FOXTON UNITED SPORTS ASSOCIATION MOTOR SPORTS

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4523, 28 October 1930, Page 3

FOXTON UNITED SPORTS ASSOCIATION MOTOR SPORTS

SUCCESSFUL MEETING

DESPITE WEATHER CONDI-

'TIONtS.

The Foxton United Sports Association's annual motor cycle sports meeting' It old on the- local racecourse yesterday was a. most successful fixture from all points of. view and the fact that the gate takings were only £5 less than they were last year, under unfavourable weather conditions speaks volumes for the popularity of the meeting. The weather over the week-end was very wet and although Monday morning dawned fine! in Foxton heavy rain was falling all throughout the district, and slips were; reported on the. Wanganui and Hawke’s Bay roads. Rain then threatened ioeaily and a heavy shower was experienced About 11 a.m. when it appeared as if the attendance would he seriously affected. r i’he special train which arrived half an hour- later was not well patronised and things looked black for the Association. The sun came', out, however, and within the next hour or so ears and motor vehicles of all descriptions commenced to arrive at the course and as the afternoon advanced the attendance was practically as good as in past years. The day kept fine with only a slight shower during the-re-mainder of the day. An aeroplane circled over the course during the morning searching for a landing ground, and finally came to earth on Mr. John Robinson’s property in Lady’s Mile.

. The track was in very good order dice chiefly to the preparatory work carried out toy the caretaker, Mr. J. Simpson, and' the sandy nature of the soil, and it is safe to say that had an attempt been made to hold the sports on any track other than the local one the meeting must, have proved a failure or elided with serious consequences to some of the aiders. As it was the day was unmarred by any serious mishap and a very pleasant and enjoyable lime was spent by all. The' meeting was well conducted in every particular and reflected the greatest credit on tlift work of an enthusiastic and energetic commit-

tee-land capable secretary (Mr. J. C. Christie). The' president (Mr. W. T. Jewell) is to be congratulated on'the success of the meeting. Mr. J. Martin capably carried out the duties of first-aid officer and his services were availed of in a number of instances by riders who lmd met with minor mishaps. The new lap-board enabled patrons to follow the races clearly ami is a good asset to the Association.

Tlie racing' was not quite as exciting as in past jvars, but this was possibly due to the weather. Percy Coleman failed to get the best out of his machine on more than one occasion (but won an excellent race towards the end of the. day: The Championship event was easily the best contested event of the. day and "the leading riders fought out an exciting finish. Bray deserved his win but Tui .Morgan (last year’s winner), experienced bad luck at the start. Tlie riders all spoke in favourable terms of the track and' management of the meeting. The details of the racing i re as follows: —

WMLROKLNO HAINiDICAP (biovice) , G laps:— W. G. (Orozier (3 i Rudgo), lOsecs. 1 EE. W. Mitchell (3| Royal Enfield), lOs.ecs. 2 S. JD. McLeod (22 Harley), 2()sees. . 3 Time: ‘6.46. Out of the six starters, Wailbutton, McGhee and Nesbit failed to complete the first lap. Crozier .went ahead early in the race and stayed there, not being worried by the" (rest of the field. An uninteresting race. HIMATAINGi CLASSIC (for machines up io 350 c.c.), 7 laps. Tui Morgan (2*l Harley), scr. 1 C. A. Wilkinson (2| Harley), •ssecs. 2 H. W. Tolley (2*l Zenith), l ; ssecs. 3 Time: 7.50. McLeod oft 30sees. led a field of ten riders until th.e fifth lap. Fletcher and Ross failed to complete the first lap. In the third lap Morgan began to improve his position and steadily began to overtake Wilkinson. Zemenak crashed on 'the corner leading out of the Straight and narrowly avoided a serious smash. He was uninjured. Erom now on all eyes were on Morgan, and Wilkinson who. were riding well and cornering in -great style. In the sixth lap Morgan passed Wilkinson going out of the straight by superb cornering and he then proceeded to overhaul the limit man which he did nicely by ino beginning of the final lap. Wilkinson was handy at 'the brush. >OXTON RAGING CLUB HANDICAP, 6 laps. B. Bray (22 Veioeette), 35 sees. . 1 J. E. Nesbit (3i Zenith), 40 sees. 2 P. Fletcher (22 Royal Enfield), 40secs. 3 Time: 6.40. Eighteen riders took the field in this event including the champion Coleman. Coleman was unfortunate, however, in experiencing engine trouble after the first lap. Vinall led the field uutil deposed f,y Bray in the fourth lap just after iD. Smith fell on the bad corner. He was not hurt and continued the race. Fletcher rode well throughout and retained second place from the fourth lap on until replaced Iby Nesbit who came up fast towards the end. A shower of rain just prior to the start marred . is event somewhat.

