WINS PRINCIPAL RACE. Broadsidiug, with all its thrills and excitement, has at last come to Dunedin, and, judging by the enthusiasm displayed by the 9000 spectators who watched the racing at the initial meeting on the new speedway in Macandrew road, last evening, it appears to be assured of support for some time to come. Truly it was a night of thrills. The roaring motor cycles with flaming exhaust piiies speedmg round the track, and the daring riders skidding the corners in a shower of cinders whilst leaning over at a sharp angle, fairly brought the crowd to its feet, and although two of the riders took tosses, neither was hurt. For the benefit of the uninitiated, it may be explained that the track is only quarter of a mile in circumference. It is not banked, and it carries a superficial dressing.. of cinders, so that the main spectacle is provided by the “cornering.” On the bends the riders go into a long skid, leaning over at times to an angle of as much as 30 degrees from the horizontal, and this skid (or broadsiding) takes them into the next straight. Although the tiers of seats are in darkness, the track itself is brilliantly lighted with a battery of. highpowered bulbs, so that the. visibility, both for spectators and riders alike, is perfect.

Fortunately the weather was fine, and,, with the exception of the principal event of the evening, the various races provided spectacular riding. Principal interest naturally centred in the performances of several local riders, who were receiving, as it were, their baptism into broadsiding, although all of them are well-known to patrons of the Forbnry Park dirt track meetings. A. Inglis, P. Lyders, L. Homer, and C. H. K, Napier all competed, but only the two last-named met with any success, Napier shaped particularly well _ for a comparative novice, and by winning his heat and his semi-final in the Speedway Royal Handicap he established himself a firm favourite with the crowd. Going from success to success, he took second place in his heat of the Improvers’ Handicap, and topped his evening off by winning the final in both events. He had a useful handicap in the first race, but he rode so steadily and won by such a comfortable margin that it could be fairly said that he won entirely on his merits. For a newcomer to the sport, he put up two remarkable performances.

