BROADSIDING THRILLS

NZ Truth, Issue 1216, 21 March 1929, Page 16

BROADSIDING THRILLS

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Speedsters Make Cinder Streamers, Fly At Kilbirnie STADIUM LURES THE CROWD (From ' ' N.Z. Truth s Special ; Wellington Representative) . If there was any doubt as to the ultimate success of "broadsiding" m the Capital City, last Saturday night's; attendance at the Kilbirnie Stadium amply demonstrated that the sport is here

to stay. IN size, ' the crow.d eclipsed that of the opening night, and every available seat was occupied. .In endeavoring to make, all the riders known' to the assembled crowd, the promoters have hit upon a system of color schemes which they incorporate m the programme on sale at the gates. Without this it is impossible to follow the riders or identify them. Quite lucid . and satisfactory so far as it goss, it is, nevertheless, some.thing m the nature of a crossword to unravel, and 'one needs to be something of a genius, mid flying cinders, voqiferous cheers* and semirgloom, to place the correct riders m the semifinals and finals. ' ' , As usual, the two Australian riders, Max Graham and Gus. Clifton, scooped m the cream of the

• cash, winning both the big events of the evening. - 'm the final "-of: the Kilbirnie, Handicap, Graham came home "oh the .bit' m the good time of 1.35 4/5. . The evenl Was worth winning, as . it carried a prize of, '£2o. ' •V' ' ':' V ; , W. Allen, ' -who '.came second, showec improved ■ f orm on the evening, anc should 1 extend, his cousin 5 from across the water before- many mpre meetings are over.' ;.■ J; -R; Axnott , is another rider: whc should soon win his spurs; at the game He won the second heat of the Kilbirnie Handicap with the length. of, th< straight "to spare. ; V y-Y ■ '-. Of the newcomers, 'Hy leeches: showed gameness. After a spill' hv tli.c first lap he came to light- with a turr of speed and ; collared the first heat ir the "B." grade handicap. .; He had th( niißfortuhe later, m the evening tQ tak< the.topbf£ one of his y .■.,:■■ '■'.•■The Yiders'" facility; y toy assimilate bumps was amply' demonstrated m th< iirst semi-final of the Open Handicap. After the first round had been covered and while negotiating the nex

curve, the leading speedster slithered ingloriously, and the two men behind In turn piled over him. When the dust,. cinders 'and fumes ' from open exhausts had subsided, they all emerged from among the sprawling machines. The event was re -started. In the second semi-final, Graham, from scratch, brought the crowd to their feet with his sterling display. Keeping well out on the bends, he caught the others after half the distance had been covered. Kil'mister was not so fortunate as he had been on the opening night, and, missing m the heats, he did not have the opportunity to shine m the finals. _ Where Graham displays . speed with caution, and manages to regain control of his machine, Gus. Clifton knows no" limit. A spill is evidently nothing

to, him, and m an attempt to create a record he "tossed" heavily after cover- : ing barely a lap. > The same thing occurred m the t Golden Helmet Scratch, when Graham t (holder) had to contend against the prowess of his friend;. 3 ■ Clifton made several attempts to 1 get under way. Starting off at terrific 3 speed, he flew past Graham, but came 3 to grief at the bends. A -.re- start saw the . same thing occur, only.' on this ocj casion -Clifton damaged his machine ; and 'the race was called off. I ■ |n the Big Nine Scratch Race of V three heats and one final, Clifton • i" .proved the master. He won his 1 yyvie'at, but was closely tailed by P. 3 , McGhee: ■ 1 •;•■■•. -. .• . ..■'., '. ,'■■:. ■ • ■ i Allen, took ..the' second heat, while a 3 grasstrack man, new to the cinders, 3 Tui Morgan, collared the, third one. '.;. When'the three— Clifton, Allen and 3 Morgan— lined up m. the '>;fl'nal, ! there 3 -remained; no doubt m the spectators', minds who would, get there first. Clif- - ton's time for this event was 1 mm. t 42 3/5 sec.