MOTOR – CYCLING

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 197, 20 August 1931, Page 15

MOTOR - CYCLING

■ ■ BY

"MAGNETO"

PIONEER CLUB. Half-year Programme. The Motor Committee of the Pioneer Sports Club will meet next Thursday night to discuss the first half-year’s programme. A special sub-committee of both motor-cyclists and light-car men met recently and drew up a tentative programme as follows:—September JL9, non-stop pillion trial, cars and cycles; October 3, Gymkhana, Show Grounds; October 11, Opening run, Waihora Park; October 17, Beach races—four miles novice handicap (cycles), 350 c.c. championship, twelve miles (cycles), twelve miles open handicap (cycles), six miles open handicap (cars), eight miles open handicap (cars); November 21, Miniature T.T. at Rolleston; November 2S, Hill climbs for cars only; December 13, Sporting trial, cars and cycles. . A.J.S. MODELS. Interesting Features. The 1931 A.J.S. models have many unique and interesting features. The machine, primarily designed to stand the rigours of universal reliability, reveals consti’uctional points where extra care has been given to details to ensure long life with small upkeep. Particularly is this so of the engine. Here double ball bearings have been fitted on the driving side of the crankshaft. A double roller bearing carries the big-end and a single ball-bearing looks after the other end of the main shaft. The frame has been designed to give ease of handling. The engine and transmission ensure quiet and flexible running wi.th a maximum of economy. The petrol consumption is evidence of this—.loo miles to the gallon. The oil consumed by the engine averages out at over 2000 miles to the gallon. The latest developments of motor-cycle design are included in the large range of A.J.S. models, and the result is a machine with outstanding reliability coupled with a lively and high performance engine.

CINDER NEWS. Letter from Allen. Bill Allen, the Auckland rider who went to England for the season, is riding for Brandon Speedway, at Coventry. “ They seem very pleased with my efforts up to the present,” says Bill in his last letter. “Some cove put a bit in the paper saying that my style was very reminiscent of Billy Lament. I can assure you though, that I haven’t hit any fences yet. “ It would give you the dry horrors to see the way they go over here,” the letter continues. ” Some of the boys have very fast motors, too. I have broken the standing record here, which stood at 18sec. I did a_n 18sec and a 17.Ssec in practice, but the record is still ISsec. Jack Parker turned one in 17.5 sec in a four-lap record attempt. The tracks are terribly hard to ride, being all a bit on the slick side.” When Bill Allen wrote, Alf Mattson had just been transferred to Lea Bridge, but had not enjoyed much success there. Squib Burton, who has since had to retire for the season with a broken leg, was then going well, and had gained a place in the first test at the Crystal Palace. With Allen at Coventry was one of the best Douglas riders in England, Lew Lancaster, of whom Bill says: “ He is a very nice chap, and terribly popular, too.” Another rider well known to Christchurch enthusiasts who is mentioned in Bill Allen’s letter is Wally Kilmister, the Wellington champion, and runner-up in the New Zealand championship contest won by Alf Mattson. He was getting an occasional place in the Wembley team, and having last season’s experience to benefit by, was really better off than Mattson. One sentence In Allen’s letter awakes the imagination. “ I do not know,” he says, “ if any arrangements are being made for a team to come over, but I assure you that they would be a great asset.” On local tracks, New Zealand riders have certainly held their own

with visiting English teams, and the riders who have gone to Great Britain from New Zealand have been able to hold their own with the pick of overseas riders. The pioneers who are now demonstrating on English cinder tracks just how good New Zealanders are, will, we hope, justify the sending of an official team to the Old Country next season.