Speed Thrills

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 295, 5 March 1928, Page 2

Speed Thrills

MOTOR-CYCLE RACING

Records Lowered : Coleman the Wonder

MOTOR-CYCLES roaring round Takapuna racecourse « SO miles an hour provided thrills to excited spectators on Saturday afternoon. Several times daredevil riding kept the large crowd breathless with anxiety.

IDEAL weather conditions prevailed the track was in perfect condition, and some fine racing and record times were made. This was the first motorcycle race meeting of the year, and was held under the auspices of the ; Auckland Motor Racing Club. It is not too much to say that Percy Coleman has firmly re-established j himself as the idol of the public as i far as motor-cycle racing is concerned. In one race, No. 8, the cry of “See what Coleman’s doing,” was in everyone's month for, riding at a truly dangerous pace, he overhauled the whole field | from scratch and won by a straight. His performance in the Special Challenge Race, when against the five fastest riders in the oDminion, on which he passed the whole field except one . man, is further proof of what Coleman I can do on a fast track. Unfortunately he had trouble with his machine on | Saturday preventing him from competing in three races. Coleman also staged an exhibition I speed test in an endeavour to brea.k the existing world’s record for one mile on ; a grass track. This he did, knocking one-fifth of a second off the record and riding the mile in 46 4-ss. His speed was 76.9 miles an hour. SPECTACULAR CRASHES Two or three accidents marred the day’s sport, but fortunately no one was seriously injured. In the seventh race there occurred a spectacular crash which sent a thrill through the vast ( crowd. Two riders, Keeling and j Spence, came up the straight neck and neck, flying past the winning post almost abreast, although the judge ‘ awarded the second place to Spence, i Their speed was in the vicinity of 80 miles an hour. Within the next sec- j ond they had collided, machines and riders piling on the track. Spence quickly stood up, but Keeling was a huddled body right in the course of the following riders. By some miracle they evaded him, an ambulance was quickly J on the scene, and the unconscious rider , quickly removed. Fortunately, how- j ever, he was only dazed, and the greatest damage was a severe cut on the arm. Spence was unhurt. In the ; fifth race Stephenson came to grief, i but was unhurt. CLASSIFICATION In order to make the races as interesting and as fair as possible the riders were classified into groups according to their previous achievements. Class i A is open to machines and riders who have lapped better than 56 seconds; Class B is open to machines and riders who have lapped better than 595, but not better than 545, and Class C is open to those who have not lapped j better than 565. SPEED RECORDS BROKEN Several attempts were made during the afternoon to lower existing speed records, and some remarkable times were established. The world’s mile record on a grass track for 22 h.p machines, which previously stood to the credit of Lemon, at 535, was broken first by Goodwin (0.E.C.) at 51 l-ss, and shortly afterwards by W. White, riding a Rex Acme, who made -the wonderful time of 50 4-ss. Results;—• No. 1 RACE (350 c.c., five laps) R. A. Butler, A.J.S. (25sec) 1 W. White, Rex-Acme (15sec) 2 Keeling, A.J.S. (25sec) 3 Time, smin 15sec. Also Started.—C. Goodwin (scr), R. J. Arnott (scr), Walker (ssec), B. Bray (5), T. L. Blomfield Stephenson (124), A. Harker (12J), lan Spence (15), L. Coulthard (20), C. Goldberg (20), A. Finn (20), C. Yates (30), McQuoid (30), K. Yeates (30), Roberts (30) and Hill Four riders withdrew in the first lap owing to engine trouble. Butler took the lead in the second lap and remained there, winning by 40 yards, with only j 10 yards between second and third man. Coulthard and Goodwin were 1 next in. NO. 2 RACE (Open, 5 laps). W. Allen, Norton (10s) 1 i R. J. Arnott, Bitsa (ss) ’’ 2 i O. Shakespear, Lag It (255) 3 Time, 4m 31 4-ss. started: p - Coleman (scr), Curtis (20) B. Bray (20), D. Managh (20). W Herbert (22), Ranby (224), Coppins (23), .Richards (30), Crosbie (30). 7 Coleman’s machine developed trouble,