MOUTOA HANDICAP, 7 laps. I). K. Collison (2:? Harley), 40secs. 1 R. S. Penniall (fit Norton), 40sccs. 2 R. E. Vi nail (23 Rex-Acme), ifiOsocs. 3 ■ Time: 7.38 2-5. Nineteen riders took the field in this event but once again Percy Coleman had to drop out with engine trouble after the first lap. Vina.il off the limit retained his lead until the sixth lap when ho was renlaocd by Collison. iCol'lison and Penniall had been changing positions continually, . but Collison showed better pace in the last lap and won from his opponent by TOO ranis. Vinall managed to retain third position. N.Z. LIGHTWEIGHT CTTAM- . PTONSHTP AND CUP (machines up to 350 c.c..), 8 laps. B. Brav (2? Yelocctte) . 1 P. Fletcher (2y Roval Enfield). 2 C. A. Wilkinson (23 Harley), 3 Time; 7.42 2-5. From a rolling start ten machines got away a little strungout. Tui Morgan, last year’s winner, suffered in this respect and never looked like challenging the leaders. The race was the best to date and Fletcher looked like replacing Bray at any moment. Those two riders fought a great race to a .• lose finish, hut Bray gained on his opponent on the comers. The third man finished well behind the r, fliers.

At. the conclusion of the race Mr. ,T. Linklater, M.P., presented the winner with the cup and congratulated him on his fine win. Cheers were given for tin- rider and the Association.

UNITED SPORTS ASSOCIATION HANDICAP, 7 laps. R, E. Vinall (23 Rex-Acme), 4'sscs. 1 iD. Smith (3.1 Norton), 40 sees. 2 ■S. Morrison (31 Scott), 50 secs. 3 Time 7.10 4-5. This race attracted another big Held which consequently .provided a number of thrills. The actual racing was not veri jute,resting as Vinall took the lead in the second lap mid maintained it throughout to win comfortably by 150 yards from Smith,-who had chased him home from the beginning of the third lap. Morrison made good progress and was gaining on the leaders when iliey crossed the tape. Smith world possibly have given Vinall a better race, but for going into a skid when lie bad almost overhauled him. Tic. came through skilfully bill lost a good deal of ground. Bad luck again dogged Coleman and lie had to retire early hi the race.

PLUN'KET FLYING (machines 350-500 c.c.), rolling start, 5 laps. Tui Morgan (34 Harley), 1 S.. Morrison (31 Scott), 2 A. D. RadcliflV (31 Norton) 3 Time : 4.54. A good start was witnessed and Morgan straightway went out to lead the field. Radcliffe followed and this order was not altered until the fouirth lap when Sid Morrison, who had been riding well and cornering better, shot, past Penniall who was lying third and in the last lap ran into second place. A 100 yards separated first and second. 'Radcliffe* was handy in third position. There wejre nine starters. MAROTIRI HANDICAP, 7 laps. E. Pink. (34 Norton), 30secs. 1 IT. W. Tolley' (34 Midland Special), 45secs. 2 R. S. Penniall (31 Norton), 30sees. 3

Time: 7.14. This race was run twice, owing In six laps only being completed on the .first occasion. Tolley was acclaimed the winner in the first instance with Crazier 2nd and Penniall 3rd. YVlhen the race was remu Pink rode brilliantly and gradually overtook the field ahead of him until he was leading. Tolley also rode well but eould not eateh Pink on this occasion. The field was well strung out and Penniall rode into third place without difficulty. Coleman put on a terrific pace, but as in the first run, lie was unable to overhaul the field despite magnificent riding. Nineteen riders started in the original race, but only eleven in the final. ■ FOXTON SPECIAL (machines 350 c.c. and over), 8 laps. Percy Coleman (7/9 Harley), scr. I A. V. Radcliil'e (34 Norton), 25secs. 2 R, S. Penniall (34 Norton), 25secs. 3 Time: 7.36 1-5. . An excellent race in which Percy Coleman was seen at his heat. There were five starters. Crozier led for five laps while Radcliffe and Coleman were gradually overhauling him. In the sixth lap Coleman passed both Radcliffe and Crozier a nd_ took the lead. Crozier droppud back giving place to Radcliffe, and Penniall coming up fast drew into third.jplace. CONSOLATION RACE, 6 laps. D. Smith (34 Norton), 15 sees. 1 1». Patou (34 A.J.S.), 45sees. 2 S. O. McLeod (2| Harley), 40sees. ® Time: 6.22.

There were 12 starters. Paton, oil; the limit, led the field until the fifth lap and looked like winning the race. Smith was gradually ! lie king up his handicap, however, and in the fifth lap shot past Gower, who was then lying second and entering the back straight for (he final lap took the lead and won nicely. Gower came in third, but was disqualified for not riding the Pike on which he was handicapped and McLeod who came in a close fourth was awarded third money. The match race between Percy Coleman and 0. Lundius, of four

laps proved interesting. Coleman took, the lead in the first lap, but in the third the riders were racing neck and neck. Going down the back straight to finish, however, Coleman gradually pulled away and won confortublv. TTis time was 4.43 2-5.

The light ear race did not eventuate. Only one car lined up for the start arid to create interest a match was arranged between (lie “Bahv” Austin racer and Tui Morgan on his Harley. It was agreed that Morgan complete four laps to (lie car’s three. This lie did easily and as he passed the post he sportingly signalled to the officials to alter his distance to live laps. Even so lie came in about ten yards ahead of the car. The final count to-day shows that the gates were £3lO as against .€'3lo last' year which was somewhat astonishing in view of the unfavourable weather conditions.