MOTOR – CYCLING

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 375, 17 March 1932, Page 13

MOTOR - CYCLING

BY

“MAGNETO“

FIXTURES. GRASS-TRACK MOTES. Ranby'B Great Riding". Reg: Ranby was easily the star rider of last Saturday’s grass-track meeting’. He performed consistently all day and was only prevented from winning the championship by a blocked jet or a faulty plug. Ranby bids fair to be the most successful grass-track rider of the season. He has given a good

account of himself at every meeting he has raced at. Harry Mangham has not raced here for a long time, but on Saturday he proved himself the old Harry of a few years ago. He was very hardly treated by the handicappers and, in addition, had considerable trouble in getting his machine to fire evenly. Tn the finish he wound a con rod round the crankcase and had to borrow Ranby’s Indian for the championship event. Mangham's performance on the strange mount was very creditable. 52 at As a race the championship was a washout. Only six started, and of these only four were anywhere in it. Thomas spilled. Carpenter and Viggars pulled out, and the placed men were separated by hundreds of yards. Carpenter was very unlucky. He forgot to turn his oil control on properly and tightened up his engine in the sixth lap. Had he kept going he would have been assured of a place. t* Viggars made the quaintest mistake that has been seen at the track. For the better part of two laps, after getting a wonderful start, he stayed in second gear. He was so far behind when he found out. and probably so disgusted, that he pulled out. The best of the local contingent on the day's racing was Ron Carpenter. He did not produce the speed that was expected to him, but he came out at the business end of the money. :: :: 5? Wally Thomas was by far the fastest | of the local brigade. His time for the Canterbury Handicap was creditable, and with a few more yards to go he would have won the event. As it was he was unable to ride the Harley again through a small crack in the frame. « « Ernie Brown won the Waimairi Handicap and was not placed second, as was inadvertently stated in an advertisement which appeared in Saturday’s “Star” for Jones Motors, Ltd. Ernie and Roy Nelson each collected, riding the same 23 h.p. Harley. Tom Rossiter, riding another 23 h.p. Harley, secured a meritorious place in the President’s Handicap. Rossiter showed great improvement over his Rangiora performance. Tom M’Cleary was decidedly off colour. His machine seemed to be all right, but Tom appeared to have lost the dash that has previously characterised his riding. W. Millmott, the South Canterbury lad, was a consistent performer on one of the oldest machines racing, a fairly ancient 23 h.p. A.J.S. Willmott is probably saying to his mount, “ There’s life in the old dog yet.” :: :: A. V. Hunter, who, by the way, was astride a frame fitted with the fast racing Norton engine imported for speedway racing by Bob Russell, performed very well for his first appear-

ance. Obviously, he had more Speed than he could handle. *.* j,j Alan Crighton, the Dunedin rider, was mounted on Jim Nesbit’s speedway Rudge. It took Crighton a while to get used to the model but, in the Consolation Handicap, he looked a winner from the time the race started. One disappointing feature of the meeting was the times. They were not fast, and I do not think the track can be blamed, although the wind may have had something to do with it. trl 55 The heavy-weight championship, by the way, which the open championship replaces, was won last year bv Tui Morgan. Ranby wag second and Coleman third. It was inadvertently stated last week that Coleman held the title. « CINDER SIFTINGS. Items from the Speedway. Broadsiding closed on Saturday night, and a better night's racing could not have been desired. Kflmister was unfortunate to spill and so shake himself up as to be unable to continue. The Wellington champion has been suffering from an indisposition, caused by a previous spill, and has not been in the best of health for some weeks. It has been difficult to place the Canterbury riders in order of preference this season, for the reason that, with the exception of Blaeklock, the season has not produced a rider of exceptional merit. However, the following list, while it may lie open to criticism, is an attempt to place the riders according to their merits. First there is “ Shorty ” Wicks. Wicks, although out of the game for several meetings, is, I think, the best rider and most promising of them all. His battle with Blaeklock for the Gold Helmet will be long remembered. 55 55 5*5 Jack Hobson Is chosen for second place for the reason that he shows the greatest chances of improvement. He shows a genuine talent fdr holding the grass line, and is assimilating a wide knowledge of track tactics. 55 55 55 Norman Gray and Percy Bunn must be placed next. Gray has the more dash while Lunn shows a greater degree of skill. Both are popular riders, and Bunn, in particular, once he really recovers from the bad spills he has taken this season, should he without a rival. 55 55 55 Then there is Jack Oakley, a most reliable rider who Is likely to remain a consistent performer. He rides a good race, falls off seldom, and seems to get into the money frequently. The handicapper has been a little hard on him recently. Cyril Anderson was riding Percy Bunn’s machine for the greater part of the evening at Monica Park on Saturday night. He pushed the .T.A.P. round in creditable time. The match races with Blaeklock were first-class, and Anderson is to be congratulated on his success. 55 « 55 jottings. The course for the Peninsula section of the Pioneer Club’s trial should be very stiff. A suggested course was shown “ Magneto ” this week, and, while details may not be published yet, it is easily the stiffest that has been used for a trial over there. 55 :: :: Next Sunday an important run will he held to Kowai Ford by the Corsair Motor Club. Members are asked to meet at the corner of Moorhouse Ave,nue and Colombo Street at 9 a.m. On the following Sunday, March 27, the Corsair Club will hold a run to Stewart’s Gully, when the visiting tained by a special motor sports programme.