MOTOR-CYCLING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18419, 22 March 1928, Page 6

MOTOR-CYCLING.

(By

MAGNETO.)

COMING EVENTS. March 24—Christchurch Motor Club Secret Treasure Hunt March 2-J -Ashburton M.C.C. Reliability Triai _ ...... March 31 —Pioneer Club s Track Meeting at New Brighton. March 31—South Canterbury M.C.C. Hill-climb. April 6—Ashburton Club Easter tour of ; West Coast. _ j April 6-9—Christchurch M.C. Easter camp. April 6-9—South Canterbury Club , Easter tour. April 6-9—Otago M.C. Easter tour. April 6-10—Southland M.C. Easter tour. April 14 —Pioneer Club speed events. April 18—Christchurch M.C. Club dance. April 2S —Pioneer Club beach championships. April 2S-—Otago M.C. paperchasc. . Pioneer Club Trial. Seldom has a reliability trial been attended by so many hardships as that, held bv the Pioneer Club last Friday and Saturday. Of trventy-four hours' duration, the trial proved to be a test of the very hardest character. Bad weather and bad roads -were responsible for much discomfort especially in the case of solo riders. The organisation of the trial was verv complete both in Christchurch and en route, and the band of officials are to be complimented on thair efficient work. The many vicissitudes experienced by riders have been previously recounted and need no mention here, but it must be remarked that the manner in which the riders, particularly the y'ounger men. “ came up smiling ” after "all their troubles was nothing short of splendid. Unemployed Benefit Meeting. The track meeting to be held on Saturday week by the Pioneer Club for the benefit of the unemployed has attracted some of New Zealand’s most distinguished riders. Among the “speed kings” are P. Coleman (Palmerston North), Tui Morgan (Greyiown), G.- S. Wilkinson (Masterton), L. R. Southwards (Wellington), and the following Christchiirch riders: R. J. Hore, W. G. Thomas, E. Marsh, T. R. M’Leary, F. C. Riley, D. N. Shaw, J. Corter, and E. G. Pyke. Ashburton will be represented by G. Ilefford. I*. Coleman, fresh from his honours at Nelson, will be a great draw and it will be remarkable if the great Harley rider does not provide the spectators with a thrill or two. The track will be especially prepared so it will not be surprising if the existing track record, recently established, will be lowered. The New Brighton Municipal Band will be in attendance and given fine weather, the meeting should prove a great attraction for the general public. The date for the closing of entries has been extended and will now be Friday, March 23, at 9.30 p.m.

Hill-climb. The results of the hill-climb held by the North Otago Motor Association were:— Touring cars, up to 200 c.c.—J. L. ; Passmore (Austin) 66sec 1, C. R. Hedges (Armstrong-Siddeley) 67sec 2, : W. M’Dowell (Austin) 67 2-osec 3. Touring cars, 2000 c.c. and over—Mrs A. M. Robertson (Chrysler) 52 2-ssec 1, G. T. Gillies (Dodge) 56Jsec 2, Messrs Barr, M’lntyre, Ltd. (Chrysler) 57 4-ssec 3. Motor-cycles, open (under 34 h.p.) T. Stoddart (Harley-Davidson) 51 4-ssec 1, John B. Martin (8.5. A.) 55 4-ssec 2, Richard N. Shaw (Douglas) 65 4-ssec 3. Motor-cycles, open (3 h h.p. and over) —C. Rhodes (Royal Enfield) 48 2-ssec 1, Messrs Magorian and Thomas (Ariel) 49 2-ssec 2, B. (Norton) 49 3-ssec 3. Special Race —C. Rhodes (Royal Enfield) 47sec 1, Stoddart (Harley-David-son) 49 2-ssec 2. North Otago Motor Association’s speed championship (competitors given two tries)—Mrs A. M. Robertson (Chrysler) 51 1 ssec 1, Maider (Chrysler) 55sec and 54 l-ssec 2, W. L. Notman (Jewett) 55 3-ssec and 55sec 3. Christchurch Leads. There were over 35,000 motor-cycles in New Zealand at the end of December, distributed as follows: Christchurch 6242 Auckland 4679 Wellington 3717 Dunedin 2744 New Plymouth 2607 Hamilton 2192 Palmerston North 2107 Invercargill 1936 Napier 1835 Wanganui 1678 Timaru 1495 Nelson 933 Thames 766 Blenheim 599 Oamaru 490 Gisborne 481 Greymouth 458 Westport 112 x Notes. Messrs G. Henderson and E. Velvin, who until recently were on the staff of Messrs Adams, Ltd., have taken up the Ariel agency, and opened business premises in Manchester Street. The Ariel made its debut last week, insofar as Christchurch competitions were concerned, and a very successful debut it was. G. Henderson, on a 34 h.p. Ariel, gained second place in the reliability trial, and besides this the machine gained a first and-second place at Nelx x T. M’Leay was unlucky to spill on Saturday, as he was progressing very . well. It was stated that with the ex- ; ception of the marks deducted for dam- * ages to his machine, he had a clean sheet.

E. Burmeister (Harley Davidson) and W. Thomas (A.J.S.) ran out of petrol while engaged in the Pioneer Club’s trial, effectively putting them out of the running. Burmeister was among the last to return on Saturday night. a P. Coleman (Harley Davidson) added to his already long list of successes at Nelson on Saturday, when he won the President’s Handicap and gained a second and a third place besides. His winning time was 6min 3 345 sec. x x A. Smith, the well-known Indian rider, was a competitor at the Otago Motor Club’s meeting on Saturday last. He gained first, second and third places. The Christchurch Motor Club will hold a secret treasure hunt on Saturday next. Members will have ten places to visit and the first man home collects first prize. The prizes are: First £1 Is, second 10s 6d. This is a novel event so far as Christchurch is concerned and it will be sure to create great interest. Members are asked to gather at the corner of Deans Avenue and Riccarton Road at 2.30 p.m. X X X O. Parrish (New Hudson), and H. Hungerford and E. Anderson (HarleyDavid: n combination), through rendering assistance to N. Wright, sacrificed their chances in the Pioneer Club’s reliability trial. Their sporting action is to be commended. X X X Norman Wright, who was a competitor in the Pioneer Club’s trial, and was injured through being thrown from his machine, was the only rider to receive serious injury in the trial. Happily his injuries were not so serious as was first thought, and as he is progressing favourably, he will, we hope, make a speedy recovery. X X X A. Sirett (Douglas) was another unfortunate competitor in the trial last week-end. He had progressed favourably until the Waitaki Bridge was reached. He skidded on the approaches to the bridge and spilled, causing some damage to his machine. His misfortunes were not over for on reaching the end of the bridge he spilled again. His bad luck still clung to him, and his lights failed and with the driving rain and other conditions against him he decided to retire. X X X The city traffic inspectors paid a great compliment to the competitors in the reliability trial. They stated that the manner in which they observed the by-laws was to be commended. X X X E. Pyke and L. Monkman were among the unfortunates on Friday night. Pyke took the Waimate Gorge Road and Monkman, thinking all was well, followed him. They had travelled quite a distance before they realised their mistake. The Triumphs had a very successful week-end. Besides winning the Pioneer Club’s trial they had four successes elsewhere, two at Waikouaiti and two at Nelson. The successful riders were S. C. Forrester (Pioneer Club trial), G. Winton (O.M.C. Championship and Presidents Handicap), L. N. Dodds (Novice Handicap, Nelson), and L. - Elliott (Nelson-Marlborough Cup). 1 The machine in each case was of 34 h.p