Spectacular Spills And Thrills At First Inland Motor Cycle Road Race

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 58, 21 June 1948, Page 4

Spectacular Spills And Thrills At First Inland Motor Cycle Road Race

‘Some of the motor cycle racing enthusiasts of Whakatane went to Hamilton last Satrday to see the .first long-distance race held on the mainland of the North Island. The weather was perfect for such an occasion and there was a crowd estimated at 10,000. Ninety-four riders, Representing districts from Auckland to Oamaru, including Len Perry with the “works” Velocette, the Swarbrick brothers of Christchurch with their Manx Nortons, and S. Green of Palmerston North with his K.T.T. Velocette, participated. The first event was of ten laps, distance 30 miles, and was for stock model machines only. The field of 20 riders were despatched on their handicaps and E. Erickeson, of Te Awamutu, riding a M.A.C. Velocette led from B. Booth of Onehunga, on a push rod A.J.S. until the last lap when the latter took the lead and won by 200 yards. The result was: Booth, A.J.S., 1; Erickeson, Velocette 2; W. Wright, Norton 3. Time 28 mins 42secs. The second event was a combined senior and junior race. The junior machines were required to do 33 laps—loo miles—and the senior 44 laps. Forty riders were despatched in a massed start in the senior event and 30secs later 16 junior machines left. It was a great sight as the massed field jockeyed for positions and many a spectator who encroached on the roadway had to jump to safety as the machines roared away on their long journeys. One of the early ones to retire was Ken Mudford, of Tauranga, who had the misfortune to break a foot rest, while holding the lead. After the fields had settled down it was apparent that Perry was leading, Digger Hallan on his Manx Triumph with Jensen and Dixie Dean, of Tauranga, well in the race. However the pace was high. Along the back straight they were touching 90 m.p.h. and the several sharp corners necessitated high revving in the lower gears. At the service station corner spills were frequent and many times the crowd had to dash for safety. Consequently the field gradually thinned out —Perry when leading by a quarter lap retired with a seized motor and Jensen’s motor also found the pace too hot. Hallan was unlucky with a blocked petrol feed and that left Holland leading Dale on his special Matchless and Dean with his Tiger Triumph. There were ten laps to go when Dean’s pitman gave him the signal “to go” and although his front brake was unserviceable he rode superbly to work into second place. Dean really thrilled the crowd and rarely is such fast and safe riding seen. Holland’s machine was going too well for Dean, and he could not catch the former, although had his front brake been operating , it is more than possible that he may have won. The results were: — - Senior: A. Holland, Speed Twin Triumph, lhr 58mins 38secs, 1; D. Dean, Tiger Triumph, 2hrs Omins 49 secs, 2; J. Swarbrick, Manx Norton, 2hrs Omins 55 secs 3; J. Dale, Special Matchless, 4. Junior: P. Clarkson, A.J.S., lhr 31mins 21secs, 1; W. Taylor, Excelsior Manxnan, lhr 36mins llsecs, 2; J. Green, K.T.T. Velocette, lhr 38 mins 38secs, 3.