MOTOR – CYCLING

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19238, 27 November 1930, Page 15

MOTOR - CYCLING

BY

“ MAGNETO "

Fixture*. November 29—Miniature T.T. Pioneer Club. December 13—Mystery Competition, Pioneer Club. PIONXER CLUB, Miniature T.T. The Pioneer Club will hold a miniature T.T. race at Rolleston on Saturday afternoon. Competitors and officials will leave the club house at 2 o’clock sharp, as the event will be run off in heats, in which only two will mart. There should be a full afternoon’s sport. Further entries will be accepted up to Friday evening next. The course is a maze of twists ami turns of a total length of about three-quarters of a mile. The corners vary, but sharp right-angle ones are favoured. Some corners are banked, and some others are also banked—but the wrong way. There are two straights. An interesting afternoon’s sport is assured. Motor-cyclists will be pleased to learn that Arthur Lamport has made an almost complete recovery, and is out and about again. Mr H. S. Butcher, late of the staff of City Motor Works, has joined the sales staff of Jones Motors, Ltd. The South Canterbury Club’s annual twenty-four hours’ trial will be held on Friday and Saturday next. The course will be to Oaraaru, Palmerston, Kyeburn, Ranfurly, Middlemarch, to Dunedin via Outram, the return journey being via Leith Valley or Mount Cargill to Palmerston, Oamaru, and finishing at Timaru. The total mileage will be 367 miles, and the trial will start from Timaru at 9.30 p.m. The Royal Dutch championship trial was won by Ariels in all classes, these machines coming first in 250 c.c., 350 c.c., 500 c.c. and sidecar classes. The Italian Illtrofeo Della Vallassina was won by an Ariel team, against 39 others. Another long-distance record has been bettere.d by an English machine. This record, long held by American motorcycles. was broken by Messrs Stapleton and Merritt (Ariel and sidecar), who rode from Melbourne fo Adelaide in 16hrs 50min—a distance of 609 miles. CINDER SIFTINGS. Items from the Speedway. The tragic death of George Chambers is a matter for sincere regret to everyone. Those who knew him found in him the makings of a champion motorcyclist. He> had the nerve, the strength, and the natural inclination to make a good rider. Besides all those qualities, he was a very clever mechanic and was valued very highly by his employers, Jones Motors, Ltd. He was unassuming, and never was a gallery rider, preferring to compete for his own enjoyment rather than for others. ' Saturday’s speedway programme was splendid. The great improvement in the performance of the more prominent riders was most noticeable, and it can be safely predicted that in the interspeedway competition Christchurch will more than hold her own. The orpani-

thing to be desired, and if that standard is maintained throughout the rest of the season, then delay, that, great bugbear of all open-air events, will be avoided

The local man who claims most attention is E. R. Marsh, whose times qualify him to rank with many Australians. His riding on Saturday night was outstanding and augurs well for his performance against the Dunedin riders. The two Australians, “Daredevil” Durkin and Eric Hamberger, did not have a night out, but they showed sufficient of their capabilities to prove that they can provide plenty of thrills. Durkin's magnificent effort in the heat of the first division handicap will go down as one of the best exhibitions of riding yet seen on the track. The ever-popular Norm Gray was well in the picture, but he needs a few more horses in his engine to catch Marsh. Gray is riding as well as ever, and he should distinguish himself. Percy Lunn, whose riding calls for admiration, was well to the fore in the scratch race. He ranks an easy second to Marifh. (?. Blacklock was one of the surprise packets. The way in which he held back Hamberger in the scratch race ■marks him down as one of the best local riders. Jack Hore is another whose advent on a fast machine bears out the high expectations that the .speedway public, bad of him last season. Jack was well to the front, and it is a toss-up really who is best, Norman Neill did not reproduce the form he showed at the final meeting last season. It may be that his machine is not quite right The Russell brothers had a night off. However, both of these riders should show up before long. The most impressive of the B graders was G "Wicks. Seldom has a more solid and careful demonstration of riding been given. This rider, with more experience and a faster machine, will do well. C. Kennedy was another who sprang a surprise win. There has been a man vellous Improvement in, bis riding. 1,, 1 - carter save a good exhibition of riding, but did not appear to have the speed! JaoH has not lost any or h*.a 9WII. ... ... Next Saturday's programme will feature Daredevil " Durkin and Erie Hamberger and the match race for tile Chevrolet liold Helmet between Marsh

'and Lunn. The capabilities of the local | riders have been well proved, and with i the additional practice this week, still ! better can be expected. The' handicapper’s appreciation of the merits of E. R. Marsh is proved by the fact that the local man will only get lscc from the Australian, Durkin. The other Australian, Harrrberger, has been placed on the same mark as Marsh. Ken Craig will be a starter on his O.E.C. J.A.P. Special model. The machine has been finished and looks a very workmanlike job. Great things are expected from Craig. The Nudge Models. Three Rudge Whitworth models are at present in Christchurch—a 500 c.c., a 350 c.c., and Percy Coleman’s special model. Dealing first with Coleman’s mount just as it was when raced; the engine is 499 c.c.., 85 m.ra. bore by S 8 m.m. stroke. Four overhead valves are standard for all Rudge o.h.v. engines. The brakes are exceptionally large, and the machine has a four-speed gear-box with the ratios 4.5, 6.2, S.O and 14.6. The wheels arc detachable and interchangeable. The 350 c.c. model has a 349 c.c. engine, 70 m.m. bore and 90.5 m.m. stroke. Here again, the brakes are exeeptionally large and are both operated by a foot pedal with an auxiliary hand-lever on the handlebars for the front brake. The four-speed gear-box has the following ratios: 5.3, 7.2, 9.5 and 17.2. The 500 c.c. model is very similar, except for the engine. The bi'akes, too, qre larger, and the gear-box ratios are: 4.3, 5.4, 7.0 and 11.1. All models have a novel finish—weather-proof casing. This looks exceptionally handsome. All bright parts are chromium plated.