Speed Kings at Muriwai

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 608, 9 March 1929, Page 13

Speed Kings at Muriwai

Beach Racing Thrills To-Day

Visiting Driver Has Easy Win

(Special to THE SUN J HIUII-POW EKED racing cars and motor-cycles roared along Muriwai Beach to-day, thrilling the large crowd which attended the first annual meeting of the Muriwai Motor Racing Club, Limited.

\S in previous years Muriwai, with __ long ocean beach and abundance of snug, comfortable picnicking and camping spots, provided a grand rendezvous lor motorists from all parts of the province. The heavy showers on Thursday morning had laid the dust on the main road from the city and, in spite of patches of tricky, loose metal, and a few potholes, motorists had a pleasant run. The road was in much better condition than last year. , , From five o clock yesterday afternoon cars of visitors began to stream into the Motuara Domain, and evening found over 60 parties in camp. In a close stream hundreds of cars found their way this morning over the picturesque route to the beach, where racing engines being tuned-up roared and rumbled. A light south-east breeze from the sea was blowing early, but later this dropped. Many visitors sought relief from the glaring heat of the iron sand beach in swimming and surfing. To-day’s meeting was the first promoted by the Muriwai Motor Racing Club. In. previous years the Auckland Automobile Association controlled racing at Muriwai, but this ceased with the construction of the Manger© speedway. The new club was formed to keep the sport alive. Results: TOURING CAR HANDICAP For cup; 5 miles, with four turns. R, Shorter (Chrysler), lOsec 1 A. B. Bevage (Chrysler), 30sec . . . . 2 J. K. N. Hyde (Hupmobile), 30sec .. 3 Time, 6.51 2-5. S. McGrath, in a Rugby, led the way from a good start and at the end of the dr*t lap was leading from A. Hayes (Rugby) by 50yds. In the second lap B. Shorter, by a tremendous burst of ipeed, took the lead from the Rugby and passed the post 100yds ahead of the other Chrysler. QUALIFICATION SWEEPSTAKES Of £ls; 125 miles, with ten turns. 0. East (Bugattl 4), 15sec 1 A Roycroft (Bugatti 4), 45sec 2 B. Shorter (Chrysler) 3 Time, 12,9 4-5.

At the end of the first lap A. P. McDonald (Hudson Special) had the lead from Roycroft, who. in turn, hud overtaken the limit starter, J. H. N. Hyde (Hupmobile). At the end of the next lap the Messenger Special, driven by A. R. E. Messenger, turned short and had to go back. East came into the lead in the third lap, followed at the turn by Roycroft and R. Taylor (Buggatti 8).

Entering the last lap C. East still had the lead, followed some distance away by Roycroft. The cars closed up coming down the home straight, but East led past the post to win by over a mile, two miles separating second and third. MOTOR-CYCLE RACE (Open) For Trophy; 10 miles, with eight turns A. W. Mattson (Rex Acme), 25sec .... 1 L. McLaren (A.J.S.), 25sec 2 R. Bull (Norton) 3 Time, 10.53. The majority of competitors In this event did not have numbers and both officials and spectators found is difficult to distinguish the riders. A. W. Mattson won by over half a mile. R. B. WILSON AUSTRALASIAN BEACH CHAMPIONSHIP Of £BS and Cup; 25 miles with 20 turns. R. B. Wilson (Stutz) 1 A. Roycroft (Buggatti 4) 2 C. East (Buggatti 4) 3 Time, 25min 25 l-ssec. Six speed kings roared away from a beautiful start, R. Wilson taking the lead right, away. R. Taylor (Buggatti 8, super-charged) managed the first turn well, and at the next he passed the Stutz. Entering the second lap the Buggatti was leading by 100 yards, but at the next turn he dropped out through engine trouble, leaving Wilson with a good lead from R. D. Wraith (Chrysler). Passing the judges’ box at the end of lap three, the field had closed up considerably, but the Stutz was still aquarter of a mile from Roycroft and C. East, racing level in their Buggattis. The Chrysler then dropped out. The Stutz dashed past at the end of the fifth lap nearly half a mile ahead of Roycroft, who was followed closed by East. Going up the beach Roycroft had to stop his engine to make readjustments, and that put K. Cauldwell, in the Miller Special, in second place. The two Buggattis crossed the line together in the seventh lap in third place, the Stutz leading the Miller by a-quarter of a mile. The Miller, however, dropped out during the next time round, and Roycroft went into second place, where he led East by 100 yards. Three cars only were now in the race. With half a lap to go R. Wilson’s Stutz had over half a mile lead from Roycroft, and over a mile from East. The cars finished in this order, without any appreciable change in position.