Aerplane to Race Motor-Cycle in Thrilling Speed Test

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 601, 1 March 1929, Page 7

Aerplane to Race Motor-Cycle in Thrilling Speed Test

Motor-Cycle Sports at Takapuna Racecourse To-Morrow Over 25 Riders will Drive Machines to Speed of 75 m.p.h. or Better—Chinese Rider From Huntly to Compete — Blackburn-Blue bird will Race Three Laps with Fastest Motor-Cycle

—Coleman Faces Strong Opposition in Bray, Managh , Herbert and Co

W * 1"H riders from all parts of New Zealand, 25 of whom are capable of driving their machines over the grass racing circuit at 75 m.p.h. or better, the big motor-cycle sports at Takapuna to-morrow should provide an abundance of thrills. Percy Coleman. New Zealand champion, heads an entry list of Maoriland’s fastest racing riders, and the big thrill of the day will be a speed clash, airplane v. motor-cycle, over three laps of the course. The meeting to-morrow promises to bo the best ever staged in the history of motor-cycle racing in New Zealand. About £2OO in prize money will be distributed, and at least 25 of the riders to appear can circle the Takapuna course in under 55sec, a speed equal to 75 m.p.h. The record entries for the long list of races includes a number of crack riders from the South. in fact, this meeting may well prove i to be a meeting of all the New Zea- j land champions. Certainly more pro- j vincial champions will be seen to- ; gether in one race than ever before. The star performer will of course be Percy Coleman, of Wanganui, the New Zealand champion and the idol of speed fiends. To-morrow, however, he will have to look to his laurels, for he will have to compete against a speedy quin--Bray, Managh, Morgan. Herbert and Ranly. All of these riders havebeen equalling Coleman’s times recently, and at recent speed events throughout the North Island where they have appeared have been bunched neck-and-neck past the finishing-post. Herbert is a New Zealander who recently attempted the speed tracks of Sydney. Tie appeared on only two occasions on the cinders, and his record is two heats and two semi-finals. Since then he has had his Indian specially tuned by an American motorcycle expert in Australia named Tennis. This man is an absolute wizard at tuning motor-cycle engines, but does it in a room by himself—no one is allowed to see what he does, but everyone can see what the machine can do afterwards. It is possible that Herbert could now clip 5 seconds off his previous time for the Takapuna course, and should circle the track in ;»osec (the world’s grass track record is about 50 3-ssec). Coleman still sticks to his tried and trusted friend the Harley--Davidson. He is said to have in-

KLilminster, of Otaki, a rider who lias done very well during the last three or four years in Southern meetings, js coming up to attempt to wrest the 22 h.p. record from Auckland riders. Also outstanding among the riders are Lemon, who has a particularly fin© machine this year; Coulthard,

stalled a new .eight-valve .engine in his Harley recently. Bray rides a Douglas, Ranby an Indian, and Morgan a 3i h.p. New Hudson. Managh, who has previously raced on Indians and Harleys, will also be seen on a 3i h.p. New Hudson. In addition to these champions, there will be quite a number of Southerners on the Auckland track for the first time who have been riding consistently well in the South. Foremost among these are the two

brothers R. Tolley and W. If. Tolley. The former comes from Feilding, and rides a Norton; his brother is a Wellingtonian and rides a 22 h.p. Harley’. Other Wellingtonians are Allen, who has a fast Norton; Wilkinson, a Harley rider; and Radeliffe, Norton, who will appear in a number of races.

whose riding has greatly improved recently, and the well-known Arnott, of Hastings. Lee Young, the latest addition to the ranks of racing motorcyclists, is a young Chinese who hails from Huntly. Incidentally, he is the first Chinese rider to compete in track races in Australasia. Young has been riding at several of the meetings, and those who have seen him in action speak highly of his riding. On Saturday he

I will be riding a New Imperial ' *’iin is Huntly s sole represent.iu\ «•*>»* ' has the sound reputation ot aivta. j finishing—even if be isn't among t' placed men. . | The biggest events to-morrow " I be first the N.Z. Middle-weight t bam . pionship of 10 miles, for which no let than 16 men have already entereand second, the race to be run rigi ; after that, entitled “The Challeivi Cup." The eight best riders of ti ! day will compete. So far Colema Managh, Morgan, Bray. Herbert an Ranby are certainties, j The others will most probably V selected from either Goodwin. Arnot I Kilminster, Walker. Allen, or D. Smitl all riders who. in the opinion of loci ! authorities, with the others just name. | make up the dozen fastest speedstei j to be on the track on Saturday. A novelty on Saturday, and an j event which is bound to be popular with the public, will be the contest between the Blackburn Bluebird light airplane and the fastest motor-cycle on the course. 1 The race will be over three circuits. Percy Coleman will probably be the motor-cyclist. Lieutenant lan Keith will pilot the ! Bluebird, which will fly low, so that spectators can look forward to a thrilling and interesting contest.

Several years ago, at a motor race meeting at Christchurch. a similar event was staged, an Avro from the Canterbury Aviation Company being matched with Crawley, who was mounted on a fast Harley-Davidson machine. Crawley, who was then at the height of his career, won narrowly from the Avro.

There are nine events on the programme, the first race being timed to start at 1.30 p.m. There will be fewer delays than in previous years, partly because more races have to be run off in the same time and partly because there will of necessity be a number of heats. The Devonport Band will play during the afternoon. Afternoon tea and drinks will be available on the ground. Four loud speakers have been installed round the gronds, and an official announcer will keep the public advised of alterations to the programme. This will be kept to a minimum, but the riders have always the right to qualify for faster races on their earlier performances.

Special arrangements have been made with the Ferry Company to transport the huge crowds across the harbour. Special through ferry tickets may be purchased at the Ferry Buildings, which will also admit bearer to the grounds.