BROADSIDING

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 49, 20 October 1931, Page 4

BROADSIDING

NEW SRORT TO BE StAGED IN ROTORUA ON LABOUR DAY' NOTED RIDERS COMING k It is farely that a genuinely nev ; spoft is bo'rn, but iri Australia a fev l years ago a xnotor cyclist conceivec the idea of racing machines on a sofl surface. A ti'y out of the xxew spor't proved that it had thrills for the speetatoj: previously undreamt of and it rapidly developed into a xjew craze and xn a short time had spread right round the world. Wembley stadium was converted into a dirt, or broadsiding traek, as it came to be known. Record crowds were drawn wherever speedways were b.uilt an,d the way the sport swept Wellington and Auckland off their feet is now history. . . Now, althpu,gh Rotorua xs. a compatatively small centre, comipared with Auckland and Wellington, the district is to have a speedway of its own. .It is situated at Te Ngae Road and the. opening will take place on Labour, Day. ..Sorne of New Zealand's most famqus motor-cyclists are entered for the various events. and truly exc'iting riding should be in store for spectators. ,.The traek is a quartqr mile circuit so coxxstructed that when the machines work up speed they develop hair-. I raisihg skids and at times completely broadside for yards, thus testing the ridmg ahility of the contestan'ts to" the fullest degree. Naturally such a thrilling sport is not without a degree" of risk. The surface of the traek instead of being formed of cinders, as is sometimes the case, is laxd down in pumice, which gives even better effect. The nxeeting is to be run ixnder th'e I generql regulations of the New Zealand Auto Cycle Union. Among the noted motor-cycle speed kxngs taking part at the meetihg are Ben Bray, Charlie. Goldberg, .Bill Herbert, Doug Mattson, Jack Cormack and Alf Way, all of whom have ridden With marked success and are among the star riders at Westerxx Springs, as well as a big number of local and other riders. Prize money to be won during the day totals £60.