Motor Cycling

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 41, 14 January 1949, Page 5

Motor Cycling

Riders For Meeting At Ohope

On Sunday, at Ohope Beach, the Bay of Plenty Motor Cycle Club will be holding a beach race meeting—the first for ten years. For the benefit of the spectators the officials have decided to hold the races as near to Bluett’s Creek as possible, and as the beach is in good condition, some very high speeds should be attained. A number of_visiting riders have notified that they .will be competing, so the number of starters in each event should be large. Many well-known New Zealand cham-tV pions will be facing the starter in the Bay of Plenty Beach Championship, the big event on the programme, a 20-mile race of 10 laps. These will include Len Perry, of Auckland, and Syd Jensen of Palmerston North with his new Special, Manx Triumph. Both these riders were winners at Waiheke Island during the Tourist Trophy series, a fortnight ago, and either is likely to be selected to represent New Zealand at the famous Isle of Man races next June. Dixie Dean, - of Tauranga, and Bill Grey, of Rotorua, are well-known to patrons of the pre-war meetings .at Ohope. Dean was most unfortunate nbt to win the T.T. at Waiheke and this year is riding better than ever. Grey, on his big Norton, is an expert at cornering and with his speed should>be a favourite. The Clarkson brothers, Reg and Paul, will also be starters. The former will probably be riding his new Manx Norton, on which he gained second placed at the recent Patea road race and which is indeed very fast. Both these riders are experts at beach ' racing and were 2rfd and 3rd to Len Peirry in the N.Z. 350 c.c. Beach Championship at Muriwai, recently. With such riders it is almost cer- ' tain that the Ohope Beach record for the fastest mile, will be broken. This, and the Bay of Plenty Beach Championship are held by Mr Dick Whittle on his Excelsior-J.A.P., but he will not be defending his titles at this meeting. A favourite at the showgrounds races, J. Benson, Gisborne, has signified that he is riding and if he rides on the beach as well as he does on the grass he should surprise some of the Auckland boys. % All the local riders will be starting, and it will be remembered how they delighted the spectators at the recent Ohope Sports ground. Jack Marsh has his Triumph after his meritorious ride to eighth place at Waiheke on New Year’s Day, and it proved there that Watty Big wood has “ironed out all its bys.” It is reported that Dixie Dean was the only rider able to pass Jack Marsh on the hill section that day, and among such company that was a very fine performance. Frank Cameron’s Norton has been specially tuned for the 20-mile race, and as this machine is a holder of the New Zealand Open Beach Championshipj great things are expected of this competitor. Among the others who should do well in the big open handicap are Arthur Marsh, Tom Andrews and Guy Haeusler. The last two have Ariels, which are noted for their capabilities on the beach, and rid-, den with judgment either may receive the winners flag; ' a '