MOTOR-CYCLING

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 1, 3 January 1939, Page 15

MOTOR-CYCLING

N.Z. TOURIST TROPHY

L. PERRY THE WINNER

(By Telegraph—Press Associati9n.)

AUCKLAND, January 2,

A record crowd of about 1500 people watched the running of the tenth New Zealand Tourist Trophy race over a 165-mile course at Waiheke Island today. The event was won in the record time of 2hr 47min 31secby L. Perry,,, an Aucklander, riding a Velocette machine, who averaged almost 60 miles an hour. Second and "third places were taken by A. J. Dean (Levis) with a time of, 2hr 48min 26sec, and J. Dale (Gold Star 8.5.A.), 2hr 59min 56sec. All three men beat the former record time of 3hr 4min, established by C. Goldberg. ..'..' Extensive road works carried out last ye .r, during which special attention was given to the course, materially assisted the 12 starters. However, only three men actually finished the course, mechanical defects causing the withdrawal of the majority, including last year's winner, L. E. Dickson, who retired with a broken drive chain when leading by four seconds. The fastest lap award went to Dean, who covered the first 6£ miles lap in 6min 28sec. The Alma award for pluck and endurance was made to P. Clarkson, who crashed near the start and was run into by a following rider, who also fell. Clarkson remounted, and after straightening his bent mudguard, . rode on for 21 laps befdro he was forced to retire with engine trouble.

No serious mishaps marred the running, though >a number of riders were involved in minor spills.