FRANK PEARCE, QUARTER-MILE CHAMPION, RIDES GREAT RACE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18991, 10 February 1930, Page 4

FRANK PEARCE, QUARTER-MILE CHAMPION, RIDES GREAT RACE.

Gold Sash Won By Gray, Whose Win Is Very Popular; E. Pyke Sustains In jury.

Between eight and nine thousand persons were thrilled at the Monica Park Stadium on Saturday night by the riding of Frank Pearce (Brisbane), world’s quarter-mile champion, in his first appearance here. Pearce rode exceptionally well and in the first of his races with W. Sticpewich clipped 1-5 of a second off Sticpewich’s best time for a mile of lmin 25 1-ssec. This was not an official record. The local rider, N. Gray, showed up to advantage and gave promise of making an even better rider, good as he undoubtedly is at present. He won the Gold Sash from E. Marsh after a great tussle and also captured the one mile open handicap. Although threatening clouds had gathered early in the evening, broadsiding enthusiasts turned up in thousands to see the visiting Australians meet. A few raindrops made some scurry to shelter, but the maioritu saw the meetina thrnnnh

The stadium was crowded almost to capacity with an attendance larger than that of any previous occasion. The meeting of Frank Pearce (Brisbane) holder of the world’s quartermile record and Bill Sticpewich (Newcastle), holder of the stadium mile record, 1.25 1-5, was the big attraction. The public were not disappointed, for some fine riding was witnessed. In the first heat of the Australian match race, Pearce led all the way, but Sticpewich had engine trouble and it was declared no race. At the next attempt* Sticpewich rode a different machine and was obviously handicapped. Pearce made a magnificent ride and, leading all the way, came home to win in lmin 25sec. More Engine Trouble. Several attempts were made to start the second heat on time but, due to engine trouble and other causes, this was postponed until later in the meeting. When the riders finally got away, Sticpewich went to the front and led by about eight lengths for the first two laps and appeared to be going well. When apparently ’in an unassailable position, Sticpewich had engine trouble and Pearce went on alone to win in lmin 26 3-ssec. There was no third heat, Pearce having won two heats. Gold Sash Rac®. The Gold Sash race, of four laps rolling start, best tw.o out of three races, and competed for every two weeks, provided thrills and ended in a popular win. N. R. Gray replaced E. G. Pyke (who was injured early in the evening) as the opponent of the holder, E. R. Marsh. In the first heat Gray took the first lap and Marsh the second and third and went on to win easily. Time, lmin 29 l-ssec. The second heat saw Gray give Marsh a shower of cinders opposite the stand in the first lap. Marsh momentarily lost ground; but soon made up speed again. Gray was going well and won the race in the good time of lmin 27 3-ssec. In the deciding heat Marsh led in the first lap, but Gray reversed the positions in the second and later gave Marsh a shower of cinders that was his undoing. Gray went on to secure a very popular win, but the time was slower than the previous heats. Mr P„ R. Climie presented Gray with the sash, much to the delight of the small boys, who. had consistently applauded Gray throughout the evening. The first event on the programme was to have been an attempt by Pearce on the track record for four laps, held by Sticpewich. Pearce got* going all right and gave a really fine exhibition of broadsiding, but a mistake was made in the number of laps and only three were covered in the time of lmin 4sec.

The first semi-final of the four lap open handicap saw some riders get into difficulties. R. J. Hore came off in front of the stand in the first lap and turned a complete somersault. E. Pyke came to grief near the riders* entrance and turned two complete somersaults with his machine. The front wheel was snapped clean off. . This crash appeared to be serious, but it was announced later that Pyke was not badly injured. He was assisted off the track. Pyke later appeared with his head bandaged and was greeted with a round of applause when he approached the stand. The Big Nine Scratch Race final went to Sticpewich in the time of lmin 32 2-ssec. The best heat time of lmin 28 l-ssec was put up by Pearce, but he did not finish in the final. Engine trouble seemed to dog both the Australians throughout the evening; in fact, Sticpewich tried several machines, but could not succeed in breaking the hoodoo. The meeting was not without its humorous side. In the third heat of the Second Division Handicap, the spectators were treated to an exhibition of slow-motion riding. The heat saw one rider fall opposite the stand, two of the other three riders had engine trouble, and finally all appeared to be out of commission. After a few seconds things began to brisk up and the riders continued. The winner ran half way round the track with his bike in the last lap and the second man just coasted in. The time of 2min 55sec was greeted derisively by the small boys who made some original and humorous comments. The track was in exceptionally good trim, but, whether due to unevenness or a bad corner, most competitors appeared to experience trouble just past the riders’ entrance. In this spot some of the machines were seen to jump as though hitting a bump. The Austra- ® is m m is ® ® ® si ® is ® m ® ® ® m m ® ®

