MOTOR RACING

Hokitika Guardian, 11 September 1928, Page 1

MOTOR RACING

■ WORST DISASTER IN HISTORY OF MOTORING. Australian Press Assn.—United Service ADLAN, Sept. 10. The Aforiza motoring disaster is the worst in the history of motoring. It occurred at a gathering of eighty thousand people.

Alaterassi was one of the best-known Continental drivers. He had changed a wheel in the second lap, hut a stupendous effort- had enabled him to make rip much of his lost ground, and he had forced his way to fifth place when he came into the straight near the grandstand whore ho made n desperate attempt to- overtake Foretti who was in a “Bugatti” car. Accelerating to 125 miles, the near front wheel of Alaterassi’s “Talbot” car touched tlr offside wheel of the Bugatti ear, thus causing Mnternssi’s car to swerve violently co the right, and then leap to the left, and finally shoot, like a. giant projectile, across a ten foot ditch into the spectators, who wore massed in front of the grandstand. Afen, women mjd children—many of whom had waited ali night to secure their favoured place—were mown down like reeds, said an eye-witness. Alaterassi was hurled from the car, dying on the track in a few minutes.

The crowd became panic-stricken, and broke the barriers and stampeded on to the track, despite tile motorists, who were unaware of the accident, and, continued racing. The ambulance men were totally unprepared for an accident of such magnitude. It was long before the injured people were placed in the hospital. Leonardo was killed op this Monza track in 1925, and Swoki and Pordino were killed on it in 1927. Alaterassi won the Grand Frix do San Sebastian in 1927, covering 433 miles at an average of eighty miles an hour.

FRENCHAfAN’S NEW RECORD. ALLAN, Sept. 10. A Frenchman, Chin'll, driving a Bugatti car, did the distance in. 13,508 3-5 seconds, averaging a hundred miles an hour, and won the Grand Prix de Europe.

FRENCH RACING. PARIS, Sept. 8. At Boulogne, thousands watched the thrilling Boillnt Cup road race. It was attended by several capsizes, none of which was fatal. The race involved circuiting a 23 miles 840 yards triangular course twelve times. Malcolm Campbell, driving a French “Bugatti” car, broke the lap record .with 1155 seconds, equalling 72. V miles an hour. Betilleux, in a Bugatti, covered the sixth lap in the world’s record time of llSlsrr., equal to 75.12-5 miles an hour. The ninth lap saw a desperate struggle between Tletillcnx and Campbell, who retired after Ilctilleux heat the a liovo-quoted record by lour seconds. Betilleux, owing to his wheel collapsing was robbed of victory. The result was: Ivauowski (Halms',n) 1500 C.M.C., 16,475 2-5 secs. 67.75 miles per hour, Ist; Rosscnu (Salmsoii) 1094 C.M.0.. 10.494 2-5 sees. 2nd; Alfaromco, 1500 C.M.G., 10.7i8 2-5 secs. 3rd. A crash compelled the retirement of Campbell, who dared not slow down, i though his brakes were failing, because Det-illeux was close behind in a higher-powered machine. Campbell's ear hit the hank, jumped | six fed. and bent the axle, hut CampI hell was unhurt.