MOTOR RACING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3860, 6 March 1928, Page 52

MOTOR RACING.

ORETI BEACH CARNIVAL. INVERCARGILL, March 4. The intense popularity of motor beach racing in Southland was manifested yesterday, when some 12,000 people visited Oreti Beach on the occasion ,of the Southland Motor Sports Association’s seeoncK carnival, which' was held m glorious weather. The races were free from accident of a serious nature, though a mild sensation was caused when one of the cars burst into (lames just after the start of the first race. The blazing machine was pushed down the beach into the sea, and in a few minutes the flames were extinguished. The results were as follow: — Southland Handicap, open for cars in standard touring trim. Fifteen miles.— Mrs Robertson, Chrysler (50sec), 1 Geoff lodd, Chrysler (50sec), 2; G. Neilson, Chrysler (25sec), 3. Also started: A. MTntosh. Hudson (2min); S. Sutherland. Hupmobile (3niin) ; W. G. Wills, Sunbeam (Jinin). Time, 16min 39 3-ssec. Average speed for course, 54 m.p.h. Invercargill Championship, for motor cycles, open; first £3O, second £l5, third £lO. Fifteen miles. —A. 'Smith, Indian, lj G. Winton, Triumph, 2; W. F. Marsh, Norton, 3. Time, lamin 43 4-ssec. Average speed, 65 m.p.h. Sidcy Championship, for light cars, up to 2000 c.c.; first £5O and gold medal presented by Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P. Eighteen miles.—D. F. Bauchop, Bugatti. 1. Also started: A. Irving, Thomas Special. Time, 20min Isec.

Gladstone Handicap, for motor cycles up to 500 c.c. Nine miles.—W. F. Marsh, Norton (lusec). 1; H. Whitely. B.S.A. (Msec), 2; G. Hockley, Harley Davidson (6sec), 3. Also started: L. Johnson, A.J.S. (losec); C. Rhodes, Enfield (20sec). lime, Bmin 40sec. Average speed, 62.3 m.p.h.

Dominion Speed Cup, open; first £153 and miniature cup presented bv Mr R C Galloway, second £25, third I’6. Twentyfour ini.es. C. W. Hamilton, Sunbeam, i; D. Maider, Chrysler, 2; A. Irving. Bugatti, 3. The only starters. The winner’s time ■was 22min 25 1 ssec; average speed 64 i m.p.h. Murihiku Handicap, for motor cycles unlimited. Nine miles.—A. Smith, In dian (scr) 1; G. Winton, Triumph (20seei. 2; L. Johnson. A J.S. (30sec). 3. Also started: C. Rhodes, Indian (lOsec); J. Gordon, Harley Davidson (25sec) ; G. Hockley, Hailey Davidson (27.-:ec) ; W. F. Marsh. Norton (30sec) ; A. Parsons, Indian (40sec) : 11. Whiteley, B.S.A. (75sec). The winner’s time was 7niin 28 2-ssec; average speed 72.2 m.p.h. Broad Handicap, for light cars up to 2uoo c.c. Nine miles. —A. Irving, Bugatti. 20sec, 1: A. Sayer, Austin (24sec). 2; IV. M‘Donakl, Austin (24sec), 3. The only starters. Time, 9min 4sec; average speed, 50J m.p.h.

MOTOR CYCLE SPORTS AUCKLAND, March 3. The Auckland Motor Cyle Racing Club's sports were held at Devonport today. A few spills, while spectacular, were in no way of a serious nature. Then, to add to t'-2 interest, some world’s grass track records were shattered. The world’s grass track record fo. 2? h.p. m.-.chines was broken by C. Goodwin, registering 51 4-ssec. Cyril Walker then took the track on his Rex Acme, and encompassed the track once in 50* 4-ssec, so he is the ne.v record holder. Later in ths afternoon Percy Coleman (the Dominion veteran racing motor cyclist) succeeded in lowering his own world’s grass track record for one mile on high-powered machines by one-fifth of a second. His new time was 46 4-ssec. Arnott (Coleman’s rii..l) made an attempt, but he took 49 2-ssec. The st accident of any kind occurred in the fifth race, when Stevenson came to grief in the' fourth lap. When going out . the straight near the stewards’ stand ha skidded halfway across the .course, and then got up, shaken but unhurt, and quickly pulled his machine out of the road of the other riders. In the seventh race Spence, who just beat Keeling for second place by half a .yard, collided with Keeling 20yds after he had passed the post. Both machines became locked together, and both riders were hurled across the course. Spence got up imine i.ately. but Keeling lay quite still. It was at first thought that he was seriously injured, but after being attended to in the casualty room he returned to the oirdcage 16 minutes Later. Except for a temporary dazing and shaking, he escaped unhurt. Both machines were badly damaged. The chief events resulted as follow:— Class A. Light Laps.—Shakespeare (7 h.p. bag It), 30sec, 1; Brav (4 h.p. Douglas). 174 sec, 2; W. Herbert (Indian). 174 sec. 3. Challenge Cup. Six miles.—W. Herbert (Indian), 12$sec, 1; P. Coleman (Harlem-Davidson), scr, 2; W. Allen (Norton), lOsec, 3.

Class A. Eight laps.—P. Coleman (Harley-Davidson), scr, 1; Allen (Norton), 15sec, 2; Herbert (Indian), 15sec, 3. Coleman won by over a furlong.