Speed Kings

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 788, 8 October 1929, Page 14

Speed Kings

RACING MOTORISTS LOOK FORWARD TO BIG SEASON ON GRASS AND CINDERS NEW STADIUMS PREPARING Motor-cycling will come into its own as a sport this summer, when the opening of the new Western Springs stadium will give local speedsters an opportunity to vie with one another in speed and skill on what is expected to prove the best cinder track in Australia or New Zealand. In addition, grass track races will be held at Takapuna and beach races at Muriwai and at Orewa. Dirt track events will be decided at the Mangere speedway. The touring side will not be neglected. The Sports Motor-Cycle Club, a representative body with more than 300 names on its membership list, has already arranged one of the longest reliability trials ever held in the Dominion for the Labour Day week-end, and during the season will stage a number of club runs of various types. There will be shorter reliability runs, probably both Solo and pillion, hillclimbing tests and novelty runs, such as paper-chases and treasure hunts. A similar programme will be drawn up by the North Shore Sports MotorCycle Club, which has a membership of about 80. The Ladies’ Progressive Motor-Cycle Club, which lias more than 25 active members, will join in several of the runs, as well as holding a number of its own. AUCKLAND STARTS NEXT MONTH The racing season will open in New Zealand on Labour Day with grass track meetings at Whangarei and Foxton. The Auckland public will probably have its first taste of cinder track speeding on November 9. when it is hoped the Western Springs stadium will be ready for use by Auckland Speedways, Ltd. This body proposes to hold meetings every Saturday night from November until March or April. MEETINGS ARRANGED Meetings already arranged by other bodies in Auckland include the Sports Motor-Cycle Club’s annual event at Muriwai early in November, and the same club's dirt track meeting on Mr. George Henning’s speedway at Mangcre. The North Shore Club will race at Orewa early in December. A grass track meeting lias been fixed by the Auckland Motor-Racing Club for December 7, on Takapuna racecourse, and another will be held some time in March. There will be motor-cycle events in the Muriwai Motor Racing Club’s day at Muriwai on January 25. The light-weight championship of New Zealand is to be decided on a local track. More than 20 special racing machines are to be ridden in Auckland this ‘season. A. Lemon’s new mount will be a Harley-Davidson frame, powered by a 22 h.p. A.J.S. motor. A. McLaren has selected a special O.E.C. frame, fitted with the new duplex steering. He will have a J.A.P. engine. T. Blomfield will ride his HarleyDavidson at Whangarei on Labour Day and at other meetings until his new Royal Enfield arrives. W. Herbert, formerly an Indian rider, will also be seen this year on a Royal Enfield. E. AValls has chosen a T.T. Velocette as this season’s mount, as has also A. Bowler. A. Matson has built his own frame and has ordered a specially tuned Raleigh motor. L. Coulthard will be seen on his Velocette on the dirt track, but will probably bo riding a Rex Acme at Whangarei. C. Goldberg has the same Royal Enfield, with slight alterations. W. Allen will probably be on his Norton again.