Las he was opening out In the second 1 and he had to withdraw. Allen . the front in the third lap and there despite a great effort by Arnauw*' by speed and careful cornering fJ,* himself into second place. Allas’ 1 33yds. The third man was NO. 3 RACE (600 c.c., 5 Ups). IC. Goodwin, O.E.C. (15s) jL. Walker, Rex-Acme (15s) .. .. : W. Allen, Norton (scr) ! Time, 6m is. Also started; Arnott (scr). Managk r? Herbert (7J), Ranby (71), Fletcher (je, j The three leaders were in the siposition throughout the . whole race, bt Goodwin won by 100yds, leaving Wajv-. and Allen to fight it out for the secw place. Herbert fourth, and after him A: : nott. NO. 4 RACE (Class A, 8 laps). ! O. Shakespear, 7 Lag It (171 s) i B. Bray, Douglas (171 s) • •Herbert, Indian (20s) Time, 7m 4 l-ss. Also started: P. Coleman (scr). (Ss). Curtis (12). Managh (15), Allen (S Coppins (30), Mclvor (30). Coleman, the scratch man, had di£. ; oulty with his engine wher. starting, did not take part. The winner, who i the limit man, led all the way, Bray l two lengths away. No. 5 RACE. (Class C. 5 laps.) i L. Coulthaxd, Velocette (30s) .. j Keeling, A.J.S. (30s) m : W. White, Rex Acme (15s) * ; | Time, 4.40. I Also started: Arnott (scr), Richard (5), Stephenson (25), Harker (25), K j Y'eates (20), Goldberg (30), Butler (24), c ; Yeates (30), McQuoid (30). Keeling led for the first threa hp. , when Coulthard pulled to the front ant remained there. The second place wi» • hotly contested by Keeling and Teat* and Keeling just managed to get In Th third position was eventually given ct*i to W. White, who had finished fourth Harker and Goldberg were next men NO. 6 RACE (Challenge Cup, six miles) • Herbert, Indian (1245) .. .. «. * 1 I Coleman, Harley (scr) .. M ; (Allen, Norton (10s) » - J ! Time, smin 10 l-ssec. j Also Started.—Arnott (scr), Bray (Si j Goodwin (10). Won by 35yds. Abim j 15yds between second and third. Herbert led all the way followed b; Allen, until the last lap when Coteraa who had been passing one man etc! lap, came up to second place. He coak not overhaul Herbert, however, who wtn by 35yds. Allen was only 15yds behind Colemit Bray kept third place for some time, anc ?t the start of the last lap was ridnu side by side with Coleman, and fini*h«£ fourth. Goodwin was a long way behbd closely followed by Arnott. No. 7 RACE (Class B, 5 laps) , Crosbie, Norton (20sec) ’ lan Spence, A.J.S. (25sec) .. .. .. ! Keeling, A.J.S. _(2osec) .. .. .. .... 1 , Time, smin 20sec. Also started* Shakespear (scr), Mclvor (25), Bray (scr), Walker (scr), Croebfe (20), Blomfield (20), Coulthaxd (kt Goldberg (25), Butler (15), Curtia (2i> Managh (2J), C. Yeates (35), K. Yeatei (35), Roberts (35). This was the largest field that lack the starter, and soon formed itaec into two or three bunches. For the first two laps K. Yeates Ik the field when Blomfield gained th< *4 vantage. In the final rqund, howevw ihe fell away and the three placed me: : came in closely bunched. Keeling and Spence, who had bee: riding level fof some laps, came up ft* ; straight and crossed the line neck ltd j neck. Immediately afterwards, liowew they-ran together, bringing both tnackiße doWn. Keeling was dazed and thosffc to be injured, but soon recovered. NO. 8 RACE (Class A.. 8 laps.) t Coleman, Harley (scr) J | Allen, Norton (15sec) ; Herbert, Indian (15sec) .. Time, 6min 40 2-ssec. Also Started.—Bray <7|). Managh (» j Ranby (25), Shakespear (15), Mclvor (M | Managh was riding a 7 h.p. “Bitn machine. This was the race in | Coleman showed his ability by drirfc* himself into the lead in the fifth hia position he retained, winning by * straight. Allen led for the first Un I laps, but was eclipsed by Coleman. He: | bert and Allen* crossed the line w i closely, with Arnott next and Shale-* ! pear in the rear. NO. 9 RACE (Open, 10 laps) Herbert, Indian (37i) .. .. ! Managh, Norton (45) | Shakespear, Lag It (30) ' Time, Smin 43sec. j i Also Started.—Coleman (scr), VBf | (45). Curtis (371), Bray (27*). Blcmfiel' • (45>, Harker (60). Managh led for five laps, closely ’ lowed by Herbert, who only passes in the second last lap, and woe * . 100yds. These two had the field to the®' selves, followed by Harker until u* , last lap, when Shakespear passe® *“7 | Coleman’s chain broke on the first m NO. 10 RACE (Final, 5 laps) Mclvor, 7 Indian (scr) i j . Goldberg, 2| Velocette (scr) * McQuiod, 22 A.J.S. (scr) ' Time, 4min 47 3-ssec. Also Started.—K. Yeates (2| Lea), Roberts (2J Connaught), C. (22 Chater Lea). t This event was commenced j rolling start and the first ana ***£ | men made a race of it- Mclvor j the position by a narrow • the rest of the field were well suv* out.