S.C.M.C.C.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18914, 27 June 1931, Page 15

S.C.M.C.C.

CLUB NOTES. (By “Acceleration”) Committee Meeting. The prinlcipal business discussed at last Monday night’s committee meeting were the conditions governing the eight hour trial. Owing to unforseen circumstances it was found that the trial would have to be postponed and it was decided to put it back until July 5. Entry forms and conditions will shortly be available at all motor cycle agents’ shops or from the club secretary. These conditions are practically the same as last year and include sealed speedometers, a secret course and observed sections. The trophies offered are, for first place, the Slade Rose Bowl and miniature, second place, a sliver cup, and third place a miniature cup. The members of the winning team, which shall consist of three solo mounts or two solo and one side-car machine are to receive a mounted photograph of the team suitably Inscribed. While the matter of trophies was being discussed Mr J. H. Howden placed before the committee the following suggestion. That a special prize be given to the rider of a machine below a certain year who makes the best performance in that class. In support of his suggestion, Mr Howden said that he knew of several club members who owned mounts of a fairly ancient vintage but who thought that their chances of success against the more modern machines in the trial were very small. The speaker thought these riders should be encouraged and this was the reason for his suggestion. Mr Howden’s proposal was received most favourably by the committee and Mr R. G. Slade offered to donate a cup for the best performance of a rider in the trial mounted on a motor-cycle manufactured earlier than the year 1925. Mr Slade was thanked for his offer and the suggestion adopted. Occasional Comment* It is unfortunate that the eight hour trial has had to be postponed until July 5 and thus break the record created this year by the club, in adhering strictly to the programme. Competitors are however promised an exceptionally good trial to compensate them for any inconvenience caused, and the later date should give them ample time to prepare their machine for the event.

This year the club has been very fortunate in its choice of a patron both Mr and Mrs Vincent taking a keen interest in the welfare of the members and of the club. In this respect they have been ably seconded by other supporters of the club, notably Mr and Mrs E. Howden and Mr and Mrs H. W. Lovegrove. To further bring the club into their indebtedness, Mrs Vincent and Mrs Howden have generously offered to provide afternoon tea for the competitors and officials at the conclusion of the eight hour trial which will finish at Mr Vincent’s farm at Kingsdown.

At the last meeting of the club’s committee there was an insistent demand for more trials, members present expressing the view that the average club rider had a greater chance of winning an award in a trial than in a hill-climb or speed event. Trials are also much more sociable affairs than hill climbs where everyone is keyed up to a fine point and tempers sometimes become very short. The preparation ol the riders machine for a trial is also not as exacting as for a hill-climb and the former is undoubtedly of great assistance to young riders for improving their riding ability.

Probably there is not, in the South Island, another club which has had such a run of success in outside events as the South Canterbury club. There are, in the ranks of its members, riders, who are practically invincible in trial riding and hill-climb events, and the appearance of these men at fixtures outside the club’s area cause apprehension among their opponents. The last Ashburton hill climb was a sweeping victory for our riders, first place in the 350 class and first, second and third places in the 500 class. Second and fifth places were taken in the Ashburton M.C.C. eight hour trial and first and second places in the O.M.C. trial on June 3rd, all by South Canterbury riders. The winner of the Southland Motor Cycle Club trial some years ago was a side car outfit with a South Canterbury man as observer and passenger. It is suggested that the club send two teams up to Christchurch to compete in the Pioneer Double Twelve and there is little doubt that our riders would bring back a number of the trophies.