Over 100 Miles an Hour

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 220, 6 December 1927, Page 8

Over 100 Miles an Hour

Spencer Stratton’s Achievement At the Sports Motor-Cycle Club speed trials held at Muriwai last Sunday, Spencer Stratton riding- his 3i h.p. Indian, succeeded in establishing the fastest time yet attained on this class of machine in Australasia. Stratton afterwards expressed the opinion that had he been able to use a higher gear on his engine he could have reached a speed of 110 m.h.p. The heavy state of the beach prevented his doing this, however, and confined him to a comparatively low gear. The best beach speeds on record for 3i h.p. engines are 112 m.p.h., established by J. Seymour (Indian) at Daytona, U.S.A., and 07 by Paul Anderson (Indian) at Selick’s Beach, Australia. Stratton’s speeds both ways are as follows:—100.55 m.p.h. and 96.23; a strong south-westerly wind materially reducing the speed in one direction. The mean speed stands at 98.39 m.p.h. The weather conditions were ideal and several hundred spectators witnessed the trials. The best times attained over the surveyed half-mile were R. Morecroft (35 0.E.C.), 82.5 m.p.h. and W. White (23 Hex Acme), 81.08 m.p.h. There were good entries in the speed events. No handicaps were allowed. Details of results were as follows: 250 c.c. 45 miles, one turn: A. Mattson (2} Raleigh), 6m 20s. Open event, s.v. motors, 9 miles, three turns: N. Person (23 Indian), 13m 28s; L. McLaren (2% A.J.S.). 350-500 c.c., 9 miles, three turns: W. White (23 Rex), 7.49 4-5; C. Goldberg (23 Velocette); K. McLaren (23 Harley). Open event, 9 miles: W. White (23 Rex), 7.49 2-5; C. Goldberg (23 Velocette); O. Litherland (35 Norton). Half Mile Time Trial.—Fastest 350 c.c. machine: W. White (Rex Acme), 81.08 m.p.h. Fastest 500 c.c. machine: R. Morecroft (35 0.E.C.), 82.56 m.p.h. Australasian Record Half-Mile: S. Stratton (35 Indian), 100.55 m.p.h. The afternoon’s sport was marred by two spills, but fortunately no one was hurt. Both accidents occurred in the same piece of soft sand, and one machine skidded for more than 30yds before finally coming to rest. Great credit is due to the officials of the day for the smooth running of the meeting. These were Mr. H. Fletcher, who acted as starter, and Messrs. Walker, Tredgold, Millar and Russell, who were time-keepers. The Auckland Motor Racing Cub will hold its race meeting at Alexandra Park next Saturday. The track is said to be in excellent condition, a large number of entries have been received, and keen racing should be witnessed. Both Coleman and Stratton will be competing. m • * The Sports Motor-Cycle Club is holding a social run to Orr’s Beach, Papatoetoe, next Sunday, December 11, leaving the Harp of Erin a.t 10 a.m.