GOOD BROADSIDING AT MONICA PARK

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19269, 5 January 1931, Page 9

GOOD BROADSIDING AT MONICA PARK

LOCAL RIDERS IMPROVE AGAINST THE VISITORS.

With ideal weather conditions prevailing, the Monica Park Speedway saw another large attendance at its weekly meeting ou Saturday night. Besides all the local speedsters, the Australian, Bert Unwin, and the Englishman, George Greenwood, also figured on the programme. Without doubt the local lads have improved out of all sight, and they did not let the visitors have then- own way by any means. In the New Year scratch races, P. Lunn upheld his reputation as a rider and won both his heat and the final. It is doubtful if Lunn -is not now the best rider in the province, and he certainly showed on Saturday night that he is not afraid to let his machine go on the bends. In the final of the scratch race he was competing against Black]ock and Marsh, and all dirt-track followers knew that they are by no means easy propositions. It was a great race, and Lunn showed exceptional skill in handling his bike on the bends when the three riders were abreast. George Greenwood made two attempts on the track record, but both were unsuccessful. F. Pearce held the record -~ sec UP to the commencement °f this season, but since then overseas riders have shown that the track is capable of much faster times. Greenwood broke Pearce’s record a fortnight ago. doing the four laps in 3 min 19 4-j>sec. However, the following week Squib Burton had still another surprise for Greenwood. He went the mile m Imm 17 3-ssec, thus making a new record. If it had not been for machine trouble it. is certain that Greenwood would have beaten Burton’s time on Saturday. He did the first two laps in the same time as Burton did them the previous week, and he was still turning on l£° re speed until his engine gave trouble. This put him out, and the mile took lmin engine still seemed to be out of order and he could do only lmin 20 2-ssec. ’ Results:— FIRST DIVISION HANDICAP. First heat: E. R. Marsh (isec) 1, . ~*. Fyke (4sec) 2, Bert Jones (Atistralm) (scr) S. Time—lmin 29 3-ssec. Second heat: C. Blacklock (Ssec) and T. Oakley (Ssec) dead heat 1, Ben n, nV '7? (Australia) (scr) 3. Times—?o a PH lock lmin 30 l-ssecj Oakley lmin ?- 1-osec. Third heat: C. E. Pye (Ssec) 'T: 5^i r * ;er (Ssec) 2, George Greenwood (England) 3. Time—lmin 29 1-5' sec. Lunn fell when in a handy position at the last bend. First semi-final: C. Blacklock 1, E. R. Marsh 2. Time—lmin 30 2-ssec. A great race. Blacklock took the lead in the second lap, and Marsh overtook Pyke in the third lap, but was unable to catch Blacklock. Second semi-final: J. Carter 1, C. E. Pye 2. Time—lmin 30 4-ssec. Oakley crashed while travelling very fast around the bend and was laid out for some time. Final. C. Blacklock 1 E. R. Marsh 2 J. Carter 3 Time—lmin 29 2~ssec. Blacklock went to the front at the end of the third lap and thereafter staved off strong challenges from Marsh. Carter was riding a good race in third position, and Pye, who lost a good deal of ground at the start, was broadsiding beautifully. The four riders finished within a space of fifteen yards. SECOND DIVISION HANDICAP. First heat: W. A. Weakley (2sec) 3, A. J. Smith (lsec) 2. Time —lmin 38 2-ssec. Second heat: E. J. Brown (lsec) 1, G. Wicks (scr) 2. Time—lmin 41 2-5 sec. The only riders to finish. Third heat: D. Shaw (2sec) 1, J. H. Roscoe (Ssec) 2. Time—lmin 36 l-ssec. First semi-final: Weakley (3sec> 1, Smith (lsec) 2. Time—lmin 38 2-ssec. Second semi-final: D. Shaw 1, J. H. Roscoe 2. Time—lmin 37 4-ssec. Final. Shaw 3. Weakley 2 Smith 3 Time-—lmin 36see. NEW YEAR SCRATCH RACE, (Rolling start.) First heat: P. Lunn 1. Bert Jones 2. Time—lmin 25 2rssec. From an excellent start Lunn took the lead at the first bend, with Pye next. The two local riders were not giving the Australians a look in, until Pye’s machine gave trouble. Jones then went to second place, but was unable to catch Lunn, who had got too big a lead. Second beat: C. Blacklock 1, E. G. Pyke 2. Time—lmin 26 4-ssec. Greenwood shot to the front and left the field, but just after starting the second lap his engine gave trouble and he had to retire. Blacklock took the lead with Pyke following closely. Blacklock won comfortably by ten yards. Third heat: E. R. Marsh 2. Ben Unwin 2. Time—lmin 25 4-ssec. Unwin went to the front from the start and established a good lead, but Marsh caught him in the third lap and went on to win as ho liked. Final: Lunn l Blacklock 2 Time—lmin 25 3-ssec. Lunn showed marked ability in this race and it appeared right from the start that he had the race won. Marsh and Blacklock rode well, but each came off, leaving Lunn to finish a winner by half a lap. Novelty Event—S. Le Warne 2, J. Hobson 2. The riders were obliged to ride around the track on push bicycles and hit a ball with a hockey stick. Some good exhibitions of “ broadsiding” on the bends were given and the event proved a popular one with the public.