CAR LEAVES TRACK.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18906, 22 January 1927, Page 6

CAR LEAVES TRACK.

MOTOR-RACING DEATH

MR R. G. GARLICK KILLED. .rROM 01-R OWN CORREBFONDXKT.) SYDNEY, January 13. In full view of thousands of Spectators at the Maroubra Speedway last Saturday night, a racing motor-car, driven by the best-known speed motorist in Sydney, Mr U. G. Garlick, ran off the Vanked track, strucjc an electric light pole, hurtled over an embankment, flung ita driver to his death, and crumpled up into a heap of wreckage. This is the fourth fatality that has occurred at the speedway since it was opened about eighteen months ago. Two men were killed in a car in which they were practising, and a motor-cyclist was hurled against a fence and mortally injured. Craze for Speed. The craze for speed has led to a certain popular craving for th 6 excitement of the sport, and thousands of people gather at every meeting * see cyclists and car-drivers achieve anything up to 100 miles an hour and slightly more. Garlick was noted as one of the most fearless of the drivers, and he was a popular idol. Accounts of the dieaster vary, but it is practically safe to say that Garlick on this occa- j sion just passed the limit of safety in an end.avour to pass his two rivals in the race. Hope Bartlett and Peter White were the other contestants in the race, a handicap event for cars whose speed exceeded 80 miles an hour. Garlick's car was on scratch, allowing the others small starts. A Burst Tyre. Entering the last lap, Bartlett was leading, and Garlick, having passed White, was just drawing level with Bartlett as he came off the steep banking on one side of the track opposite the grandstand. As the two cars, travelling at full speed, entered the comparatively flat portion of the track before coming to the last turn, Garlick's car suddenly skidded, struck an electric light pole a terrible blow, snapping it off close to tho ground, and disappeared over tho edge of the track in a cloud of sand. The other competitors were clear of the Bkidding car, and unaware of the serious nature of the accident, they continued to the finish of tho race. .-,.., Spectators and officials hurried to the scene of the accident, and found Garlick lying dead on tho ground some Mtle distance from his car. The latter had fallen about 20ft after passing over the top of the track, and had spun round soveral times before coming to a standstill. It was absolutely wrecked. According to bystanders and Hope Bartlett, the accident was probably caused by the tyre of the right-hand front wheel bursting, causing an uncontrollable swerve outside, and as space was restricted just at that point, Garlick had no opportunity of swerving his machine back to its proper course The other competitor m the race, Peter White, believed that other causes than a burst tyre caused the skid. The races at the speedway were being described by a broadcasting oompany, and it was in this way that Mi Garlick, listening-in, earnt the fateful news of her husband's death. Garlick was one of the fastest dnvers in Aus. tralia, and had won most the principal •,trophies .at the Maroubra Fneedway and other tracks.

Public Outcry. The fatality has caused a public outcry against the uselessnessof speed racing Opponents declare that the attainment oThigh speed on the track 18 of no use in 'the development of the .automobile, as the cars used on the tracks and the improvements and taKings" employed to bring about speed are useless for the ordinary utilisation of the motor vehicle. %quiry has brought to 1 light the fact that no machinery exists for the (Sovernnient cbntrol of speedways in this State, nor :g there any in England nor the United States. The police m Sydney have for some time been anxious regarding W> safety of spectators at Sydney spefciwayß. but are powerless to act f°r motor racing is not a publio ■entertamment within the meaning of the Public Halls Act. Until special legislation is introduced, the regulation of motor racing at the different speedways nvurt w entirelv in the hands of the respective controlling bodies. When the Mwoubra Speedway was opened, the police inspected it and decided that there was a definite menace to the public. ihe Commissioner made strong representations to the Chief Secretary, urging the necessity for special legislation; but Cabinet did not act on the cas6 made out. On the other hand the management of the speedway declares that the track is the safest in the world, and points out,that 25,000 laps have been raced with but the few accidents mentioned. Still, despite this, the great body of the public which is not speed-mad, is inclined to view the track as a menace to those who watch, it. and those who provide the sport.