DIRT TRACK RIDER FATALLY INJURED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 183, 4 August 1931, Page 5

DIRT TRACK RIDER FATALLY INJURED.

AUCKLANDER CRASHES DURING ENGLISH RACE. (Special to the Star.”) AUCKLAND, August 3. According to a Press Association cable from London, Jack Garmson, a well-known Auckland dirt track rider, died in the Nottingham Hospital last week from head injuries received following a crash while speedway racing. John William Garmson, who was twenty-six years old, went to England at the end of the Auckland dirt track season with Alf Mattson, Auckland and New Zealand champion, and Bill Allen, another noted local rider. Before that he lived with his mother in Onslow Road, Ellerslie. He had been granted leave of absence from the Railway Department. Jack Garmson was one of the most popular and prominent riders at Western Springs Speedway. Together with Mattson and Allen, he was among the first Auckland riders to compete on a cinder track, having raced at, Monica Park, Christchurch, before the local track was opened. He was a skilful exponent and his riding at times reached brilliant heights, but all through his dirt track career he was unfortunate. “ A True Sport.” The late broadsider was a true sport. In Februarj>- of 1930 he showed rare skill and daring when he avoided two fallen riders, Day and Herbert. The race was the final of an open handicap. Day and Herbert crashed in the path of Garmson. By throwing his machine he would have avoided injury to himself, but realising there was the risk of hitting one of the fallen men, he swerved wide, crashed into the fence, cannoned off, and rode on to take second place. Such was his sportsmanship. In appreciation of this Miss Fay Taylour, the noted English rider, presented him with a silver cigarette case on behalf of the management of Auckland Speedways, Ltd. Last season Garmson was chosen to represent Auckland in match races against Wellington, and at that time ;ae was riding brilliantly. While practising on the Kilbirnie track he crashed badly and it was a long time before ae recovered. On that account he ,vas not allowed by the management ;o ride on the Auckland track for the est of the season. He was a member >f the Auckland Sports Motor-cycling lub and had often taken part in the rlub’s races on Muriwai Beach. He ras also a competitor on the grass at rakapuna. When Garmson left Auckland with Jattson and Allen he did not take a nachine with him, as he did not intend o compete at Home. Garmson and lattson had been together in Leicester or most of the English season, and larmson had been acting as Mattson’s mechanic.