“SPEEDWAY RACING”

Southland Times, Issue 22011, 10 May 1933, Page 8

“SPEEDWAY RACING”

THE LATEST AMUSEMENT.

A novel motor racing game has been installed in premises next the Southland Power Board offices Dee street, called “Speedway Racing. This is the latest craze of amusement and has become exceedingly popular in England. Sir Henry Birkin, the well-known racing man, was one of the prime movers in developing the game ana from all accounts “Speedway Racing gives more thrills than actually driving a car in a motor race. Briefly described “Speedway Racing is a miniature road race. First of all there is a road laid out on a board a little bigger than the ordinary billiard table. Leaving the starting line the road goes straight down to a fairly sharp left turn, then curves slightly uphill, first left, then sharply right and through a number of other curves and turns back to the starting point, the course resembling Indianapolis with a figure eight road section in the centre. Along this road runs six parallel strips of rectangular rubber not very high and having on one side a strip of brass connected to the positive of the starting battery and on the other, another strip connected to the battery. _ You then take six very fine, little model racing cars about two inches long, all complete with driver outside exhaust pipe, streamlined body and little wheels with miniature tyres, and you line them up on the starting line, switching off all current with a master switch. Inside each car is a tiny high speed electric motor which picks up the current by means of two brass contacts which also pivot the front axles and therefore steer the car. Though the cars are steered they are not held in position and can skid, leave the road or turn over if badly handled. Each competitor is merely provided with an on-off switch and on the word “go” the master switch is snapped on. This is a brief description of “Speedway Racing,” but to thoroughly understand the conducting of the race the public are advised to call in at the shop next the Power Board office and see if they can drive a car.