MOTOR-CYCLE NOTES

Taranaki Daily News, 9 June 1932, Page 3

MOTOR-CYCLE NOTES

DISAPPOINTING HILL CLIMB. HINT FOR DISTANCE RACES. (By “Speed.”) The most disappointing event yet held by the North Taranaki Motor-Cycle Club was the hill climb at Waitara Road :ast week-end. Heavy showers throughout the day made the road surface exceptionally treacherous, especially at the corners, and the dangerous nature ot the Hill was no doubt the cause of deterring many of those present from entering for the climb. Riders were fortunate in that no mishap occurred other than a few vicious skids on the corners. T. Robertson emerged from his retirement and upheld the reputation of his Norton in gaining both first place anq, fastest time by a substantial margin. A second event held on an adjoining hill resulted in a further win by the same rider.

Results of the climb indicate an unenviable task for the handicapper in future competitions, as fastest time honours have been freely shared at various times among club members. J. Fitzpatrick, J. Fenton, K. Gray and I. Robertson are four riders who appear to be very evenly matched and future tests should be the occasion of some stirring tussles between these riders.

Only five riders took part in the reliability trial from Auckland on June 3. The poor entry was because of a race meeting at Mangere on the same day, most of the prominent Auckland riders attending that event. A considerable number of people saw the arrival of trial riders at the New Plymouth post office shortly after 6 o’clock. Next morning at 8 a.m., a starting test w-as held and then the riders were dispatched on their return journey to Auckland in perfect weather. Results in the 100 mile race held last Friday at Mangere are: S. Perry. (346 c.c. Royal Enfield) 1, M. Aicken (496 c.c. Douglas) 2, L. Williams (493 c.c. 8.5. A.) 3, R. E. Vinall (498 c.e. Norton) 4. The following comments on the race are taken from an Auckland paper: “Although some of the riders whose machines failed during the afternoon were the victims of misfortune which could not be avoided, others were forced to withdraw on account of faults which might conceivably have been prevented by more careful preparation. Among the competitors there were some who evidently failed to realise that a motor which will stand four laps at full throttle with certain spark, valve and mixture adjustments will not Carry on for 80 laps under the same conditions, and in consequence they had to retire comparatively early in the race. Such experiences are usually costly, quite apart from the disappointment caused by sitting astride a ‘dead’ motor and watching an event won by a man on possibly a slower machine than some of those that failed.”