Thrills on the Cinders

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 835, 2 December 1929, Page 7

Thrills on the Cinders

WESTERN SPRINGS OPENING

Many Spills at Stadium

ALTHOUGH there was little actual broailsiding. thrills in plenty awaited spectators at the Western Sprinps Stadium on Saturday evening when Auckland hail its first taste ot’ cinder track racing. Spectacular >pills were many, in oue race all four competitors falling, one cycle bursting into flames.

For their tirst appearance on the cinders, the Auckland riders did remarkably well, l.en Coulthard especially showing a turn of speed which gave him an easy victory in the second race final. Cass Goodwin, another local racer, was the only one to finish in the opening handicap final.

Set in a bowl formed by sloping hill sides, the stadium at Western Springs makes an ideal sports ground. Tiers of concrete seats surround the cycle track, which is separated from the cinder’ track on which the motorcycles race by a three-foot safety fence. In the centre is an oval of green, which will be used for football and other sports. Seen on a race night, a ring of white faces staring tensely from the gloom beyond the glare of the powerful electric floodlights, the spectator is reminded forcibly of the old Roman arena where sport was made in the early days .of history.

"This dirt-track raving sport has made an excellent beginning in other centres of the Dominion, and. judging by the crowd here tonight, will be immensely popular in Auckland,’’ said the Mayor, Air. George Baildon. in opening the stadium on Saturday night. “We have a good track here, which will improve with use, there are seats for 11,000 spectators already, and plenty of access from the two tramlines will be provided.”

The sports area covers 27 acres, and there is sufficient space around to provide accommodation for 70.000 people. The council has spent £24,300 so far, and will later build a grandstand on the lower side of the field. Meetings have been arranged for every Saturday and holiday, and others may be staged by Auckland Speedways. Ltd., by arrangement. HISTORY OF SCHEME The history of the scheme was traced by the Mayor, who said that the unemployment rife m the city had provided the driving force necessary to carry into execution the building 01 a municipal sports ground, long felt to be essential. Through relief work, the area had been built at a comparatively small cost to the citizens, forming a centre to house the bigger displays of all sports. The cinder track itself is said by visiting riders to be equal to any overseas. Fourteen thousand spectators gasped as they saw their first exhibition of

"broadsiding,” a terrifying-looking scientific skid, the cinders flying in a curling wave from the back wheels of i the motor-cycles as they roared at i high speed round the corners, their j wide-open exhausts spitting long 1 flames. Round dashed the riders, collisions appearing imminent at almost every moment. A machine would slide suddenly sideways on the loose surface, throwing the rider several yards, or would somersault from a soft patch. For a time spectators seemed afraid that competitors would be seriously injured in one of these spectacular crashes, but it soon became apparent that crash helmets. leather suits and heavy boots afford sufficient protection. Eight members of the St. John Ambulance were in attendance, but their services- were never really required, although a number of cases of gravel rash were dealt with. Rain marred the meeting but it could not drive away the spectators once they had sensed the thrills and excitement awaiting them. Exhibitions of "broadsiding” by Australian artists were applauded loudly. Results are as follow; OPENING HANDICAP

First heat: W. Allen (Norton), Ssec, 1; A. McLaren (0.E.C.). 9sec, 2. Allen tooK charge in the second lap to win by 50 yards. Time, 1.50 4-5. Second heat: C. Goldberg (Royal Enfield), Gsec, 1; A. Lemon (Rex Acme). ssec, 2. Won by 50 yards. Time, 1.47 4-5. A. Afattson ran off the track and was disqualified. Bray stayed- at the post. Third heat: C. Goodwin (Royal Enfield), 6sec, 1; L. Coulthard (Rex Acme), Gsec, 2. Won by 30 yards. Time, 1.44. Coulthard led the second time round, but could not hold the pace. K. McLaren ran off and was disqualified. Fourth heat: There were no placings in this heat, as all four starters crashed. K. Yeats (Rex Acme) was first to fall, being followed shortly by W. Herbert (Royal Enfield). P. Butler (A.J.S.) in swinging across behind J. Garmson (Rex Acme) struck the latter’s back wheel and crashed. Garmson fell on the next turn, his machine bursting into flames. Yeates remounted but the danger signal forced him to retire. FINAL C. Goldberg (Royal Enfield), Gsec, 1. The only one to finish. Time. 1.40 2-5. Entering the third lap AY. Allen's machine stopped. A. Lemon fell on the second corner, but remounted. The danger light stopped the race. WESTERN SPRINGS HANDICAP First heat: S. Perkins (Harley-David-son), scr, 1; A. Naylor (Rudge-Whit-worth), 9see, 2. Won by SO yards. Time. 1.45 4-5. AJcKenzie fell on the second turn. McGhee fell at the same turn a lap later. Second heat: C. Harvey (Norton), 4sec, 1; P. McGhee (New Hudson). ssec, 2. Won by 100 yards. Time, 1.43 2-5. W. Allen's machine stopped early in the race. Third heat: A. Mann (Douglas), scr, 1; C. Goodwin (Royal Enfield), Ssec, 2. Won by a lap. Time, 1.52 4-5. Goodwin fell ar.ti the danger signal stopped the race. At the next start, A. Lemon (Rex Acme) fell during the first round, Goodwin following closely. Both remounted, but Lemon fell again. Fourth heat: L. Coulthard (Rex Acme), scr, 1 : C. Goldberg (Royal Enfield), scr, 2. Won by 100 yards. Time. 1.44 4-5. Bell fell. Semi-final: C. Harvey (Norton). 4see, 1: A. Naylor (Rudge-Whit-worth), 9sec, 2. Won by 20 yards. Time,

1.4 S 4-5. Perkins (scr.) withdrew own to engine trouble. The winner lapped in 26sec. Second semi-final: l. Coulthard. 1; A. Mann, 2. Won by a lap. Time. 1.43 3-5. Mann struck the edge of the turf and fell, but remounted to .set se. olid place. Goldberg fell in the lasi lap and finished third. FINAL L. Coulthard (Rex-Acme) Ssec. .. 1 A. Mann tDouglas), scr .. .. 2 Won by 200 yards. Time. 1.41. Coulthard led well from the start. The two Wellington men, A. Naylor and c. Harvey, fell early in the race and wet. unable to finish within the three minutes allowed, giving the winner an easy vu tovy. Mann fell a few yards from th« post, pushing his machine into second place. CHALLENGE RACE Auckland v. Wellington First heat: Mattson (Norton. Auckland. 1: McGhee (New Hudson', Wei in g ton. 2. Won by 20 yards. Time. 1.44 4-5. From a flying start Ben Bra' (Douglas) led from Mattson, with the Wellington men handy. Bray fell on to* second to last corner. Second heat: V Allen (Norton). Auckland, 1: Harve; (Douglas). Wellington. 2. Won by a wheel. Time, 1.37 1-5. This was the closest finish of The evening. McKenzie (A.J.S.) was left at the first turn. He> beit fell at. the fourth turn, leaving on* representative of each city to fight it FINAL t\ Harvey (Douglas). Wellington 1 P. McGhee (New Hudson). Wellington 2 Won by 50yds Time, 3.38 2-5. By far the most spectacula - incident occurred during this race. Allen's Norton stopped dead in the centre of the track on a beml. Ilarvey and McGhee, riding close behind, put their machines int< fierce broadsides in order to avoid a collision, passing between the stalled machine and the safety fence, which they missed by inches. MATCH RACE S. Perkins (Rex Acme) \ A. Mann (Douglas) Won by half a lap. Time. 1 39. Maun fell on the third corner through riding too close to the turf, but remounted.