FRANK PEARCE AGAIN BREAKS LOCAL SPEEDWAY MILE RECORD

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19033, 31 March 1930, Page 6

FRANK PEARCE AGAIN BREAKS LOCAL SPEEDWAY MILE RECORD

World's Quarter-Mile Champion Thrills Crowd At Monica Park.

Frank Pearce (Brisbane), holder of the world’s quar-ter-mile record, broke the Monica Park Speedway record tor one mile twice at last Saturday night’s meeting. Pearce first made a solo attempt on the record, clipping four-fifths of a second off his record time put up a week ago, when he clocked lmin 24sec on two occasions. In the first heat of the International Match Race he got away very fast, but, having the outside position, he could not get the lead from Van Praag, another Australian, who had the inside running. By skilful riding Pearce took the key position from his countryman at one of the corners. Giving a display that has not been previously bettered here, Pearce came home in the astonishing time of lmin 22sec, two seconds lower than his time last week. While making the circuits of the track it seemed as though the record-breaker followed the grass line, so closely did he hug the verge, especially on the corners. Despite somewhat overcast weather conditions a great crowd attended the meeting and they were not disappointed, for the racing was all that could be desired. N. R. Gray won the final of the First Division Handicap, but incurred the displeasure of the spectators by nullifying three starts in the third heat of the Big Nine Scratch Race. The final of this race was won by P. Eunn, with E. G. Pyke second.

Phillips Falls. i Van Praag, riding well, had no difficulty in catching the men in front in the first heat of the First Division Har 4 - 'dicap. P. Phillips (Wellington) caiine off in front of the .stand the third time round, but it was announced later + hat he was not seriously hurt, having facial abrasions only. N. Neill and E. R. Marsh had a great tussle for second • place, Neill scraping, home. Time — lmin 27sec. The second heat saw F. Pearpe .pull out with engine trouble. W. Thomas hit the fence in the third lap, but did not suffer injury. The race resolved itself into a tussle between P. Lunn and “Lofty” Naylor (Wellington), and Lunn won easily. Time—lmin 30 4-£sec. N. R. Gray was soon prominent in the third heat. W. Kilmister (Wellington) was unable to catch the front men. Gray, by good cornering, got home four lengths in front of R. J. Ilore. Time—lmin 32sec. Naylor gradually proved his superiority in the semi-final, winning by the length of the straight from Neill. Time—lmin 29sec. Gray was after Lunn early in the final, passing him in the second lap. Lunn could not Catch the fast-riding Gray, who won easily. .Time —lmin 29sec. Van Praag had engine trouble, and was not in the picture.

Pearce had no difficulty, and won by fifty yards, again lowering the record. Time—lmin 22sec. Pearce had the inside running in the second heat, but was boxed. He had engine trouble early and retired. Kilmister also had trouble, but continued and took second place. Van Praag had no opposition and won in lmin 25sec. In the final heat Kilmister had the inside running, but Van Praag went to the front from the jump. Pearce, coming up fast, seemed as if he would get past Van Praag, but retired. Kilmister fell, but continued to get second place. Van Praag, who scored 13 points, won the match, Kilmister (7 points) was second, and Pearce (5 points) third. Time—lmin 24 2-ssec. Big Nine Scratch Race.

