RECORDS SHATTERED.

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 11, 4 September 1931, Page 5

RECORDS SHATTERED.

~ MOTOR CYCLE MEETINGS. Old r.ecords are going by the board in Europe this season. Both in rac•ing and straight-out speed ',dashes amazing times are being recorded, with British machines and British riders still holding their own against fierce compettion from the Continent. In the Isle of Man T.T. all new lap records were established. Sports meetings on the Continent have likewise seen old records smashed by the improved 1931 models — the racing machines of this year which test out the new ideas to.be incorporated in riext year's popular models. Rr/ied on the Monza circuit, Italy, in a blihding rain storm, the - Grand Prix of the nations was closely contested, and speeds exceeding 80 miles an hour were recorded. . The results were : The 350 c.c. Race. — Landi (Velocette), 1; M. Ghersi (A.J.S.), 2; Bruni (Rudge), 3. The winner averaged 74.7 m.p.h., but the fastest lap was done by Ghersi, who clocked 77.8 m.p.h., though he finished 2.15 2-5 behind the winner. Bruni came in 4.11 1-5 later. The 500 c,c. Race.— F .G. Hicks (A.J.S.), 1; Bullus (N.S.U.), 2; Simpson (Norton),' 3. Only in the last lap was the race decided. Hicks averaged 76.9 m.p.h., but Bullus was only 9 2,-5sec. behind him at the finish, while Simpson took 46 3-5sec. longer. The fastest lap was done by Bandini, on a Rudge, at a speed Of 81.7 m.p.h. Although complete results are not yet to hand, it is reported that British machines again led the field in the European Grand Prix on June 28. In three classes the results were: — The 175 c.c. Class. — E. Fernihough (Excelsior), 1. The 250 c.c. Class. — Graham Walker (Rudge), 1; C. W. Johnston (Guzzi), 2. The 500 c.c. Class.-Percy Hunt (Norton), 1. In addition Stanley Woods, riding a Norton, is credited with second place in the 350 c.c. class, and J. Guthrie, on a similar machine, with third place in the 500 c.c. class.