MOTOR RACING

Hokitika Guardian, 21 May 1932, Page 6

MOTOR RACING

PRECAUTIONS AT BROOKLANDS

RACE OFFICIALS DEFIED

LONDON, April 5

Scenes unparalleled in the history of motor-car racing were seen at Brooklands track, Weybridge. A section of the holiday crowd of 25,000 people resented the new safety regulations made for their protection. They stormed the safety fences, sat on the new safety wall built to prevent cars running amok among the crowds, and were only removed when a lorry load jof police appeared. Meanwhile racing was held up. A steward of the meeting rushed to the paddock just before the big race and informed Mr Percy Bradley, clerk oi tho course, that a crowd of some 4000 people had rushed the fences. He made a speech pointing out that the new wall had been specially built for the safety of the public, and appeared to the sporting instincts of the spectators. They seemed inclined to agree until one spectator, who said that he was a speedway rider, shouted that the safety wall was ridiculous, and that there was no danger.

The appeal of the clerk of the course was of no avail, even when lie stated that racing would not continue until the crowd got back within the safety limit.

Meanwhile every available policeman on the course was marshalled. They were bundled into a motor lorry near the paddock, and* specators saw; the. strange spectacle of a lorry full of policemen going in fine style round -the racecourse.

The lorry stopped in front of the unruly crowd. The posse of police lie deboued. and the crowd who refused to lie safe immediately retreated, including the speedway rider. The police did their work so successfully that the crowd at this point retreated into a ditch and saw nothing of the big race.