VICTORY!

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18500, 22 February 1930, Page 12 (Supplement)

VICTORY!

Bang! Bang! Bang! The starter's pistol cracked three times, and the three motor-cyclists competing in the Championship Handicap Race were off. their great roaring demons tearing at a terrific pace round the metalled track. One. a huge twin cylinder Brough Superior, suddenly shot out ahead, and negotiated the sharp bend at a most alarming angle. The orher two, with their goggled riders low over the handle-bars, took the corner together, and when they gained the straight they were still wheel to wheel. The Brough Superior was gradually losing, until the Norton had passed ft and was leading at seventy miles an hour. Another corner ahead. The Norton, streaking along, went round it at fifty, the roaring Borough following on its tail in a cloud of blue exhaust smoke. The third hurtling demon, a twin seven-nine Harley-Davidson, took the corner too fast, and crashed in a cloud of dust and smoke that hung over the track. Two or three officials rushed out to remove the still kicking motor-cycle, and its rider, who was dazed by the fall, but otherwise unhurt.

Rodney Penington, the dude of the group of racing motorists and motorcyclists, who were generally known at the Beresford track as “the dirty face brigade” gasped as the two roaring, flame-belching machines flashed past the grandstand, where he and some other members of the club were watching the race.

“Ted’s going some,” he remarked breathlessly, adjusting his monocle and straightening his many-coloured tie. “That other fellow, Billy Sumner, is getting along rather fast, too, isn’t he!” he exclaimed, turning to his chum, Jimmy Smith. “Yes!” answered Jimmy, carefully following the two hurtling hurricanes through his field-glasses.

• Teddy Smith, Jimmy’s brother, noI ticed that his speedometer on the handlebars was dickering somewhere near eighty, as he watched for a chance to shoot well ahead of the great thundering Brough Superior. They both streaked past the man with the flag, who was waving it to show that they were on the last lap of the great race. Ted couTd see nothing but the grey concrete under him, which seemed to be rushing along the opposite way to which he was going. On and on he roared, now taking corners at a breath-robbing pace, now doing over ninety along the straight, wheel to wheel with his adversary. They were n6w on the last straight, and were still hub to hub! A bump; Ted’s bike jumped, but with a dexterous twist of the handlebars he righted it again. Then he heard a tremendous explosion. Glancing sideways out of the corner of his eyes he saw th- Brough Superior lying on* the ground with a great rip in its front tyre, and its rider, who had been thrown headlong, doubled up about ter. yards away. Ted had won! Triumphantly he streaked past the winner's flag while Penington, Smith, and the other members of the “dirty face brigade” cheered themselves hoars®. Billy Sumner, who had been injured in t-'.'.e Championship Handicap Race, grinned cheerful'y up at Teddy Smith, who was standing beside hL n; the

little Beresford Hospital. “I’m not hurt very much, old chap,* he said; “anyhow, I can congratulate you on your great win.”. By the end of the next week Billy Sumner had recovered from his injuries, and was getting round again with his two chums, Rodney Penington, the dude, and Teddy Smith, the proud possessor d a silver cup, presented to him by a famous motor magnate as a trophy, after victorious win. (5 Marks and a Merit Card awarded to “Speed-Fiend,”—Prank Shepherd. Timaru, aged 13).