Motor-Cycling R. Newbrook Winner Of Gust Grand Prix

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28259, 23 April 1957, Page 13

Motor-Cycling R. Newbrook Winner Of Gust Grand Prix

Since the first New Zealand Grand Prix was held at * Gust 21 years ago, many close 1 finishes have been seen there, but the senior race yesterday will long remain vivid in the 1 memories of those who saw it. On an almost perfect track, the lap record was broken < time and time again before R. Jiewbrook, of Mangaroa, won. £ For 10 laps of the 12-lap race of 73 miles, Newbrook and A. G. Holland, last year’s winner, remained within yards of each other and both set a time of 4min 1 27sec to beat the record held by ] L. Simpson, of Feilding, by almost 3sec. < Newbrook is the seventh North . Island rider to win the event. For the early races the course ] was slippery in patches after heavy rain the previous day, but by the time the main race was started it had dri?d out consider- ■ ably and was binding well. One of the largest crowds for several years watched the racing in perfect weather. Spirited Riding By Holland It was evident early in the race that Newbrook was coaxing unusual speed from his G 45 Matchless, and only spirited riding enable Holland to stay with him. In the tenth lap * the pace which Newbrook had imposed for so long was too much for Holland’s Manx Norton, and he withdrew with engine trouble. The winner of a junior grand prix at the Isle of Man and winner of hundreds of races in New Zealand and overseas, Rod Coleman, of Wanganui, had trouble with the engine of his highly tuned 7R A.J.S. as soon as the race began. After a slow start, Coleman was evidently dissatisfied with the performance of his machine, and he pulled into the pits at the end of the second lap. Even had he been able to continue it is doubtful whether Coleman could have matched for long the performance of Newbrook’s machine. R. Pawson, of Hamilton, who finished second, rode fast but took no chances. As a result he was able to move up through the field as the retirements came thick and fast. J. S war brick, of Waiau, who won th; race in 1949, 1951, and 1955, rode to the limit of his machine to gain third place. Favourites in Trouble As soon as the race had been started by Mr W. H. Gillespie, M. it was evident that the favourites were in trouble. Coleman made a bad start and rode up the straight with his clutch slipping. Newbrook made an excellent start further back on the grid, and at the entrance to the first S-bend Pawson held the lead. Holland also made a hesitant start, and Swarbrick and T. McCleary were also well back in the bunch. Even by the end of the first lap the race had begun to take on its dominant pattern. Holland held the lead by no more than a few yards from Newbrook, and their lap speed of 4min 40sec after a push start was brilliant. Behind them came Pawson, McCleary, Swarbrick, and Coleman. Holland could not shake off Newbrook, and although Holland lowered the lap record of 4min 29sec, Newbrook remained close behind, riding confidently and well within himself. The two machines were ridden down the straights at more than 120 miles an hour, with only yards separating them. At this stage, Coleman pulled Into the pits, out of the race. New Lap Record In the third lap, Newbrook passed Holland with a burst of acceleration on the back straight, but Holland regained the lead in the next lap. McCleary pulled into the pits with a loose footrest, and Pawson moved into third place. In the fifth lap, Newbrook established a record for the circuit of 4min 27sec, and Holland had to ride* in his slipstream to keep with him. Holland’s time for the sixth lap was 4min 28sec, and in the eighth lap he equalled Newbrook’s record established two laps earlier. Still the two riders remained close, seconds ahead of the rest of the field. The pace told on Holland’s machine in the tenth lap, and he coasted into the pits. With his main threat gone, Newbrook went on to a comfortable win. Although he was unlucky in the main race, Coleman won two other 'races on the programme — the junior and light-weight grands prix. In both he rode brilliantly and had easy wins. Mc ; Cleary's race in the junior grand prix was also outstanding, and his W’as the first B.S.A. to finish in a field dominated by A.J.S. racing machines. Results were:— SENIOR NEW ZEALAND GRAND PRIX (Twelve laps. 73.2 miles.) R. Newbrook (Mangaroa), G 45 Matchless, 54min 7.2 sec . • 1 R. Pawson (Hamilton), Norton, 54min 51.4 sec .. •• 2 J. Swarbrick (Waiau), AJS. 7R, 56min 46sec • • • 3 B. Marsden (Dunedin), Manx Norton, 57min 31sec .. .. 4 B. Benke (Ashburton), Manx Norton, 57min 32sec -- •• 5 S. Burt (Southbridge) G 45 Matchless, 58min 15sec .. .. 6 Fastest laps: R. Newbrook and A. G. Holland, 4min 27sec. JUNIOR GRAND PRIX (Nine laps, 55 miles) R. Coleman (Wanganui), A.J.S. 7R. 42min 4.6 sec. .. 1 T. McCleary (Christchurch), 8.5. A., 43min B.4sec .. .. 2 J. Swarbrick (Waiau), A.J.S. 7R, 43min 14.6 sec .. .. 3 O. Frew (Dunedin), A.J.S. 7R, 44min .. .. .. 4 A. G. Holland (Christchurch), A.J.S. 7R, 44min ..5 R. Newbrook (Mangaroa), A.J.S. 7R, 44min 2sec .. .. 6 Fastest lap: T. McCleary, 4min 38sec.

LIGHT-WEIGHT GRAND PRIX - (Six laps, 36.6 miles) R. Coleman (Wanganui), N.S.U., 31min 4.Bsee .. 1 T. McCleary (Christchurch), cette, 33min 22sec .. .. 2 P. Phillips (Christchurch), B.S.A.’ 33min 56sec .. .. 3 T- Classen bury (Christchurch), Triumph, 35min 15sec .. 4 G. Stuthridge (Christchurch), Ariel, 35min 49sec .. .. 5 S. Burt (Southbridge), MotoGuzzi, 36min 6sec .. .. 6 Fastest lap: R. Coleman, smin 2sec. ULTRA LIGHT-WEIGHT GRAND (Three laps, 18.3 miles) R. Knowles (Christchurch), Francis Barnett, 19min 50sec .. 1 R. Anderson (Nelson), Francis Barnett, 19min 51sec .. ..2 C. Baumfield (Nelson), Francis Barnett, 22min 14sec .. .. 3 M. Houston (Christchurch), Francis Barnett, 23min 2sec .. 4 R. Hamburger (Christchurch), Francis Barnett, 23min Bsec .. 5 R. Black (Nelson), Francis Barnett, 27min 34sec .. 6 22^ astes ‘ : a P : Knowles, 6min CUST HANDICAP (Three laps, 18.3 miles) M. Daniel (Christchurch), 8.5. A., 18min 33.8 sec .. i H. Mac Gibbon (Christchurch), B.SA., 18min 54sec .. ..2 S. Harrison (Christchurch), Velocette, 18min 56.45ec .. .. 3 I. Rutledge (Christchurch), A.J.S., 19min 4sec .. .. 4 B. Chambers (Rangiora), B.S.A.* 19min 24sec .. 5 RANGIORA HANDICAP (Eight laps, 48.8 miles) S. Burt (Southbridge), Matchless, 40min s.6sec .. 1 R. Anderson (Nelson), B.SA.’, 40min 49sec .. .. 2 J. Hubbard (Springston), B.S.A.’, 41min 12.4 sec .. 3 T. Newman (Christchurch), Norton International, 41min 37.2

sec .. .. 4 R - C? leman (Wanganui)’ A.JJS. 7R, 42min s.4sec .. 5 E. Tomlinson (Christchurch), Norton, 42m in Bsec .. .. 6 Fastest lap: J. Swarbrick, 4min 32sec.