DRIVER’S ESCAPE

Hokitika Guardian, 28 January 1933, Page 6

DRIVER’S ESCAPE

FAST MOTOR. LEAVES TRACK. •

SCATTER. OF SPECTATORS

AUCKLAND January 24

A remarkable escape from injury was experienced by aii Auckland racing ear-driver, Mr Arthur Dexter, of Epsom, when his Riley motor skidded wildly, and left the track after be bad won the concluding event at Henning’s Speedway, Mangere’ on Saturday afternoon. Although sjndjjpd for over 50 yards, and nnnjjy cigpeto rest halfway up the bank directly beneath the rwas' not hurt, and the car escaped with comparatively slight damage.After winning the last event on the programme by a narrow margin from Mr R. M. Grierson in the supercharged , “Baby”..Austin, Mr Dexter covered another lap in accordance with the usual custom, and was travelling at about 65. miles* an hour in the last corner when lie changed from top to third gear to slow the car. The Riley, however, immediately went into a broadside to the right, and .as soon as the driver had corrected it tile car swerved equally violently to the left.

The second skid was also corrected, but a third one, again to the right, carried tlm, car off the track and a considerable distance up the bank beneath the judges’ box, A number of people..standing in the vicinity, including Air R. A. Dexter, the driver’s father, and'Mr P. Seabrook, one of the officials, scattered as the car approached, and narrowly missed being run over. The driver stepped from the ear unheart, and a subsequent examination of the motor showed that the damage apparent at the moment was confined to a buckled front wheel. “This mishap was not in any way due t to the state of the track, nor to the dust, but resulted from the throttle suddenly jamming wide open,” Aii’ Dexter said later. He said lie had been trying for the first time the effect of using front tyres with no ■tread, and found it more difficult than usual to ccnfrol the skids. A\ itli the throttle stuck open, however, the car became unmanageable,.- ....