MOTOR-RACING DEATH

Hokitika Guardian, 25 January 1927, Page 4

MOTOR-RACING DEATH

AIR R. E. GARLICTv KILLED.

SYDNEY, Jan. 13.

In full view of thousands of spectators iit the ATarouba Speedway last Saturday night, a racing motor-car, driven by the best-known speed motorist in Sydney, Mr It. (J. Gnrliek, ran off the banked track, struck an electric light pole, hurtled over an embankment filing i + s 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 motorcyclist as hurled against a fence and mortally injured. CRAZE FOR SPEED.

The craze for speed has led to a certain popular craving for the excitement of the sport, and thousands of people gather at every meeting to see cyclists and car-drivers achieve anything un to 100 miles an hour and slightly more. Garliek was noted as one of the most fearless drivers, and he was a popular idol. Accounts of the disaster vary, hut it is practically safe to say that Garliek on this occasion just passed the limit of safely in an endeavour to pass his two rivals in the race. Hone Bartlett and Peter AAUiite were the other'contestants in the race, a handicap event for ears whose sneed exceeded 80 miles an hour. Garliek’s ear was on scratch, allowing the others small star.

A BURST TYRE. Entering the last lap, Bartlett was leading and Garliek, having passed White, was just drawing level with Bartlett as he came off the steep banking on one side of 1 iho track opposite the grandstand. As the two ears, travelling at full sliced, entered the comparatively flat portion of the track h.i’ore earning to the last turn, Garlick’s ear suddenly skidded, struck an electric light pole a terrible blow, snapping it off near the ground, and disappeared over the edge of the track in a cloud of sand. The other competitors were clear of the skidding ear. and unaware of the serious nature o- the accident, they continued to the finish of the race.

.Spectators and officials hurried to the scene of the accident, and found Garlick lying dead on the ground some little distance from his ear. The latter had lallen about 21lit. after passing over the top of the track, and had spun round several 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 righthand front wheel- bursting, causing an uncontrollable swerve outside, and as space was restricted just at that point, Garliek had no opportunity of swerving his machine back to its proper course. The other competitor in the race, l’eter AATiite, believed that other causes than a burst tyre caused tho skid.

The races at the speedway were being described by a broadcasting company. and it was in this way that Airs Garliek. listening-in, learnt the fateful news of her husband's death. Garliek was one of the fastest drivers in Australia, and had won most of the principal trophies -at the ATarouba Speedway and other tracks.