KILLING THE GOOSE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 653, 3 May 1929, Page 7

KILLING THE GOOSE

HAVING pierced the strong barrier of conservatism which retards so many of those new branches of sport which endeavour to gain a footing in Auckland, motor speedway racing, favoured with thrills and exciting turns unequalled in other pastimes, has made its grand and successful debut as one of the more popular diversions. For, after the initial meeting at the Mangere Speedway, which was particularly well attended, the game showed promise of going rapidly ahead. But the bad organisation generally which attended the second meeting, staged last Saturday by the Muriwai Racing Club, can only spell disaster to this new and attractive sport. Early in the afternoon officials found themselves an hour behind time with the running off of the events, aud disgruntled and justified nmrnuirings came from the many spectators present. The checking system was far from infallible and with dangerously large fields and wide.liandicaps it was found impossible to follow the race and check the cars off, lap by lap, with any degree of necessary accuracy. Protests are to be deplored in any sport, but there were I many on Saturday, from drivers, owners and spectators. Strong arguments and protests followed the announcing of the result of the first race on the programme, and to preserve some peace and quietness the officials were obliged to have the event re-run. Then again, in the big race of the day, those in charge completely lost check on the lapping and the final flags appeared to be waved quite indiscriminately. The announcing of this result was also met with a sharp protest. But inter-mingled in all the tangle on Saturday there was sufficient to indicate that motor speedway racing, promoted and controlled with any reasonable degree of care and organisation, lias the “goods”—thrills and exciting turns—which will attract large attendances. But unless the Muriwai Racing Club can tighten up its control at future meetings it will in a short time kill the goose that lays the golden egg.