Mile Record Set

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 858, 30 December 1929, Page 7

Mile Record Set

CINDER-TRACK RACING Events At Western Springs THREATENING skies caused all but the more ardent speednay fans to seek indoor amusements on Saturday night. The meeting arranged for Blandford Park was postponed until tonight, but the management of Auckland Speedways, Ltd., which controls racing on the cinders at the Western Springs Stadium, decided not to disappoint patrons again and proceeded with the programme postponed from Boxing Day. Their optimism was justified, about 5.000 spectators enjoying the night’s broadsiding.

The light rain which fell during the first half of the meeting unfortunately caused a number of slight hitches, but the programme was, nevertheless, carried to a successful conclusion shortly after 10 o’clock. The wet penetrated into several carburettors and short-circuited the wiring of certain of the machines. The cinder surface, too, was not improved by the weather, and riders found the going heavy. In spite of this some fast times were registered, both Les Lawrance, the Australian star, and Alt Mattson, fastest of the Auckland speedsters, completing a circuit in 22 1-5 seconds, a fifth of a second within the record held by Mattson. The latter was unfortunate in falling during the last race when travelling at a high speed, being badly shaken. The Speedway Company has imported three special machines for use by riders whose own mounts are put out of action at the last minute, and two of these were made use of on Saturday evening. This enabled riders to keep faitli with the audience by riding in all events, although on strange mounts.

Tho three Auckland champions, Alf Mattson, Bill Herbert and Bill Allen, rode from the three second handicap mark at this meeting. All three have improved wonderfully since the Stadium opened, when they had handicaps of five seconds. It should not be long before they, are back on the scratch mark with the men from across the Tasman. Tho feature of the evening was the setting of a mile, or four lap, record for the track. This was established by Billy Sticpewich, an Australian speedster, who covered the mile in 1.2 S 4-5 seconds. Tho first attempt was made by Bill Herbert, who fell coming into the straight when getting up speed. Bill Allen then took to the track, but his motor gave trouble several times. lie covered two rounds in 45 seconds, but his last two laps were finished in slow time. Billy Sticpewich, who followed, gave a wonderful exhibition of broadsiding, bombarding the safety fence on the corners with a heavy shower of cinders. His time of 1.28 4-5 was excellent, as the toe of his left boot was torn off during one slide, and his foot was cut on the cinders. The fourth attempt was made by Les Lawrance, who rode well to tlie last corner, where he fell.. He covered three laps in 67 2-5 seconds, which gave promise of record time. Saturday was a field day for the scratch men, who won seven of the 10 handicap events. In two of the other cases the winners were virtual scratch men. During an interval exhibitions of motor-paced cycling were given by Angus Mackie, the Southern champion, and Jack Wade, the popular Auckland rider. Behind a motorcycle, Mackie covered the 520-yard concrete circuit in under 30 seconds, a speed of aproximately 40 miles an hour. Wade, a member of the Manukau Cycle Club, will be seen in a contest with Mackie at the Stadium tonight. Results: IMPROVERS’ HANDICAP First T-leat.—Frank Day (Royal Enfield), Ssec, 1; U. Simmonds (HarleyDavidson), 9sec, 2. Only starters to finish. Won by five yards. Time, lmin 54sec. Second heat.—Sell Casey (Royal Enfield), 6sec\ 1; Alf Coppins (Indian), llsec, 2; IT. Fletcher (Royal Enfield), 9sec, 3. Won by half a lap. Time, lmin 47 2-ssec.

Final Sell Casey (Royal Enfield), 6sec .. 1 Alf Coppins (Indian), llsec .. .. 2 Won by 30yds. Time, lmin 54sec. After a false start three riders went away. Fribance went to second place after getting away badly, but fell in the third lap. Casey broke his chain com-

ing down the straight for the. last time, but his momentum carried him to victory* OPEN HANDICAP First Heat.—Billy Sticpewich (Douglas), scr, 1: Ross (J.A.P.), ssee, 2: \Y. Allen (Norton), Ssec, 3. Ben Bray broke his chain when in a good position. Won easily. Time, lmin 39sec. Second Heat. —Les Lawrance (HarlevDavidson), scr, 1; Alf Mattson (Norton), Ssec, 2. Won by 100yds. Time, lmin 45sec. Mattson fell, but restarted. Final Billy Sticpewich (Douglas), scr .. 1 Alf Mattson (Norton), Ssec 2 Won by syds. Time, lmin 34 2-ssec. This provided the closest finish of the evening. Mattson, broadsiding- well. to the front to lead Sticpewich bv 20yds. but he lost his advantage through swinging wide on the third corner. The , ° round together for the last lap, Mattson failing to head the Austral-thh-dHap. yardS - ■ Lawrance ten 5,1 FLYING HANDICAP First Heat.—Bill Allen (Norton). 3sec. 1: Ben Bray (Douglas), Ssec, 2. Won bv 50yds. Time, lmin 39 3-ssee. Lawrance the only other starter, fell early. Bray's chain came off, but lie pushed into second place. Second ITeat.—Alf Mattson (Norton) Ssec, 1; Sell Casey (Royal Enfield), 7sec! 2; Bill Herbert (Harley-Davidson) Ssec 3. Won by 20yds. Time, lmin 39 3-ssec’ Casey broke his chain entering the straight, but finished second. Final W. Allen (Norton), Ssec l Alf Mattson (Norton), 3sec .. 2 Ben Bray (Douglas), 3sec 3 Won by 20yds. Time, lmin 36 2-6 sec. Mattson rode excellently, coming to second place after a bad start. Casey led from the push-off, with Allen and Bray handy. The latter’s motor began to falter in the second round. Casey withdrew and Allen and Mattson raced together for a while, but the former drew away to gain the decision by a comfortable margin. AUSTRALIAN MATCH RACE Billy Sticpewich (Douglas) .. .. 1 Les Lawrance (Harley-Davidson), 2 Won by 80yds. Time, lmin 33 3-3 sec. Sticpewich led throughout from a*rolling start, to win easily. Lawrance almost fell on the second corner, and, although he recovered his balance, his motor was running- badly, and he had little opportunreni fvT speed over the remaining three FLYING THREE W. Allen (Norton) i From a rolling start, Allen took the lead, 10yds separating him from Sticpewich, with Mattson a similar distance behind. Tlie Australian forced Mattson too close to the fence, and he fell, somersaulting twice. Allen also fell and the race was stopped. Two of the machines had been put out of order, and the decision was awarded to Bill Allen.