N.Z. GRAND PRIX ' MOTOR-CYCLE RACE ATTRACTS 20,000

Wanganui Chronicle, 19 April 1949, Page 5

N.Z. GRAND PRIX ' MOTOR-CYCLE RACE ATTRACTS 20,000

CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night (PA)

—The New Zealand Grand Prix meeting for motor-cyclists, held at Cust, North Canterbury, today attracted a crowd estimated at more than 20,000 spectators, who thronged to every vantage point around the six-mile course. Thousands watched from the hillside overlooking the main straight, and there were hundreds of cars in the parking paddocks. There was light rain during the first races, but the afternoon was sunny. The races were all run over a square course of six and one-tenth miles, the start and finish are in the middle of the two-mile straight. Turning left, the riders wind uphill on a fairly sharp S bend, and over undulating country with two hump-backed bridges to the back of the straight with its sunken bridge The other side of the straight is downhill and has little impediment in speed, and riders were timed at up to 100 miles an hour on this section. The turn into the front straight slopes outward and down, giving machines little assistance in fast cornering. More than 1000 gallons of spent engine oil were sprayed on to bind the surface and lay the dust. The Senior Grand Prix, 97.6 miles (16 laps) resulted: J. Swarbrick (Christchurch) 500 c.c. Norton, 1; G. Haggitt (Dunedin) 500 c.c. Triumph, 2; J. Hinchman (Fei’ding), 500 c.c. Triumph, 3; W. Fabian (Chrislchurch), 350 c.c. A.J.S., 4; M. Holland (Christchurch) 500 c.c. Excelsior, 5. Time, Ihr. 22min. 14 l-ssec. With 38 starters, it was a tussle from start to ■ finish between Swarbrick and Haggitt. Swarbrick led over the first lap from M. King (Wellington), Holland and L. Roberts (Oamaru). Two laps from the finish, Haggitt had opened a gap of 50 yards from Swarbrick. Hinchman was more than half a mile behind, with Fabian another 400 yards back. Then came a radio report that Haggitt had overshot a corner on the back straight, and when the leaders came round he was 500 yards behind Swarbrick, but gaining again. Swarbrick got an advantage on the S bend and was timed on the downhill sidestraight at about 100 miles an hour and finished 800 yards ahead of Haggitt, with about the same distances between the next two to finish. The Junion Grand Prix, of 10 laps, resulted: R. Lumsden (Invercargill) 350 c.c. Velocette. 1; W. Taylor (Palmerston North) 350 c.c. Velocette, 2; W. Fabian (Christchurch), 350 c.c. A. 3. Times, 55min. 54sec., 58min. 9sec., 56min., 26sec., 59min. 24sec. The Junior Grand Prix, with 18 starters, produced change after change in the order of the leaders. T. B. Baumfield (Nelson) got off first, but was headed by J. Dale (Auckland) and by the end of the first lap Lumsden held second place, closely followed by Baumfield. These two had switched places again by the third lap. On the next round Dale broke a magneto point and withdrew, leaving Lumsden to take the lead for the remainder of the race. Taylor was fourth on the third lap, third on the fourth, and second by the fifth. The Lightweight event, six laps, and the Junior Grand Prix were run concurrently so it was difficult to check the lap leaders. F. Entwhistle (Christchurch), took an early lead in the lightweight and was not threatened. at any time. T. L. Robinson (Christchurch) was his keenest opponent, in second place throughout. G. Harding (Christchurch) was third until near the finish, when he was displaced by K. Smith (Christchurch). The result was: R. Entwhistle (Christchurch) 250 c.c. Velocette, 1; T. L. Robinson (Christchurch). 249 c.c. Triumph, 2; A. Smith (Christchurch), 249 c.c. Triumph, 3. Times: 39min. 38 3-ssec., 40min. 27sec., 43min. The Clubmen's Handicap was an innovation this year to cater for less experienced riders on sta:Viard motorcycles. The entry of 17 was not as large as expected, but competition was keen. The official result, with handicaps, was: R. M. Gibbs (Dunedin). 2min. 15sec., 350 c.c. Velocette, 1; A. Lavers (Waimate) 2min. 42sec„ 350 c.c. .Ariel, 2; S. F. Burt (Leeston) 2min. 15sec„ 350 c.c. B S.A., 3; J. Stirling (Timaru). scr., 500 c.c. Matchless, 4.