MOTOR RACING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3755, 2 March 1926, Page 54

MOTOR RACING.

MEETING AT AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, February 28. The Auckland Motor Racing Cluli’s sports were held on the Takapuna racecourse yesterday. After the heavy rain in the morning it was decided to postpone the meeting, but later, at the request of the riders, it was resolved to go on with the races: The following are the results:— Novice Handicap.—R. Ranby (7 h.p. Harley-Davidson), ssee, 1: H. E. North (7 h.p. Harley-Davidson), ssec, 2; G. Tate (7 h.p. Zenith), scr, 3. Won by 100yds. Time, smin 23 l-ssec. Takapuna Handicap. Seven miles. —C. Goodwin (2| h.p. A.J.S.), GOsec, 1; Mangham (7 h.p. Harley-Davidson). losec, 2; P. Coleman (7 h.p. Harley-Davidson), scr, 3. Won by 10yds. Sports Handicap. Five miles: —T. Dennis m h.p. A.J.S.), 30sec, 1; G. Tate (3* h.p. Zenith), 15sec, 2; R. Jones (2| h.p. A.J.S.), losec, 3. Won by a few yards. Goodwin fell, but escaped injury. Time, 7min 35 3-ssec. Alison Handicap. Six miles. —P. Coleman (7 h.p. Harley-Davidson), scr, 1; H. V. M'Cready (7 h.p. Harley-Davidson), 15sec, 2; H. H. Moller (3£ h.p. Norton), 35sec, 3. The spectators were provided with an abundance of thrills in this event, Bray making a spectacular skid on the bend just past the stewards’ stand. He crashed through the post-and-rail fence and demolished it to the extent of 10 yards. Although his cycle was smashed to pieces Bray escaped miraculously with a shaking. Several spectators at this point who were leaning on the fence narrowly escaped injury. Lemon was the early leader, and was in front until the fourth lap, where Moller took charge. By this time Coleman was setting a great pcae, and was just behind Moller. M'Cready, and Lemon in the next lap. The finish was quite as thrilling as the race itself, Coleman, off scratch, winning by a few' inches from M'Cready, who was only a yard* in front of Moller. Lemon was next, with the remainder of the field in a procession. Time, Gmin 7 l-ssec. Great Northern Handicap. Twelve miles.—P. Coleman (7 h.p. Harley-David-son), 1; D. C. Managh (7 h.p. HarleyDavidson), 2; Mangham (7 h.p. HarleyDavidson), 17Asec, 3. Coleman soon went to the front and never slackened his great speed, in spite of the rain. Several times his cycle skidded across the track, but always he would right it and dash off again. Managh nearly came to grief shortly afterwarde, but made a wonderful save. Coleman actually lapped Mangham in the tenth lap, and finished up a popular winner nearly the length of the course in front of Mana'di, while Mangham. who had slowed up a long way back, was third. Time. 11 min 48sec Auckland Handicap. Seven miles.—P. Coleman (7 h.p. Harley-Davidson). scr, 1: L. Curtis (22 h.p. A.J.S.), 55sec, 2; H. 11. Moller (3J h.p. Norton), 25sec, 3. Won by 20 yards. Time, 7inin 15 2-ssec. President’s Handicap. Ten miles. —D. C. Managh (7 h.p. Harley-Davidson), lOsec. 1: H. V. M'Cready (7 h.p. HarleyDavidson), 20sec. 2; P. Coleman (7 h.p. Harley-Davidson), scr, 3. Won by 100yds. Time, lOmin 46sec. Trial Handicap.—A. H. Herbert 1. n. V. M'Cready 2, O. Shakespeare 3. Time, 4min 52sec. Goodwin yesterday afternoon established a world's grass track record for 2f h.p. motor cycles by doing the flying mile in 54 2-sscc. Percy Colemau, New Zealand’s greatest motor cyclist, was to have attempted to lower the world’s grass track record from one to 10 miles but did not attempt the feat owing to the treacherous nature, resultant on the rain, of the track on two of the bends.