' lian riders sat their machines as if born to them and broadsided without any trouble, righting their machines in ■ a wonderful manner. Gray, Marsh and ■ Pyke showed their ability, too, but it - was noticeable that they made wider ■ turns than the Australians. ; Results:— , OPEN HANDICAP. (Four laps. First £ls, second £7 10s, ’ third £4.) | First heat: E. G. Pyke <6sec) 1, E. I Pye (9sec) 2. Won easily. Time—lmin . 34 l-ssec. Second heat: R. J. Hore , (9sec) 1, E. Marsh (3sec) 2. Hore rode a good race to win fairly easily. Time 1 —lmin 39 l-ssec. Third heat: J. K. : Craig <l3sec) 1, N. R. Gray (ssec) 2. Craig got away from the start and held the lead throughout. Time—lmin 47sec. Fourth heat: F. Pearce (scr) 1, J. Carter (ssec) 2. A great race in which . Pearce won by three lengths only. J Time—lmin 3lsec. > First Semi-final: Marsh 1, Pye 2. ; Hore led into the first lap but crashed entering the straight. Pyke led into the second and third laps but somer- > saulted twice at the bend, his machine L going ten feet into the air. He had to , be carried off. Marsh took things easily and won by a fair margin. Time—- • lmin 35sec. ‘ Second Semi-final: Carter 1, Gray 2. ; Craig, with a liberal handicap, led off for the first two laps, but his lead was greatly decreased entering the third 1 lap. Carter and Gray were meanwhile fighting things out between themselves. At the first slide in the fourth lap Carter shot ahead in a perfect broadside, chased by Gray, and they finished in . that order, Carter 5 yards ahead. Time —lmin 37sec. ■ Final: . Gray 1 Carter 2 . Pye 3 March's machine failed to kick off. Pye got ahead into the second laip but ■ Gray was on his tail and shot past at ; the next slide. Entering the third lap i he had increased his lead and romped home a quarter of a lap ahead in lmin > 32 2-ssec. Pye was well out of it. 5 GOLD SASH MATCH RACE. N. R. Cray 1 • E. R. Marsh 2 ' This event was decided on the best 3 two out of three races. : In the first race Gray had a very , slight advantage from the rolling start, and led into thfe second lap. Marsh set- ' tied down to business, however, and L shot ahead, leading into the third and t fourth laps, to win by fifteen yards. Gray had things his own way in the ‘ second race. He beat Marsh in the first r lap and the latter got off the track, but - decided to finish the race out. Gray won by over half a lap in the good tinfe • of lmin 27 3-ssec.

In a great final Gray had a popular win. He went like a shot from a gun, but was a few yards behind entering the second lap. At the next slide he shot past Marsh and showered him with cinders. Marsh’s engine stopped, and Gray carried on to put up a time of lmin 32sec —one of the best times done by a local man. This entitles Gray to a remuneration of £3 a week. He will have to defend his title on Saturday week. He was decorated with the gold sash by Mr P. R. Climie, chairman of directors of the concern.

AUSTRALIAN MATCH RACE. Frank Pearce 1 W. Sticpewich 2 This event was decided on two out of three races. In the first race, Pearce beat Sticpe>wich all the way. Pearce gave a great display of riding. His opponent hung on to him for the first two laps, his motor coughing suspiciously. Pearce went on to* win by the length of the straight, breaking the track record by one-fifth of a second. His time was lmin 25sec. Two attempts were made to get the riders away in the second race before they were satisfactorily placed. Sticpewich led by ten yards into the second lap and was a similar distance ahead entering the third, when his engine gave out. Pearce went on to win in lmin 26 2-ssec. Sticpewich’s time for the first lap, 20 4-5 sec, was an unofficial track record. SECOND DIVISION RACE. (First £B, second £4, third £2.) First heat: J. K. Craig <4sec> 1, R. Lovegrove (Isec) 2. Won easily. Time —lmin 48see. Second heat: R. J. Hore (scr) 1, C. Blacklock (2sec) 2. Won easily. Time—lmin 43 2-6 sec. Third heat: M’Kenzie (scr) 1. A race which amused the crowd, M’Kenzie pushed his bike to the post and W. S. Hore coasted rbund in the hope of his coming down again. Time—3min 65sec. Final. Hore 1 Craig 2 Hore led all the way, to win easily. Time —lmin 43 2-ssec. BIG NINE SCRATCH RACE. (First £7 10s, second £4, third £2.) First heat: W. Sticpewich 1. Won easily. Time —lmin 45 2-ssec. Second heat: F. Pearce 1. Won easily, although Gray gave him a great go for it. Time —lmin 28 l-ssec. Third heat: J. Carter 1. Marsh was in the running, but, riding unsteadily, he came off at the grandstand turn. Carter rode a fine race. Time—lmin 34sec. Final. Sticpewich _ 1 Carter * 2 Carter rode gamely and trailed Sticpewich round over the first two laps, after which Sticpewich opened out and ran home a fairly easy winner. Time—lmin 32 2-6 sec. I®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®