Motor-Racing Thrills

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 621, 25 March 1929, Page 14

Motor-Racing Thrills

OPENING OF NEW SPEEDWAY

Aero Stunts By Moths

OVER 9.000 spectators witnessed the lirst motor-racing meeting on the new Mangere speedway on Saturday. Vehicles of every kind rushed the crowds to the ground, and many had to turn back disappointed after waiting in vain in the queue, such was the popularity of the fixture.

In declaring the track open, Mr. Arthur Grayson, president of the Auckland Automobile Association, said that though dirt-track racing was not so fast as banked track or beach racing, it was considerably more spectacular. The A.A.A. had abandoned Muriwai Beach races with the greatest reluctance, but they thought the new racing would be more popular, and it was considerably more accessible. That the A.A.A. was able to run the first dirt-track meeting in New Zealand on a properly constructed track was due to the vision and enterprise of Mr. George Henning, the owner of the property. In spite of the pessimism of the association in years gone by as to the possibility of forming a track, Mr. Henning had gone ahead, and the track now gave the promise of being one of the best tracks in the world. The track was by no means complete. so that an appeal for well-tem-pered criticism was in order. He hoped that spectators and competitors would enjoy the first meeting. Mr. G. Henning briefly replied, expressing his confidence in the future of the track and his pride a.t the first meeting on the speedway which he had visualised and worked for over many Everything considered, the new track was in excellent condition, although it showed signs of being wet along the back. The track is constructed completely round the mangrove swamp, is slightly banked all the way, and is a mile and a-quarter in circumference. SMITH MAKES FAST LAP A thrilling afcrial performance was witnessed during the afternoon, when pilots Major G. A. C. Cowper and Major Iv. Caldwell, of the Auckland Aero Club, gave displays of dives, corkscrews, spins, loops and Immelmann turns overhead. The highest speeds of the day were registered in the motor-cycle events, but several of the cars were at times runningv well over 60 miles an hour —a speed which provides an abundance of excitement on a dirt track. The race for diminutive 7 to 9 h.p. cars over two laps of the 12-mile circuit was won at an average of 43 miles an hour. Open touring cars averaged 445 miles an hour in the three-lap event, and in the women’s race Miss G. Clarke won the Dawson Cup at 43 miles an hour. Fast machines turned out for the All-comers’ Handicap, and the winning car averaged 585 miles an hour. The 90-guinea cup presented by Mrs. H. Butcher for an event exclusive to closed cars was won by a Morris Minor at 40 miles an hour. In the Open Handicap, a 12^-miles event, the speed of the first car averaged 51 miles an hour. The fastest car lap of the day was made by G. Smith, who covered the circuit in lm 16s. This driver becomes the holder of a silver-mounted helmet presented by Mr. Henning for the lap record. Both motor-cycle events were won by C. Goldberg, his speeds being 645 miles an hour in the three-lap event and 605 miles an hour in the five-lap contest. He also was timed over one lap at lm 10s. Following are the results: MOTOR-CYCLE HANDICAP 3 laps C. GOLDBERG 1 A. W. MATTSON 2 P. A. BUTLER 6 Time 3min 28 4-ssec. As usual motor-cyclists turned out in force, British machines having an almost complete monopoly. Riding a great race, C. Goldberg simply ran away from the field, passing the limit man in the second lap and going out to win by over a quarter of a mile. Mattson, Butler and A. Cuthbertson finished in a heap. OPEN TOURING CAR HANDICAP 3 laps. Cars over 9 h.p. G CAMPBELL 1 A. P. PAINE 2 C. J. PAINE 3 Scratchings: W. Fordor, L. J-lardley. In this race the big cars went on the track for the first time. Four Americans and a British car faced the starter. Campbell caught Paine in front of the stand, tho Sunbeam being already out of it, also the Chrysler, which failed at the start. The three left continued to make a fight of it over the next lap, but there was no change in the order, Campbell winning by two chains, a chain separating second and third. WOMEN’S HANDICAP 2 laps. MISS G. CLARKE (Buick), 20sec .... 1 MRS. MACFARLANE (Morris Minor). MRS. E. M. WHITE (Triumph)’, 50sec 3 Only four drivers faced the starter. Mrs. E. M. White led out from a Morris Minor, with Miss O. Clarke next. In the second lap the Buick went to the lead and finished three chains ahead of Mrs. White, with Mrs. Macfarlane the same distance away, third. Mrs. M. Campbell was well away, fourth. ALL-COMERS’ HANDICAP Distance, 5 laps. First Heat G. SMITH (Smithe Special), 60sec .. ..1 H. S. BLYTH (Bugatti). 60see 2 P. B. WHITE (Triumph), 120 sec .... 3 Time, 6min Slsec. Owing to the course being anti-clock-wise R. B. Wilson did not start the champion Stutz. With a great exhibition of driving G. Smith, in the Smithe Special, lapped the field in the second round of the first lap, and in the fourth Blyth passed the limit driver, White. Smith did not reduce speed and won by half a mile or more from the Bugatti. having nearly lapped the rest of the field and averaged just tha nearest fraction under 60 miles an

