Midget Cars In Spectacular Crash

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31002, 7 March 1966, Page 21

Midget Cars In Spectacular Crash

Two Christchurch midget car drivers, R. Clive and J. Tiekink, had an almost unbelievable escape from serious injury when their powerful cars crashed on the south bend of the Templeton Speedway on Saturday evening.

The cars were locked together momentarily as they hurtled into the bend, somersaulted through the air in a shower of cinders, smoke and steam pouring from burst radiators, and crashed on to the track upside down. It was by far the most spectacular accident at the speedway this season. Tiekink quickly recovered and was able to crawl out from under his battered car before officials arrived on the scene. However, there was no sign of movement from Clive's Model B powered midget and for a feiw brief moments fears were held for his safety. Fortunately, they were illfounded. When officials looked under the car they found Clive jammed in the tiny cockpit. He was quickly released, none the worse for his severe shaking. Tiekink later complained of chest pains and was treated for suspected fractured ribs.

The accident occurred on the Anal lap of the eight-lap scratch race counting towards the South Island championship. Clive's car had not been running well, and he had dropped well behind the defending champion, T. Hall. Tiekink, a slower driver, caught him up two laps from the finish, but was unable to get past. On the final corner Tiekink appeared to make a do-or-die effort to get past and into second place. He hurled his car at top speed into the corner to force his way through on the inside of Clive. However. he rammed into the side of Clive’s midget. Tiekink's car then rolled over the top of Clive’s car and flipped over into the cinders. At the same time, Clive’s car began to roll, adding to the incredible confusion. Both cars suffered extensive body damage. The multiple

carburettors on Clive’s car were completely sheared off and a front wheel rim badly bent. Hall was so far ahead that he had taken the chequered flag before the accident. He was the only finisher and gained maximum points for a splendid drive.