SPEEDING MOTOR CYCLES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17436, 7 April 1931, Page 4

SPEEDING MOTOR CYCLES

ON HALF-MILE COURSE BRIGHT RACES AT PATUTAHI Willi fasl motor-cycles racing on an unbanked half-mile course, the majority of the spectators who attended the UisLorne Sports Motor-Cycle Chili's blaster meeting at the Patutalii Domain yesterday fully expected to see many of the rulers crash. Their expectations were not realised, however, for there were even fewer spills than at the New Year meeting al the Park, and those riders who diil come clown escaped almost unhurt, two of them, Syd. Mel.end and 11. Stevenson, being able to participate in later events, while C. (rreaves remounted after a spill in one race, and finished third. 'I he racing on the whole was good, and no event was lacking in interest and thrills, while the times registered on the short course, with its difficult bends, were also good. The meeting was most capably controlled, and though there were nine events on the programme Hie hist race finished only a few minutes behind the scheduled time. , The, officials who controlled the meeting were: Judges, Dr. Collins and Messrs A. Day and J. F. Lundon; handicapper, starter and oragniser, Mr. R. Jones; chief steward and machine inspector. Mr. B. Nigro; track steward, Mr. W. Kewton; call steward. Mr. D. McKay; time-, keepers, Messrs. E. Brown, K. McFlynn,' and W. J. Harvey; announcer, Mr. Max R. Fry; lap stewards. Messrs. T. Smalc (chief), A. Cuff. J. Molloy, A. McMurray, 1!. Carswell, J. Craig, T. Newton. Brown and McCallum ; hon. sec, Mr. 1\ L. McCarthy; hon. treasurer. Mr. S. McLeod ; protest committee, Dr. Collins and Messrs. J. Campbell and A. White; hon. surgeons, Drs. Collins and Bowie; hon. solicitor, Mr. J. W. Blathwayt. i In the first race, the Novice Handicap, K. Cameron, the limit man. held the lead for the first live laps, but was passed by T. Nigro in the straight at the end of the fifth lap. Coining oat of the back stretch the next time round, Cameron took, a tumble, suffering a cut on his knee, and Stevenson, who had gained ground throughout the race, despite delay at the start, took second place. | During the early stages the I'atutahi (■n.en Handicap was raced between T. Nigro and J. McLeod, with Stevenson gradually gaining ground. Home withdrew at the end of the third lap. McLeod was passed by Nigro after a. strenuous tussle, and on the seventh ' lap Stevenson hit the front, increasing his lead round the final lap to win by about 10 yards from Nigro, with J. McLeod 2"' yards behind. S. McLeod and Greaves followed in that order. J. McLeod held the lead for nearly nine laps in the [Caster Open Handicap, but Slevenson Hashed past him in the straight al the end of the ninth, and went on to increase his lead so much that nothing but a spill could have robbed him of first money. McLeod was passed once by Greaves, hut quickly overhauled that rider again to take j second money by about Jive yards from Creaves. Stevenson being an easy first. The principal event of the day, the Poverty Lay championship for the L.V.A. Cup, was contested by six riders,' and had not three fallen the race probably wo lid have provided the most, interesting finish of the meeting. Stevenson hit the front from the rolling start,, and with every lap his lead was in- | cieased until S. McLeod was seen to emerge from the others to challenge the leader. At the end of the tilth lap McLeod was about 20 yards behind, i while. J. McLeod and Nigro were racing najk and neck. McLeod gained ground in the sixth lap, in which Creaves took a tumble at the turn out. of the straight. S. .McLeod was on Stevenson's tail when they passed the stand for the seventh lime, but as the two were turning out of the straight they came to grief, both being unhurt. Only Nigro and Home were left ill the race, but Greaves remounted and set out after third money, the nice being won by Nigro by a substantial margin from Home. • Five riders contested the Cislxirne Sports Open Handicap, and the lead i was taken by, J. McLeod,.who gained a | substantial advantage. Home was about j 50yds behind him 'at the end of the j fourth lap, and Nigro and S. McLeod followed in that order. Nigro look . second place the next time round, but j .). McLeod still bad a substantial lead at : this stage. When the last lap was com-j mowed •!. McLeod was well ahead, and ' could not be caught, winning by alou! i 100yds from Nigro. McLeod, who had fallen in the previous race, took third money.' The early stages of the Makaraka i'pen Handicap were contested between Syd. McLeod and J. McLeod, who raced in close order throughout the first- five laps, with Syd. McLeod a few yards in front of his brother. In the straight for the seventh time round, however, T. Nigro passed J. McLeod, and thereafter the order remained unchanged. The] eider McLeod, Syd., increased bis lead in the latter stages, and won by about j •75yds. with Nigro a few yards ahead of J. McLeod. Home was forced to withdraw during the second lap. KAITI OPEN HANDICAP 8 Laps Syd. McLeod. 1\ h.p. Hex Acme scr. ... ... ... ■•■ ■•• 1 T. Nigro. 31 h.p, A.J.S. (Bsee.) ... 2 J. McLeod, 2\ h.p. Indian (Msec.) ... 3 Also started: C. Creaves. 4 h.p. Scott (Ifsec); W. Home. 31 h.p. Douglas (25soe). * .1. McLeod went into Hie lead in the second lap, and held it for live times round. S. McLeod made ground throughout the. race, and,when' he entered the s might at the end of the seventh lap ho was only 2yds behind bis brother, Nigro being a fairly close third. Syd. McLeod hit the . front in the back stretch, and thereafter added to his lead to win by about 2,syds. In the straight Nigro managed to pass the younger McLeod, to collect second money by a small margin. Time. smin. 38see. Fastest lap,'/.? l-ssec., by S. McLeod. FAHFWELL OPEN HANDICAP 8 Laps T. Nigro, 31 h.p. A.J.S. (lOscc.) ... 1 Syd. McLeod, 2;; h.p. Indian (lOsec.) 2 C. Creaves. l\ h.p. Douglas (22sec.) 3 Also started : 11. Stevenson, 2;] h.p. Indian (scr.) ; VV. Home, 31 h.p. A.J.S. (.•fisec.); J. McLeod. 4 h.p. Douglas (18sec.) Home, in the final race, held the lead for four laps, and when the field com i u diced tin' fifth lap, was just ahead of S. McLeod, with Nigro m third position. I Nigro made ground in the back stretch, and was in ilie lead when the riders j) issed the slfliM the next, time round, llorne being in the second position, , 7 ;oyds behind, and Greaves an equal distance further back. Nigro, riding a great race, wenl on to increase, his lead, a id won by a good half-lap from 6yd. McLeod, Greaves filling (bird position. .1. Mel.eod retired on account of engine trouble in (he fourth lap. Time, Siniti. 38 l-ssec. Fastest lap, 37 l-sscc, by T. Nigro.