CYCLING AND MOTORING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1146, 28 March 1912, Page 19

CYCLING AND MOTORING.

CLARKE DEFEATS LAWSON. Describing the great match between the famous Australian cyclist, A. J. Clarke, and the crack American rider, Ivor Lawson, the best two out of three heats, for a side wager of £5 0, a Sydney paper says:—ln the first heat the pacemaker led Clarke to the bell, with Lawson hanging on to his wheel. When he left the track Clarke went a length ahead and made the pac e a cracker. After the lap had been half covered, however, Lawson made a brilliant spurt, and shot to the front. Stalling off a determined challenge within 150 yards from the finish, Lawson was on the wheel of the pacemaker in the next, but in th e second lap Clarke punctured, and as it was puncture no race” an adjournment, had to be made for a new wheel. Away once more Lawson again followed the pacemaker, with Clarke at his wheels. At the bell Lawson sprinted out, and for the space of 5 0 yards increased his lead by inches. Then the Victorian made one of his famous sprints, and, shooting out, he swept past Lawson like a greased streak, and fished home at terrific pace an easy winner by nearly three lengths. In the third heat Lawson sprinted ahead again at the bell, but Clarke made another magnificent dash, and, catching- the American, raced him side by side until within 100 yards from the post, where and additional spurt sent him ahead the winner of a most exciting finish by half a wheel. The time for the last heat was 2min 21 4-5 sec.

The very meritorious performance, considering all the circumstances, accomplished by Mr R. J. Lewis last month in motoring from Sydney to Brisbane—over 70 0 miles — in 7 6 hours, which constitutes a record between the two citiew, has stimulated a Brisbane motorist—Mr R. Trevethan, of the Town and Country Motor Co —to undertake the task with a view to improving Mr Lewis’ time. The road in places i s declared to be remarkably bad; in fact, Mr Lewis was bogged for three hours! In addition he had many delays—from punctures, taking wrong turns, foggy weather, etc., —hence his actual running time amounted to less than half that claimed as record, viz., 3 2hrs. His greatest handicap, however, was, when 100 miles had been covered, that his mechanician took ill and had to be sent back by rail to Sydney.