MOTOR-CYCLE RACE.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 June 1923, Page 7

MOTOR-CYCLE RACE.

"ROAD HOGS” FINED. AVENUE HOAD AS RACECOURSE. An addition to the expense account of a recent illegal motor cycle test was made in the Magistrate’s Court at New Plymouth yesterday morning. One Sunday morning a few weeks ago two young men, James Crockett and George Collingwood, took possession of the Avenue Road alongside the racecourse as being a suitable stretch on which to decide the merits of their respective machines, one a powerful American model and the other an English rival. Officials were appointed and were on the “course” and the race was started. The field of two, however, was increased to one of three as the winning post was neared. The borough inspector (Mr. R. Day) was an interested spectator of the contest, and as the riders speeded past him, he mounted his small Douglas and set off in pursuit, finishing the race, as he explained in court, “a good third.” A plea of guilty was made by Crockett when he appeared before Mr. A. M. Mowlem, S.M., yesterday morning, while Collingwood forwarded a letter intimating that he too pleaded guilty. The excessive dangers to the travelling public of such a contest on a public road, particularly on such a well used road as the Avenue Road, were stressed by Mr. Day. They were further emphasised by Mr. Mowlem, who issued a warning to motor speeders as he inflicted a fine of £5 on each of the defendants, with costs 7s.