THRILLS AND SPILLS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 55, 27 October 1931, Page 3

THRILLS AND SPILLS

SPEEDWAY RACING NEW TRACK ON THE TE NGAE ROAD IS OPENED D. MATTSON'S FIELD DAY Rotorua had its first introduction to the thrills and spills of broadsiding under very auspieious circumstances yesterday, when Rotorua Speedways held a most suc'eessful meeting to open their new track on Te Ngae Road. With some star riders from the Auckland tracks and good fields in all n events, there were some excellent finrishes and thrills a-plenty. It was a field day for Doug Mattson, the young Auckland rider, who won the two main events of the day _in style which wouRfTiave done credit*" to his New Zealand champion cousin. The pumice track proved a suecessful innovation although the dust pro- ; blem is one which will have to he faeed for future meetings. Unfortunately, owing to the break down of of dust rising from the track could not be properly laid. A spectacular half mile by Alf. Mattson, New Zealand champion gave it a good christening. The officials in charge of the meeting had matters well in hand, and all events were got off on time and with the minimum of delay. The programme had been well balanced and interest was never allowed to flag between the events. A large crowd, promising well for the success of future meetings, watehed the racing and although there were plenty of spills to go with the thrills, there were no injuries to, mar the success of the afternoon. Before the first event, the Mayor, Mr. J. Jackson briefly opened the proceedings and expressed the hope that the meeting would be successful in every way. The introduction of speedways, was, he thought, a Very valuable enterprise for Rotorua. Results wepe: — BAY OF PLENTY HANDICAP One .mile. First Heat: — Brian Smith (Whitford), scr .... 1 Sid. Williamson (Rotorua) scr. .... 2 Keith Yeates (Whitford), lsec ...-. 3 Second Heat: — Les Bunning (Whakatane), 3sec 1 Win Keen (Whakatane), 5sec .... 2 R. Whittle (Whakatane), 4sec .... 3 Final: — Brian Smith 1 Win Keen 2 Time: 1.49, min. Smith got away well and rode a good race to win comfortably. Williamson and Bunning both came off. ROTORUA HANDICAP One m;ile. First Heat. — Jack Cormaek (Auckland), 2sec .... 1 Jim McDonald (Auckland), 4sec 2 Ben Bray (Auckland) scr 3 Second Heat: — Charlie Goldberg (Auckland) scr 1 Wilbert Coyle (Auckland), 2see 2 Brian Smith (Whitfor), 3see .... *3 Third Heat: — Harold Tetley (Auckland), 3sec 1 j Charles Shepherd (Howick), 2sec 2 i Morrie Aicken (Manurewa), 4sec 3 I Fourth Heat:— Doug. Mattson (Auckland), 3sec 1 Sid Williamson (Rotorua), 4sec .... 2 Alf Way (Auckland), 2sec 3 First Semi-final: — Charlie Goldberg 1 Wilbert Coyle 2 Jack Cormaclc 3 j Time, 1.57m. i All riders struck trouble on the j eorners, but Goldberg finished at ; j break-neck speed to leave the field, j McDonald, the fourth semi-finalist, fell early in the race. Second Semi-final:— Doug. Mattson 1 'Harold Tetley 2 Charles Shepherd .... 3 Time: 1.58,m. Mattson gave one of the outstand- . ing performances of the meeting., His tyre left the rim as he raced into; the last lap, but ignoring the danger, he finished out. Just short of the winning post and with the other riders riders still behind him, he stopped and wheeled in to win. , Final: — Doug. Mattson 1 Harold Tetley 2 Charlie Goldberg 3 Time 1.41m There had been some outstanding riding in this event and fittingly, the final was the fastest mile of the ineeting. Mattson was up against hard opposition in Tetley and Goldberg but never let up on any corner. He won comfortably. WAIMUNGU HANDICAP One mile. First Heat: — Charles Shepherd (Howich) 1 Sid Williamson (Rotorua) 2 Goldberg of Auckland was in the; lead in this heat until the final lap • ; when with Morgan, of Cambridge and Shepherd, he came off on the bend before the final straight. Shepherd picked up quickly, however, and got past the post, while Williamson, who was a couple of laps behind eompleted, " to ride into second place. Second Heat. — HaVold Tetley (Auckland), 2sec 1 Alf. Way (Auckland), 2sec 2 Jack Cormaek (Auckland(, 3see 3 - Third Heat:— Doug. Mattson "(Auckland), 2see 1 Ben Bray (Auckland), scr 2 ; Fourth Heat: — Frank Day (Auckland), lsec .... 1 , Bill McDonald (Auckland) , 4sec ...... 2 ' Brian Smith (Auckland), 3sec .... 3 ; First Semi-final: — Harold Tetley .... 1 Charles Shepherd 2 Time 1.50,m. Second Semi-final: — Doug. Mattson 1 Ben Bray .... .-. 2 Time 1.50,m. Final: — Doug. Mattson 1 Harold Tetley 2 Charles Shepherd 3 Time, 1.44,m. This was the last race and* last final of the day and provided some good riding. Mattson once again, bilked at nothing and after getting well away, passed Tetley and Shepherd on the bends and won out comfortably.