The first heat of the Big Nine [ Scratch Race saw all the riders jget off • together. Naylor and M’Kenzie fell, . but Naylor continued. Lunn had no . opposition after the other riders nad fallen. He won in lmin 28 2-ssec. Naylor CQmpleted the course, and took ’ second place. W. Thomas came off early in the second heat. E. R. Marsh went to the front and gradually in- ; creased his lead, winning by the length of the straight from R. J. Hore. Time—lmin 28 4-ssec. Gray was tco eager in the third heat, and three times nullified the start by getting in front. When they finally got away Gray went to the front, but fell before ' a lap had been covered. Th<J*-race rer solved itself into a great tussle between P. Phillips (Wellington) and E. G. Pyke, and resulted in Pyke gaining the decision by half a wheel. The time was very slow, lmin 35 2-ssec. The riders were bunched the first time round in the final heat. Marsh fell the second time round, Lunn leading Pyke , over the next lap. Marsh continued: Lunn won. easily from Pyke. Time—lmin 29sec. FIRST DIVISION HANDICAP. One mile. First heat: L. Van Praag (scr) 1, N. Neill (Bsec) 2. Time—lmin 29sec. In the fourth lap Van Praag came up from last to win by six lengths. Phillips crashed, landing heavily, while his machine somersaulted. He was not badly injured. Second heat: P. Lunn (ssec) 1, “Lofty” Naylor (2sec) 2. Time—lmin 30 4-ssec. Pearce had to withdraw, owing to engine trouble, and Thomas came off after hitting the fence. Lunn won Third heat: N. R. Gray (3sec) 1, R. J. Hore (3sec) 2. Time—lmin 32sec. Won by four lengths. Kilmister started, but could not get up, although he put in some brilliant work on the bends. Semi-final; Naylor 1. Neill 2. Time—lmin 29sec. Won by fifty yards. Final. ( Gray 1 Lunn 2 Naylor 3 Time—lmin 29sec. Gray caught Naylor in the third lap and went on to win by fifty yards. Lunn was a further fifty yards away third. Van Praag was put out through engine trouble. SECOND DIVISION HANDICAP. One mile. First heat: R. Lovegrove (2sec) 1, A. Smith (scr) 2. Time—lmin 40 2-ssec. Won easily. Smith made his first appearance as a broadsider, showing possibilities. * Second heat: N. Neill (scr) and G. Wicks equal 1. Times—Neill, lmin 36 4-ssec.; Wicks, lmin 38sec. This was the best finish of the evening, Neill closing up on Wicks in the last lap, a neck and neck race down the straight bringing the crowd to their feet. Third heat: C. Blacklock (ssec) 1. S. Russell (lsec) 2. Time—lmin 40 4-sfcjc. Won by four lengths. Final. Wicks 1 Lovegrove 2 Neill 3 Time—lmin 37 3-ssec. Wicks soon took the lead, followed by Lovegrove. Wicks increased the gap, finishing twenty yards ahead of Lovegrove, with Neill close up. ATTEMPT ON RECORD. France Pearce made an attempt to lower the track record of lmin 24see for the mile, established by himself the previous Saturday. Riding evenly, and hugging the inside of the track, he was successful, covering the distance in lmin 23 l-ssec, thus clipping 4-ssec off the record. In the international race later on, he rode even more brilliantly, doing lmin 22sec for the mile. INTERNATIONAL AIATCH RACE. First 5 points, second 3, third 1. Three heats. First heat: Frank Pearce 1, “ Lion ” Van Praag 2, Wally Kilmister 3. Time —lmin 22sec, a track record. Pearce | led from the start, increasing the gap every lap by brilliant riding. He won by 50yds, with four lengths between I second and third. Second heat: Van Praag 1, Kilmister 2. Time—lmin 25sec. Van Praag led from Pearce, who retired with engine trouble. Kilmister crashed, but restarted, finishing over a lap behind Van Praag, who rode well. Third heat: Van Praag 1, Kilmister 2. Time—lmin 24 3-ssec. Van Praag took the lead from Pearce. At the end of the second lap Pearce had further engine trouble, having to retire. Kilmister fell, Van Praag winning without opposition, although Kilmister managed to finish. Points: Van Praag 13, Kilmister 7, Pearce 6. BIG NINE SCRATCH RACE. Open to' New Zealand riders only. : Entrants: “Lofty” Naylor (Wellington), I). M’Kenzie, P. Lunn (first heat); i E. R. Alarsh, W. Thomas, R. J. Hore (second heat); N. R. Gray, P. Phillips i (Wellington), E. G. Pyke (third heat), i First heat: P. Lunn 1, “Lofty” Naylor 2. Time—lmin 28 2-ssec. Lunn took the lead, and finished without opposition when Al'Kenzie and Naylor fell. The latter re-started and finished. Second heat.: E. R. Marsh 1, R. J. ( Hore 2. Time—lmin 28 4-ssec. Just ( after the start Thomas crashed, and , Alarsh went, oh.to win by a length of 1 the straight. < Third heat: E. G. Pyke 1, P. Phillips ‘ 2. Time—lmin 35 2-ssec. After two , false starts Gray took the lead, but -j came off at the end of the first lap. J Pyke then lead, but Phillips came in C the last lap, these two staging a thril- c ling battle up the straight. Pyke won w by half a wheel. s t Final. g Pyke 2 l Alarsh 3 ® Time—lmin 29sec. * Lunn and^ Alarsh raced neck and neck r

A. Smith Appears on Track. The first heat of the Second Division Handicap was not a notable event, except that A. Smith, the well-known beach rider, made his first appearance on the broadsiding track. Considering his inexperience, he gave a creditable display in taking second place. R. Lovegrove was first. Time—lmin 40 2-ssec. The second heat was more exciting than i the first, Neill and Wicks proving the best riders. They had a great tussle for first place, and in a great finish crossed the line together. Neill’s time was lmin 36sec and G. Wicks’s lmin 38sec. C. Blacklock led all the way in the third heat. S. Russell was second. Time—lmin 40 4-ssec. Wicks led throughout in the final race, with the other riders strung out behind. Wicks won comfortably, with Lovegrove second. Time—lmin 37 3-ssec.

