MOTOR-CYCLE RACING

Taranaki Daily News, 2 June 1927, Page 9

MOTOR-CYCLE RACING

THE NEW PLYMOUTH CLUB. REVIEW OF PAST YEAR. About twenty-five members were present last night at the annual meeting of the New Plymouth Motor Cycl. Club. Through the unavoidable absence of the chairman, the deputy chariman, Mr. C. Allan, presided. The report, which was not complete, stated inter alia: —Though the past year had been unfinancial, the profit made was small. The membership stood at about fifty, which was a slight decrease on the previous year. Owing to inclement weather the club runs and competitions had proved rather a failure, but this was not wholly attributable to the rain. Lack of interest of members had been’ another factor. The committee, disheartened in this way, found it very hard to keep the ball rolling and so provide attractive meetings. Last year a sum of money had been set aside for competitions, but as only a small amount was used, it was suggested that the remainder be allotted to socials, etc. As most of the members worked in the country it was thought that Saturday nights would bo the most convenient for these entertainments.

Officers for the year were elected as follows: —Patron, Mr. W. Weston; president, Mr. P. J. Douglass; vice-presidents, Messrs. E. A. Elliott and P. E. Stainton; chairman, Mr. C. Allan; secretary, Mr. A. E. Kretchmar; delegate to A.C.U., Mr. C. Allan; executive committee, Messrs. R. Cartwright, H. Lee, 11. L. McHardie, H. Pitt and W. Steel. Some discussion took place with regard to the handicapping in the past. The public found it very difficult to follow the races when, in some instances, a rider had a lap or more start on the scratch men. So confusing were the positions that it was hard to tell the first from the last. Shorter races were favoured by some, while it was thought that better results might accrue if the contests were run according to the class of the machine.

It was decided to send a remit to the A.C.U. asking that, when a rider takes the track, before a race, under instructions from the stewards, fie be covered by the benevolent fund. At present riders were covered only in the actual race and not in preliminaries which, perhaps, had been ordered.

The secretary was granted an honorarium of £l5, while Mr. Andrews, who had acted in this capacity for five months, was voted £5.

The meeting decided to hold a ball, the arrangements for which were left to the executive committee. Messrs. H. Finn and K. Butcher were elected new members.