hour—a great performance. A quarter of a mile seperated second and third. Second Heat R. D. WRAIGHT (Chrysler). 40»ec . 1 A. DONALD ‘(Hudson Special). 65sec 2 P. F. NASH (Studebaker), lOOsec .. 3 Time. 7min 17 5-ssec. G. Campbell, in an Essex, established a long lead on the field, which contained several specials, and gave Wraight in a Chrysler in racing rig a long chase, but Campbell fell out in the fourth lap, leaving Wraight unchallenged, to win by half a mile. WRAIGHT (Chrysler). 40sec 1 SMITH (Smithe Special), 60seo .. .. 2 BLYTH (Bugatti), GOsec 3 Time. 6min 25 1 -Gsec. In the final Smith had 20sec from Wraight and immediately jumped into second place in the first lap, White having nearly a lap start. White passed up till he had only the Bugatti in front, and he passed this along- the back in the third lap. and set out after Smith. He took the lead in the fourth lap. A minute later Wraight also passed the small car and started after the leader, with 100yds to catch up in the lap. He gained it and 50yds more, to win by this distance, a great race, the Bugatti third, a quarter of a mile away. MOTOR-CYCLE HANDICAP Five laps. C. GOLDBERG (Royal Enfield). 15sec 1 R. J. KEELING (A.J.S.), ISsec .... 2 A. W. MATTSON (Raleigh), 20sec . . 3 Goldberg again completely outrode the field, to win by over half a mile. A great race for second was won by R. J. Keeling, with two lengths to spare. In this event Goldberg, riding brilliantly, lapped one and a-quarter miles in lmin lOsec, or a few seconds faster than the f.xstest car. time up to that race. CLOSED TOURING CAR HANDICAP, Of two laps. HARRISON AND GASH. LTD. (A. McGuire), (Morris Minor), 35sec.. 1 P. R. SKEATES (Oakland)., lOsec. .. 2 G. SPINKS (Hupinobile), 20sec 3 This race was the classic of the day, for a 90-guineas cup presented by Mrs. IT. Butcher A Morris Minor led out a group of American productions, and was never caught, winning by 300 yards. P. R. Skeates took second place easily from G. Spinks. OPEN HANDICAP, Of 10 laps. G. SMITH (Smithe Special), 10sec .. 1 P. B. WHITE (Triumph), 180 sec 2 A. DONALD (Hudson Special), 120 sec 3 This was the big race of the day, and was somewhat of a puzzle, as some of the small cars were nearly two laps on their way when It started. Wilson, with his Stutz, and Wraight’s Chrysler, were non-starters. Smith was left with easily the fastest car, and he was giving G. Campbell a minute. On the second lap the field was spread out around the circle, White’s Triumph leading, and BlytU’s Bugatti last. Smith got down to 1.15 for a lap, then slightly slower, and in the fourth lap had passed everything but the Triumph and Campbell, the latter now having taken the lead. Smith had started a mile behind Campbell, and in the sixth lap, after a brilliant chase, passed him, and took the lead. Lapping just on GO miles an hour, with frequent hair-raising skids, Smith tore on, the track being now very heavy, and cut up in places. With a lead of half a mile, he slowed up. In the eighth round Campbell retired, Smith winning by three-quarters of a lap. P. B. White, in the Triumph, was second, and A. Donald third, several chains awav, Time, 14min 33 2-ssec.

i MOTOR-CYCLE RACES NORTH SHORE CLUB j SPORTS AT OREWA t The North Shore Motor-cycle and - Sports Club held its annual picnic t ‘> nd sports gathering - at Orewa duri ing the week-end. The beach was in 5 very fine condition. The breeze was ' blowing lengthwise, the beach thus ! making the racing on one leg of the two-mile course take longer. About 100 motor-cyclists from all over the city attended and a goodly number I of motorists made the beach a ren- > dezvous. The sports provided for a side-car event as well as solo riding, and were got off smartly and with - ? out hitch of any kind. The open ' handicap brought out a field of 12 and went to S. Casey, the scratch man, " who gloried in No. 13. The flying > quarter-mile attracted many entrants, s but the best time was 12sec, though i several riders managed it in that 1 time. Last year the half-mile was ridden in 19 2-ssec. The officials responsible for the success of the sports were: Messrs. T. Walsh, Tl. Martin, A. Myers, T. Blom--1 field and E. Richardson. ( Results: * Side-Car Championship, 6 miles, with * 5 turns—l. Robinson, Royal Enfield, 20sec start, 1; W. Marriot, 8.5. A., scr., 2. Time, , 1; W. Marriot, 8.5. A., scr., 2. Time, L 7min 28 2-ssec. 2£ 0.H.V., 6 miles, 5 turns; for Sut- ■ c-liffe Cup—T. Crosbie, Rex, 1; Mat- ; thews, Enfield, 2; Griffiths. Rex, 3. Time, 6min 6 2-ssec. 3i 0.H.V., 8 miles, 7 turns —S. Casey, Rudge, 1; R. Bull, Norton, 2; R. Shaw, A.J.S., 3. Time, 7min 37 2-ssec. North Shore Club Championship, 6 miles, 5 turns, foi* Brier Cup; cycle to * be ridden by owner—T. Blomfield Harl ley, 1; E. Walls, Brough, 2; Tonar, 5 Norton, 3. Time, 6min lOsec. Open Championship, 10 miles, 9 turns; . for Mine Cup—S. Casey, Rudge, 1; T. i Crosbie, Rex, 2; R. Bull* Norton, 3. Time, 9min 25 2-ssec. , Open Handicap 6 miles, 5 turns —S. ; Casey, scr, 1; T. Crosbie, ssec, 2; R. , Bull, ssec, 3. Time, smin 43 4-ssec. t Flying Quarter-mile —Running into the i wind the best time was 12sec, regisi tered by Casey and Bull, on a Rudge i machine, and Griffith on a Rex. Other t times were: 12 2-ssec; 12 4-ssec and i 13sec.