MORE SPEEDING

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 18, 12 April 1927, Page 11

MORE SPEEDING

CYCLISTS AT MURIWAI CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS High wind and softer sand than usual rather spoilt the club championship meeting of the Sports Motor Cycle Club at Muriwai beach during the week-end. Three championships and a 30-mile event were completed, but the flying mile events had to be postponed. Time-keepers and officials made a hurried evacuation before the encroaching waves after the second race, and fox-got to time the next two. The 10-mile 350 c.e. championship resulted: J. A. Griffiths (Chater Leal, 1; McLaren, 2; N. Person (A.J.S.), 3. Time, 9.33. White led round two of the three turns, but his machine slowed up and Walker and Griffiths, who had been slow getting away at the start, passed him, Griffiths taking first place, followed past the post by McLaren and Person. 10-Mile Championship for 600 c.e. machines: L. Crosbie (Norton), 1: A. Finn (23 Velocette), 2; O. Litherland (Nox-ton), 3. Time, 8.451. White again got away with an advantage, but retired after the first turn, water having evidently affected his machine. Crosbie then lead away from the Velocette, which was showing a great turn of speed against the heavier machines, and won by 390 yards, Finn keeping second place from the other Norton. Open Club Championship for the Skeates and White Cup, 10 miles: L. Crosbie (Norton) was the only one of three startei-s to finish. 30-Mile Championship for the Acton Cup: ,T. 11. Ratcliffe (Velocette), 1; K. McLaren (Harley-Davidson), 2; —• Person (Indian), 3. Ratcliffe lead away, and shortly afterwards Griffiths. White and Rateliffc were leading the rest-of the field. Most of the machines were showing patches owing to the conditions, and Ratcliffe, after a few laps, had established a good lead from White, who, with Griffiths, finally stopped. White got away xxgain however ami stained after McLanyi and Person, who, with Ratcliffe were the only riders still competing. Ratcliffe won by two miles. Ratcliffe's win was a remarkable one, for he had to start with a bad leak in his fuel tank, and carried a fii-e extinguisher in case of trouble. Halfway he had to stop for more fuel, but he survived these difficulties. The water put his competitors in trouble.

Springs break most frequently at their centre, particularly in the case of springs that are held together by means of a centre bolt, since the hole through which the bolt passes has a tendency to weaken the spiing 3t its most vulnerable place. The likelihood of a spring to give way at this point is still further increased by looseness of the spring 1 clips, which makes periodical examination of these clips a commendable practice-