Unfortunately, the visiting cracks— Mangham, Perabo, Perkins, Bennish, and Graham—were dogged by persistent bad luck throughout the evening, and although they demonstrated their brilliance in no uncertain manner in the heats of their races, each one had trouble with his machine in the finals. Still, they gave the crowd wonderful value for its money. The principal race of the evening—-the Big Nine Internationa! Scratch Race—provided some spectacular tussles in the heats, but, unfortunately, the final proved a disappointment. Bennish and Graham fought out the finish of the first heat in great style, the latter gaining the decision after a wonderful exposition of daring and skilful cornering. No less exciting was the second heat, in which Perkins and M'Gliee had another stern tussle, Perkins’s work on the bends being a revelation. This heat was noteworthy for the remarkable gameness displayed by V. Grove, a Wellington rider, who, although he took two terrifying tosses, remounted on each occasion and completed the course. The final proved uninteresting. First of all, Bennish’s machine w'ould not fire, but eventually he | got away, only to pull up again in 'the ; second lap. In the meantime, Perkins’s : chain had broken, leaving only Mangham ; in the race. At this stage it looked as if i he. would have a ri?le-over, but, to the surprise of everyone, Bennish was seen to get going again and set out on a stern chase after his opponent. At the last lap it looked a hopeless proposition, as Mangham had a lend of 150 yards, but when he was only a tew yards from the post his chain also broke, and Bennish finished alone. Graham gave a display of perfect broadsiding in establishing the lap record of 21 4-ssec, and Mangham also gave the spectators a thrill when he set the mile record for the track at 88 3-ssoc. During the evening the Mayor (Mr R. S. Black) briefly addressed the crowd, and in officially declaring the speedway open, wished the new venture every success. At the conclusion of the second race Messrs J. Gill and P. Hervey, who are touring the world on a motor cycle and sidecar, were introduced to the crowd, and received an ovation on riding round the course. The management is to be congratulated on its organisation of the meeting, which left nothing to be desired. The results and other items of interest were announced to the spectators through Mr H. A. Hogg’s public address system, which also broadcast an enjoyable programme of music. The results are as follow: SPEEDWAY ROYAL HANDICAP. Four laps. One mile. First heat: H. Mangham (N.Z.), Harley, scr., 1; C, Perabo (Australia), Douglas, 2sec, 2; V. Grove (Wellington), Douglas, ssec, 3. Also started: C. usher (Australia 12sec. Usher’s machine failed, to fire, and he was hopelessly left, i Won by 30 yards, with 15 yards between second and third. Time, Imin 32sec. Second heat: W. Russell (Canterbury), Douglas, Bsec, 1; J. Young (Wellington), A.J.S., 4sec, 2; W. Harvie (Wellington), Douglas, 2sec, 3. Also started; Skyd Perkins (Australia). A.J.S., ser., Perkins’s machine failed in the second lap, and he retired. Won by a length each way. Time, Imin 50sec. Third heat: Peter M'Ghee (Wellington), Harley, 3sec, }; E. Neill (Canterbury), Dquglas, Sset, 2; Max Graham (Australia), Douglas, ecr., 3. Also started: H. Carter (Canterbury), Harley. ssec. Won by 10 lengths, with 20 lengths between second and third. Time. Imin 40sec. Fourth heat: C. H K Napier (Otago), A.J.S., 15see, 1; E. Navlor (Wellington), Douglas, 3sec, 2: E. Fyke (Canterbury), A.J.S., 6sec, 3. Also started: F. Bennish (Australia). Harley, ser. Bennish retired in the third lap, and Napier won by 40 vards, with 60 yards between second and third. Time, Imin 47sec. First semi-final: Maugham 1. Young 2, Russell 3. Perabo also started but retired in the second lap. Won by half a length, with 20 yards between second and third. Time, 97sec. Second semi-final; Napier 1, Naylor 2. Neill and M'Ghee also started. Neill retired in the first lap, and M'Ghee fell when approaching the finishing post but escaped unhurt. Time, Imin 47sec. Final. Napier j Naylor .. .. ’ | 2 Mangham .. .. ” ” 3 Making the best of his handicap, Napier at once established a handy lead leaving the major tussle to be fought out I between the rear-markers. Naylor, who was riding a great race, overhauled Young 1 m the second lap, and went afte? Napier with Mangham coming up fast. Sliding’ round his corners like a veteran, Napier maintained his lead, and won easily by 60 yards, 40 yards separating Mangham and Naylor. Time, Imm 47sec. b IMPROVERS' HANDICAP (Four laps). First heat: W. Russell (Canterbury). Douglas set 1; L Homer (Otago), ?£- A 2 os \% 2 ’ A - Bighs ■'Otago), Zenith, usee, 3 Won by half a length with 60 yards between second and third. Time, Imin 50sec. Second heat; C. Usher (Austraha). Zenith, ssec, 1; C. Napier, ssec, 2. Hie only starters. Won by five yards •lime, Imm 51sec. Final. Napier .. .... .. j Homer .. .. | ‘' ” 0 Russell .. .. ‘) * ’ ’" g Napier led out from the start, and P at 1 5 cr ® nsln S his advantage won by 100 yards from Homer, who was 10 m fr ° nt ° f Usher - Time > Imin B!G NI „NE INTERNATIONAL SCRATCH RACE. 9 B rt h I* M. Graham in "H 80 St! !n- tec - Taylor. Won by 10 yards. Time 92sec. Second heat: C Perkins I P M‘Ghe e . 2. V. Grove also started, but fell twice, remounting each time. Time, OOsec. Third heat: 5; , M ,? nc il an l VW. Harvie 2. Also worn, mw*.

Mangham and Perkins also started. At first, Bennish’s machine would not start, but finally he got it going and for the first lap there was little between the riders. Perkins, after doing perfect slides on both corners, broke his chain at the end of the first lap and retired. Mangham’e machine did not appear to be running at its best, and Bennish went into the lead, only to have his engine again fail. By the time he got going, Mangham seemed to have the race won, but just as he reached the finishing straight his chain broke also, and Bennish finished unchallenged. Time, Imin 47see.