SPEEDWAY RACING

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 137, 8 December 1930, Page 7

SPEEDWAY RACING

STIRRING TEAMS' CONTEST

EXCELLENT FORM

An acceptable departure from the usaul order of events at the Kilbirnie Stadium Speedway was made on Saturday night wheu' team racing by motor-cyclists on the »iinder track was given a triti. The nigtfc was fine, and racing conditions were excellent for the teams' contest. The innovation "caught on" with the spectators, of whom there were about seven thous- " and, and it can be taken for granted that there will be much more of this form of racing, and with it an even greater interest in the sport. Two teams of six riders and an emergency were "fielded," and prior to the contest they participated in a grand parade by way of introduction, W. Kilmister leading one side in black and gold colours, and J. Bishop piloting the other in red. Two competitors from each team started in each race of the series of nine, and in order to avoid any confusion in distinguishing one rider from another each starter in a race had a helmet colour distinct from the others. Poiuts (three, two, and one) were awarded in each race, and the team gaining the highest aggregate for the nine races was declared the winner of the contest. This honour went to Kilmister's team, but not without spirited competition. It was obvious from the result of the first race that the issue wa9 just as likely to be decided by riders filling the minor places as by those registering wins. Wilkinson, representing Bishop's team, won the first race, but the other places were filled by members of Kilmister's team, so that the first score was 3 all. The captains met in the second race, and a thrilling duel was won by Bishop, whose team-mate was third. That gave Bishop's team a lead of two points, which was held until the fifth race, when Anderson and Palmer (first and second) placed Kilmister's side two up. Before the final race this lead was increased to four points, which meant that Bishop's team had to fill first and second places to avoid losing the match. Any hope of an honours' easy decision, however, was lost, when Wilkinson fell. Kilmister's team won by 31 points to 23. Each competitor had three races ' during the contest, but there was only one rider (Bishop) to score three •wins. Kilmister and Tonks each had two winds. The individual points were:— Kilmister's team (black and gold).—W. Kilmister 8, C. Tonks 8, C. Anderson 7, S. Palmer 4, R. Ranby 3, A. W. Hunger (who rode as substitute for H. Santi in two races), 1; total, 31. Bishop's team (red).—J. Bishop 9, T. Wilkinson 5, W. B. Harvie 5, V. Hangham 2, E. Naylor 1, V. Grove 1; total, 23 The fact that the races were from rolling starts accounted for some keen battles for the lead at the first bend, but the thrills did not by any means end there. Throughout the races positions were often changed, and some exciting finishes were staged. Bishop, a great rider from Queensland, was hotly pursued by _ Is.ilmister in the second race, and Wilkinson pressed JKilmister strongly in the fourth race> wfiile Tonks also figured in a stirring tussle with Bishop in the sixth race. JTor second and third places there was also some thrilling competition, notably in the cases of Palmer and Mangham, Grove and Santi, and Hunger and Naylor. Other events on the programme were the Great Auto Thrills Handicap and the Grand Airport Handicap. In the former, E. Naylor scored a popular win, although Tonks was unfortunate in falling when in a leading position at the-last bend. Naylor rode well, and Kilraister could not ■quite wipe off the three seconds start ■which he gave him. The other event was won well by A. W. Hunger, who put up an exceptionally fine performance, his time in a heat being the second fastest of the night from a standing start. The best times for the night were:— Rolling start, SI 3-ssec, by Bishop and Kilmister; standing start, 88 l-ssec, by Kilmister. Notable advances in form were made by S. Palmer and A. W. Hunger. DETAILED RESULTS. Tha results in detail were as follow:— TEAMS RACE, of £54; four laps, from arolling start. The teams were as follow: W. Kilmister (captain), C. Tonks, B. Ranby, H. Ssatl, S. Palmer, C. Anderson. Emergency, A. Hunger. J. Bishop (captain), T. Wilkinson, \V. Harvie, E. Naylor, V. Grove, V. Mangham. Emergency, H. Lucchesi. First Race.—T. Wilkinson 1, C. Anderson 2, S. Palmer 3. Also started: V. Mangham. , Palmer and Anderson led out -,of the str.iit'lit, but Anderson was .in front at the end of the lap. Wilkinson then came up fast, and at half-way he was leading from Anderson, with the others well back. Wilkinson was riding well, and steadily Increased his lead until he was about 30 yards ahead at the finish. Talmer beat Mangham l)y two lengths in a great tussle for third place. Times, 83 2-ssec, 85 3-Ssec, 82 l-ssec, 92 2-5 sec. Second Race.—J. Bishop 1, W. Kilmister 2, y. Grove 3. Also started: B. Santi. This was another good race, with interest Centring on the performances of the two captains. The order going out of the straight was Bishop, Kilmister, Grove, with Santi last. The order remained unchanged to the last, with the first two gradually 'drawing further ahoad of the others. Kilmister made a great effort to catch his rival in the last lap, but lost by two lengths. There was another good finish for third place, Grove beating Santi by a tire. Times, 83nec, 84sec, 93 2-ssec, 93 3-5 Bee. Third Race.—C. Tpnks I, W. Harvie 2, E. Naylor 3. Also started: B. Ranby. Tonks, Harvie, and Naylor went round the llrst bend together, but Tonks then drew ahead of Harvie and Naylor, and the order remained unchanged till the finish, with about 30 sards between first and second, and a similar distance separating second and third. Times. 86 l-ssec, 88 3-ssec, 30 3-ssec, 93 3-5 sec. Fourth Race.—W. Kilmister 1, T. Wilkinson B, V. Manghara 3. Also started: A. Hunger, in place of Santi, who withdrew when the riders were circling for the start. Kilmister took the lead from Wilkinson at the start, and led him all the way to win by 15 yards, although Wilkinson was not. easily shaken off. Hunger was forced to pull out in tha first lap, and Mangham filled third place. Times, 83 3-ssec, 84 3-flsec, 91 4-ssec. Fifth Kace.—C. Anderson 1, S. Palmer 2, .W. Harvie 3. Also started- .\iylor. Anderson ',<■<' '.he way and won in- 35 yards, hut m :"t until after a du-l -iver the firs: iv.-d !:•. that Palmer heailfd off Harvie, ivli"in \ic ,i'at by two lengths. Times, 84 3-jsci:, Slisec, 2-ssec, 91sec. Sixth Kace.—J. Bishop 1, C. Tonks 2, K. Eanby 3. Also started: V. Grove. Bishop again led from the start, but Tonks followed him close and was about 15 jards behind at the finish. Grove and Itan'iy were also close together, though well behind the leaders, but at the stnrt of the last lap Grove's front wheel touched Ranby's machine and he crashed. Times, 82 3-ssec, 83 l-ssec, 91 4-5 sec. Seventh Race.—W. Kilmister 1, W. Harvie 2, A. Hunger 3. Also started: E. Naylor. It was Kilmister's race from tho start, and he drew well ahead of Harvie after the latter had kept close to him over the early part of the distance. Hunger was last until the final quarter, when he passed Naylor on the southern bend to take third place by half a length. Times, 81 3-ssec, 84 3-ssec, 93 3-5 94sec. Eighth Kafce.—J. Bishop I, C. Anderson 2, 8. Palmer 3. ■ Also started: V. Grove. Bishop led all tho way and won by a Quarter of a lap, with a similar distance separating second and third. Ninth Race.—C. Tonks 1, R. Ranby 2, V. Mangham 3. Also started: T. Wilkinson. Kanby shot to the front going out of the ■etrafuht, but Tonks later overhauled him and was a quarter of a lap in front at the finish. ■Wilkinson started well, but crashed on the southern bend in the first lap. Mangham fell In the third lap, but re-started, and qualified for third place. Times, 86 3-ssec, 90 3-ssec. Kilmister's team. 31 points 1 Blshop'a team, 23 points 2 GEAHD AIRPORT HANDICAP, of £20; four IAPi. from a standing start. flint Heat.—A. W. Hunger (scr), 1; J. Richard* (8s«c), J. Alio started: A. V. Radcllffe (3sec). RlfJludJ bad the lead at the end of the first lap, bit Hunger Dt»ssed him on the second time round, during which RatlclifTc fell. Hunger won by about HO yards. Times. S.Osec, 95 l-!ssec. . Second Heat.—H. Lucchesi (scr), 1;V. B. Appleyart (Ssac), 2. Lucchesi quickly passed the other two and won easily. Appleyard beat HlSSta* for second place by 30 yards. Times, S3 I-Bwo, lOJsec. Third H«at.—J. K. Watt (foec), 1; B. Hooper tteM). 2, Also started: D. Roberts (3sec). Wittl»d all the way, and won easily. Hoborts

