TRACK RACING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26349, 2 January 1947, Page 3

TRACK RACING

MOTOR CYCLE THRILLS M. HOLLAND RIDES WELL The outstanding rider in the Ammunition Track road motor cycling races held by the Otago Motor Cycle Club as the final event in the Christmas rally series was M. Holland, of Christchurch.) Riding a 500 c.c. J.A.P. machine, he established the fastest time for four laps of the metal track of 700 yards, covering the distance in 2min 58 l-ssec at an average speed of 44 2-3 miles per hour. Holland competed in six events and won them all. He set up a track record of 42 3-ssec for one lap for 500 c.c. cycles, and provided the large gathering of spectators with a thrilling exhibition of skilful cornering and daring in the straight. The outstanding Dunedin rider was I. Gunn, on a 350 c.c. Triumph. He set the lap record for this type of machine at 43 l-ssec. The track was a new one to all the riders. It proved a difficult testing ground. As the races yesterday were run in the opposite direction to any previous racing, none of the local riders was able to claim an advantage through familiarity with the The majority of the thrills of the day were provided by E. Smither, Dunedin, who took some risks in endeavouring to win races. Spills were surprisingly few, and those unfortunate enough to lose control of _ their machines suffered only superficial injuries which did not prevent them from competing in subsequent races. Smither once was hurled from his cycle and mounted the bank at a corner on the run, without falling. At the start of another race two machines collided, only slight damage being done. The detailed results are as follows: Visitors’ Challenge Race, three laps, clutch start. Five entries —M. Holland (Christchurch, 2min 27sec) and R. Holland (Christchurch), equal, 1, J. Swarbrick (Christchurch, 2min 27 3-ssec) 3. Junior Match Race, three laps. Three entries—S. Seque (2min 27sec) 1. D. Gray (2min 38sec) 2, E. Healey (2min 39 4-ssec) 3 Middle-weight Mfitch, four laps. Four entries —A. Bain (3min lOsec) 1, R. Carter (3min 28sec) 2. Welter-weight Race, four laps. Four entries—J. Marks (3min 17 l-ssec) 1, 1. Shand (3min 17 4-ssec) 2. Expert Local Match, four laps. Five entries —I. Gunn (3min 4 l-ssec) 1, M. 'Sparrow (3min 8 l-ssec) 2, E. Nesbit (3min llsec) 3, 'J. Bain 4, E. Smither 5 ' Christmas Championship, four laps— First heat: S. Seque (3min 13sec) 1, J. Marks (3min 13 3-ssec) 2, I. Shand (3min 15sec) 3. Second heat: M. Holland (3min 2 l-ssec) 1, M. Sparrow (3min Bsec) 2, E. Nesbit (3min 8 3-ssec) 3. Special Middle-weight Match Race, two laps. Four entries —A. Bain (Imm 32sec) 1, J. Swarbrick (Imin 37 2-ssec) 2, J. Bain (lmin 40sec) 3. Kaikorai Match Race, four laps. Three entries—O. Connor (3min 19 3-ssec) 1, E. Newlands (3min 14 2-ssec) 2. Otago Christmas 'Road Championship. four laps. Three entries—M. Holland (2min 58 l-ssec) 1, M. Sparrow (3min Bsec) 2, S. Seque (3min 8 2-ssec) 3. , Flagstaff Match Race, unplaced riders from middle-weight and welterweight races, four laps. Four entries —M. Holland (2min 58 l-ssec) 1, I. Gunn (3min 1 l-ssec) 2, E. Smither (3min 2 l-ssec) 3. . , Mixed Riders, unplaced in visitors challenge and local experts’ races, four laps. Four entries—J. Swarbrick (3min 15 2-ssec) 1, M. Alexander (3min 26sec) 2, J. Bain (3min 21 4-ssec) 3. Consolation Match Race, riders with one start, four laps. Four entries— E. Nesbit (3min 3 3-ssec) 1, J. Marks (3min 7 3-ssec) 2, I. Shand (3mm 7 4-ssec) 3. Visitors v. Otago, Challenge Race, three fastest riders from each team, four laps—M. Holland (2min 58 2-ssec) 1, I. Gunn (3min lsec) 2, L.. Gorinski (West Coast. 3min 16 2-ssec) 3. One Lap Record, rolling start, 500, 300, and 250 c.c. cycles.' Three entries—M. Holland (500 c.c.), 42 3-ssec, B. Alexander (250 c.c.), 49sec. I. Gunn (350 c.c.), 43 l-ssec.