Pearce Breaks Record. Frank Pearce (Brisbane) made an attempt on the mile record of lmin 24sec, which he put up and again equalled later last Saturday night. Pearce made a wonderful ride, breaking the record by four-fifths of a second. He seemed to hug the grass, and on the last bend made a superhuman effort and righted his machine when it appeared as though he would crash. Match Race. The International Match Race was a magnificent one. Pearce got away very fast in the first heat, but, being on the outside, he could not get to the front quickly enough to get the advantage of Van Praag, who held the inside. Van Praag kept Pearce back, but by skilful riding Pearce took the key position from his countryman at one of the corners. Once in front, 9.4: Incidental music, “In the Harem.” Solo, Zummurud, “Love Is Aly Breast.” Chorus and solo, Ibrahim, “In the Dance.” Incidental music to dance, “ Baccanale.” Finale Act 11. Act lll.—lncidental music, descriptive scene, “ The Slave Market.” Dramatic scene, depicting; the abduction of Zummurud, “ The Doom of Nur-al-din.” Interlude song-, Abu, “ Returning from Mecca.” Finale, Ali, Abu and chorus, “Hast Thou Been to Mecca?” Finale Act 111. End of play. 9.33: Classic Symphony Orchestra, “ I Pagliacci ” (Leoncavallo). 9.41: One character sketch, Miss Tui Northey, “Behind the Curtain.” 9.47: Violin, Aliss Ethel Wallace, “Scene de Ballet” (de Beriot). 9.54: Plaza Theatre Orchestra, “Belle of New York” (Kerker). 10.0: Close. FOR TUESDAY. 3ZC, Christchurch (250 metres). 10 a.m.: Women’s session. “A Suite of Serenades,” American Concert Orchestra. 10.5: Tested recipes. 10.25: “ Scenes de la Csarda,” Arcadie Birkenlioltz (violin); “I Am a Roamer Bold,” Arthur Middleton (bass) ; “ Summer Dreams,” Venetian Instrumental Quartet; “ Pastorale,” Sergei Rachmanioff (piano); “Les Oiseux dans la Charmille,” Anna Case (soprano); “La Gazza Ladra Overture,” Edison Concert Band; “A Suite of Serenades,” American Concert Orchestra; " Largo ” (Corti), Arcadie Birkenhoitz (violin); “A Spring Alorning,” Julia Heinrich (soprano) ; “ Serenade ” (Schubert), Venetian Instrumental Quartet; “Second Rhapsodie,” Part 3 (Liszt), Raehmanioff (piano); “Mon Coeur ne peut changer,” Anna Case (soprano); “Ten-' dresse,” Edison Concert Band. 11.30: Close down. 12 noon to 1.30 p.m.: News and luncheon music session. 2.30: Afternoon concert session; “Merry Wives of Windsor,” American Symphony Orchestra; “Legende de la Sauge,” Alario Laurenti (baritone); “Hungarian Dance,” Helen Ware (violin); “Voice of the Mountain Land,” Arthur Aliddleton (bass); “ Alarch of the Mannikins,” Ray Perkins (piano); “Les Filles de Cadiz,” Alice Verlet (soprano); “A Gav Gossoon,” Vess Ossman (banjo); “The Prince of Pilsen,” New York Light Opera Company; “Chasse aux Papilzons,” Wipert A. Moor (flute); “ Miserere,” Creatore’s Band. 4.30: Close down. 6: Children’s hour. 7: Wireless and Morse session. 7.30: Talk Mrs XL Houston, “ The Danger of Assuming all Growths on Feet to he Corns”; followed at 7.45 by news session. S: Evening concert session: “ Kasbek,” Gipsy Orchestra; “ The Valley of Laughter,” Anna Case (soprano); “Traumerei,” Albert Spalding (violin); She is Far From the Land,” Thomas Chalmers (baritone) ; “ Poinsetta ” walty, Franz Falkenburg (piano) ; “ Alaringy Tango,” Spanish Orchestra;

“ Juliet’s Waltz Song,” Lucrezia Bori (soprano); “Hungarian Rhapsodv,” Lauri Kennedy (’cello); “Erl King,” Arthur Aliddieton (bass); "Anitra Dance ” and “At the Brook/’ Chernivasky Trio; “Shepherd Love,” Claudio Aluzio (soprano); “Witch Dance,” Vasa Prihoda (violin); “Five Hundred Thousand Devils,” Otto Goritz (baritone);

“ Liebestraum,” Frederick Kinsley (organ); “The Radiance in Your Eyes,” Marie Rappold; “ Valse Vanite,” Rudv Weidoeft (saxophone); “The Evening Star,” Thomas Chalmers (baritone): “ Little Log Cabin of Dreams ” and “Ramona,” Louis Kaufman (violin); “ Sliding Sid,” New York Alilitary Band. 9.30: Dance session. 10.15: Close down.

for two laps, when the latter fell. Lunn then went on to win by a length of the straight from Pyke. Marsh re-started and rode into third position.