crashed in the third lap. Times, 97sec, 100 l-ssec. Final. A. W. Hunger (Norton), scr 1 J. Richards (Douglas), 3sec i Also started: H. Lttcchesl (Itudee), scr; J. K. Watt (Harley), 6sec. The final did not provide an exhilarating race. Watt led from Richards and Hunger early in the piece, but crashed in the third lap, during which Hunger took tho lead and won by 30 yards, with Lucchesi another 50 yards back. Times, 90sec, 94 l-ssec. GRAND AUTO THRILLS HANDICAP, of £30 ; for first division riders; four laps; from a standing start. First Heat.—C. Tonks (lsec), 1; V. Mangham (3scc), 2. Also started: J. Bishop, scr; V. Grove. Mangham led Grove and Bishop at the end of tho first lap, with Bishop riding as if he were going to be a serious conteuder for first place. In tho next lap, however. Bishop had to pull out through engine trouble. Tonks pissed Grove on tho northern bend in the last lap, and cut through on the inside, coming into the straight to beat Mangham by three lengths. Times, 90sec, 92 2-ssec, 04scc. Second Heat.—W. Harvie (Isec), 1; E. Naylor (3scc), 2. Also started: T. Wilkinson, scr; It. Ranby, 2scc. Ranby had the lead early in the race, but both he and Wilkinson were put out of the running owing" to trouble with their machines. Naylor won by 50 yards. Times, 90sec, 89 2-ssec. Third Heat.—W. Kilmister (scr), 1; H. Santi (:"sec), 2. Also started: C. Anderson, scr; b. aK?lmi'ster eCinanaged a better start than his co-marker and ran into third place. Santi was also away well, however, and his handicap gave him a big lead. . It was not sufficient to Kivo him the race, as Kilmister rode with .his accustomed skill to pass first Palmer and then Santi in the last lap and win by three lengths. Times, 88 l-ssec, 94%scc, 97 3-ssec. Final. E. Naylor (Douglas), 3sec \ W. Kilmister (Rudge), scr - W. Harvie (Douglas), lsec 6 Also started: C. Tonks (Kudge). Harvio did not get a good start, with the result that Kilmister had only two men in front of him in the first lap. Naylor held his place well until the final lap, when Tonks passed him but the latter fell ou the southern bend just when he appeared to have the race in hand, and Naylor won by about 20 yards from Kilmister. Harvie was well back in third place.. Times, 90 2-ssec, SSsec, 9«scc.