AUTO CYCLE UNION.

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 15310, 10 August 1923, Page 6

AUTO CYCLE UNION.

DOMINION CONFERENCE.

MANY MATTERB DEALT WITH.

DATES OP MEETINGS FIXED.

The annual Dominion conference of the New Zealand Auto-Cycle Union was held at Toorak Chambers, Hamilton, yesterday. Twenty-two delegates were present from various affiliated clubs. The Dominion president, Mr E. C. Gaisford (Rangitikei Club), presided. The balance-sheet showed a bank balance of £7l 19s 3d.

The annual report stated that race meetings were held during the year at . Hawera, Wanganui, Rangitikei, Feilding, Manawatu, Napier, Opotikl, Hamilton, Nelson, Auckland, Rotorua, Blenheim, and New Plymouth. The general account showed a profit of £4B 19s 9d.

There were a large number of remits before the conference, including 16 from the Hawera Club, proposing amendments to the rules. The chief of these adopted were that novices must register before riding in a race; that all number plates be circular, and Bm. diameter for the front and 10in. for the side; that a copy of handicaps be forwarded to competitors, on application, three days before a meeting; that monetary assistance to injured riders be a minimum of £2 per week for single and £2 10s for married riders, for three months, on production of medical evidence of incapacity.

A good deal of discussion took place on a proposal by the Hawera Club with reference to the weights of machines to be permitted in the different races. It was eventually decided to fix the maximum weights as 600 c.c. for the New Zealand middle-weight championship; 350 c.c. for the lightweight championship, and 1000 c.c for the heavy-weight championship.

It was also decided to seek exemption of motor-cycle races from the amusement tax.

There was a good deal of discussion on the question of limiting cycles to 1000 c.c. on Dominion tracks.

Eventually it was decided, after hearing argument by Mr E. Valintine, to fix the maximum cubic capacity at 1050.

The championship distances were standardised as follows: Light-weight, 8 miles; middle-weight, 10 miles; heavy-weight, 12 miles. > A remit by the A.C.U. council that travelling and board expenses of delegates to council meetings be an equal charge on all affiliated club was carried by 12 to 8. Class "A" was made available for riders who can register 66sec. or better for a lap of a mile, and class "B" for riders who cannot register 66sec. for a mile lap. A remit from Marlborough was carried making it compulsory for each competitor to register the number of the engine of the cycle he intended to ride, and it was decided to provide a space in the official entry forms for this purpose. It was pointed out that the object of this was to ensure that the competitor rode the actual machine entered.

A remit by th« New Plymouth Club was carried to the effect that a universal badge be adopted by the N.Z.A.G.U., available for all members of affiliated clubs; the badge to have a spring clasp to fit on the handlebars, the purchase of these to remain optional with members. In answer to a New Plymouth delegate, the president said the reason the spring frame had been forbidden by the council was because It was an absolute menace on the track. An Auckland remit asked 4hat no permits be given to any sports organisation or kindred bodies to hold race meetings or motor 'races unless the same are under the control .of the existing affiliated club in the district or town concerned. The question of adopting a universal lap-scoring board was discussed, the president stating that the board in use at Nelson had so far proved the best. The speaker said he had spoken with the officials of several clubs regarding methods of starting. The A.G.U. intended to enforce the rule that all riders must be lined up against the rail behind each other for starting. This system, where already in operation, had been found to be by far the best, for it certainly reduced the danger risk. No action was taken with regard to the lap-boards, although the suggestion for a standard board was generally approved. It was decided, in future, to require all riders to register their colours; A list of registered colours will be forwarded to all affiliated clubs and to riders applying-for.registration. Mr Spragg raised the question of the A.G.U. taking action on behalf of clubs in regard to acquiring courses from racing clubs. The meeting, however, took no action. The Auckland delegates suggested the"setting up of district committees with certain executive powers to control racing in their own districts; the committees would be responsible to the council. They could deliberate regularly on matters affecting motorcycling and report to the council. The proposal, they thought, -should work out in the interests of motor cycling. The president thought the councillors present at any meetings really filled the position of executive SteWardS. ~ .J M The Feilding delegates disputed the power of members of the council to enter a course and overrule the officials of a local club. The Ghristchurcii delegate said that clubs were responsible to the A.G.U., and any matters of which the representatives of the A.G.U. did not approve should be conveyed by the officials of the club to the riders. The secretary read a minute of the council to the effect that immediately on the start of a race all officials must leave the course. If was generally conceded that no councillor would be so officious as to insist upon remaining on a course after asked to leave. Mr Perry said that last year he hud to order a policeman to. put a councillor, who refused to leave, off the Feilding course.

The Auckland delegates gave notice of motion that two district committees each for the North and South Island be set up to control racing. The New Plymouth delegates were granted permission to run a central North Island middle-weight championship, and also a few amateur events, in the round-tho-mountain race. The president pointed out that a rider at the last New Plymouth meeting committed a breach of the rules and was warned.. He should have heen reported to the A.C.U., but, was not. The New Plymouth delegates apologised for the oversight. The question as to the difference between a novice and an amateur was answered by the president to the effect that a novice was a rider who had never won a reliability trial, while an amateur was one who did not race for money. Mr Spragg brought up the question

of holding an- annual A.C.U. reliability trial extending over four or Ave days. Every club would assist in such a trial and such a trial would also receive the support of the trade. The Auckland delegates considered such a trial, if the route touched their district, would receive great support from the northern riders. It was decided to recommend the council to hold a three days' reliability trial on dates io he fixed. The following approximate dates were fixed for club meetings:—Auckland, December 0 and February 16; Hawera, February 20; Now Plymouth, February 23; Rangitikci, February 2; Opotiki, December 2G; Roiorua, October 22, and mixed sports meeting on Eas-tor Saturday and Monday; Fcilriing, April 30; Manawatu, January 22; Marlborough, December 1; pioneer (Christchurch), October 22; Hamilton, February 9; Hastings, Easier Saturday; Napier, Easter Monday. There was a good deal of discussion over the allotment of the middle and heavy-weight -championships. Auckland, Hawera and Rangitikei applied for the middle-weight championship, and after a strong effort put forward by Auckland for it, the fixture was awarded Hawera on a heavy vote. Hamilton and Pioneer (Christchurch) both sought the heavy-weight. The president thought Sockbum th<> more suitable track. The Hamilton delegates declared that the Hamilton course was perfectly safe, and that P. Coleman had put up his fastest time on it. Eventually the heavy-weight championship was awarded Pioneer on a vote of 11 to 9. The light-weight championship went to Blenheim, the only applicant. Mr Spragg gave notice of motion ,that the A.C.U. consider the question of holding a general championship meeting, and that the proceeds from the meeting go to .the benevolent fund. Mr E C. Gaisford was unanimously re-elected president. The following officers were also elected: —Vice-pre-sidents, Messrs A. W. Smith (Hamilton), G. Tortenson (Palmerston N.), W. A. Spragg (Hawera); treasurer, K Fowles (Marton); autltor, F. H. Hatherly (Marton); secretary, A. Way (Marton). , ■ ..'••■ <■ It was decided to hold the next annual conference at New Plymouth in August next. Some very laudatory remarks were made with reference to the splendid services rendered by Mr Way as secretary during the past 12 months, and the conference unanimously decided to give him an honorarium of £SO and a bonus of £lO for back work.