Lap Record Established

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 847, 16 December 1929, Page 7

Lap Record Established

SPEED AT WESTERN SPRINGS Fast Times On Saturday THE highest speeds ever seen on cinders in Auckland and certainly the most spectacular crash and exciting finish, were witnessed by more than 10,000 people at the Western Springs Stadium on Saturday evening. The programme finished late through attempts on setting the track lap record being made during the evening, the surface having to be smoothed after each lap. The official lap record was established by Alf Mattson, an Auckland rider, although later Jimmy Datson. an Australian star, covered a lap in two-fifths of a second less during the match race.

Sixteen events were decided on Saturday evening, all giving satisfying finishes and some providing the best exhibitions yet seen at Western Springs. In a semi-final of the Speedway Handicap inches only separated the first two men.

the end of the second round. lie was overhauling: the leaders when his engine faltered and it was all he could do to finish in second place. Allen (Norton) fell in the third lap. Second heat: A. Mattson (Norton), ss, 1; Syd Perkins (Harley-Davidson), scr, 2. Won by 10 yards. Time, 1.41 3-5. Mattson came up fast and took the lead from McLaren in the second time round. Butler fell. Mattson almost followed, but made a masterly recovery. A struggle between Perkins and Mattson marked the closing laps. Perkins struck the wave of cinders thrown up by the leader’s back wheel and had to slow down on the last bend. Third heat: A. Mann (Douglas), scr, 1: Keith Yates (Rex Acme), 7s, 2. Won by 100 yards. Time, 3.44 3-5. Len Coulthard (Velocette) assumed control early, riding at a good speed, but his engine failed him. Garmson crashed, coming to rest facing the opposite direction. This left Mann in the lead with Yates tailing well behind. Fourth heat: W. Herbert (Royal Enfield), ss, 3: Jack Peek (Royal Eillield), Gs, 2. Time, 1.41. Herbert beat the track lap record during this record. His riding saved a smash during the second round. Peek, who was riding just ahead with Way (Rex Acme), the only other starter, a little to one side, struck a rut and wobbled badly. Herbert managed to swing wide. Way’s machine stopped and Peek struck trouble, finishing slowlj'. First semi-final: W. Herbert, 1: A. Mann. 2. Won by half a wheel. Time, 1.40 2-5. This was the most exciting finish of the evening. Herbert got away badly. Mann, conceding five seconds handicap, passed Peek and Yates in a lap and was hot on Herbert’s trail. Flying cinders hampered his progress and lie could not quite gain the lead. Mann dashed in on the last corner, where Herbert swung wide and almost secured the decision. Second semi-final: S. Perkins, 1. Time, 1.39. Goldberg fell and Perkins failed to start in the first round, and the red lights recalled the starters. The second time all three got away, but Mattson’s engine cut out before be had completed half a circuit. Perkins almost fell, but saved himself. Goldsberg’s engine failed, giving Perkins an easy win. Final S. Perkins (Harley-Davidson), scr 1 A. Mann (Douglas), scr 2 Won by 10 yards. Time, 1.3 S 1-5. This was the fastest time of the evening. Herbert, with five seconds’ handicap, had a good lead, but Perkins was going fast behind him. Flying cinders, however, hindered him. The three kept these places, but the gap between them decreased. Herbert was leading and should have won comfortably had he not fallen on the last corner.

Three Australians, Arthur Mann, Syd. Perkins and Jimmy Datson, were seen in action, providing a wonderful thrill in a special match race. The first two have become well known in Auckland during the three meetings in which they have appeared. They go South today and will not appear here again for some time. However, Datson will be joined before next Saturday by Billy Sticpewich, who has met with great success in Christchurch, and by Les. Lawrence, another speedy cinder shifter. There was some disappointment over the nonappearance of Percy Coleman, the grass track champion, who injured one hand at the Henning's Speedway, Mangere, during the races in the afternoon. However, he appeared before the crowd and was driven around the track in a car amid applause. Ben Bra}-, the Whangarei speedster, was also absent through a mishap at the some meeting, where a cinder lodged in one eye. The match race between the three men from across the Tasman provided the main thrill of. the evening. Datson was leading from Perkins and Mann, all within a few yards of one another. At the last corner of the third lap Datson lost control, his machine mounting the three-foot safety fence and balancing there a moment before dropping back on the track. Helpers had barely dragged the machine away when the other two, on their final lap, fell together at the same corner, a few yards from the finishing line. Mann restarted his engine but Perkins was forced to push in his mount to fill second place. No one was injured, and Datson’s machine escaped damage except for bent handlebars. However, he did not ride again that evening. The lap record was set up by Alf. Mattson, an 18-year-old Auckland rider, of Ellerslie, who went round in 22 3-5 seconds. Later in the evening' W. Herbert, another A u c k - lander, rode a lap in 22 2-5 seconds, and the Australian, Datson, lowered even this time by one-fifth of a second during the match race. The fastest time for four laps was done by S. Perkins, who covered the mile in 1.38 1-5. The Dominion record for this distance is 1.31 1-5, put up at the Kilbirnie Stadium, Wellington, by Wally Kilminster and Billy Sticpewich, both of whom will ride at Western Springs later in the season. Results: OPEN HANDICAP First heat: A. Mattson (Norton), ssee, 1; Day (A.J.S.), Ssec, 2. Time, 1.39 1-5. Mattson took the lead passing the judge’s box for the first time and held his advantage throughout. Peek fell early and Datson retired through engine trouble. engine failed in the last lap but he pushed in his machine for second place. Second heat: W. Herbert (Royal Enfield), ssec, 1; Syd. Perkins (Harley-Davidson), scr, 2. Won by 50 yards. Time, 1.39 2-5. Herbert passed the limit man, Butler, after one round had been finished and was followed closely by Perkins. Third heat: Arthur Mann (Douglas), scr, 1; J. Garmson CRex Acme), 7see, 2. Won by 30 yards. Time, 1.44 3-5. Yeats (Rex Acme) was slow off the mark and completed only two laps. Mann took the lead half-way through and, although challenged by Garmson, won easily. Fourth heat: \V. Allen (Norton), 3sec, 1; C. Goldberg (Royal Enfield}, 6sec, 2. Won by 50 ; yards. Time, 1.41 4-5. T. Blomfield (Royal Enfield) was going tv ell until he fell on the third corner. Allen was too fast for Goldberg and took his time. Coultliard seemed uncertain on his new mount and was well behind. First semi-final: A. Mattson, 1: A. Mann, 2. Won by 60 yards. Time. 1.39 4-5. Mattson led after the first corner, with Herbert five yards behind, continuing in this order until late in the third round, when Herbert fell. Mann avoided him but Day stopped his machine to prevent a crash. Second semi-final: C. Goldberg, 1; Syd. Perkins, 2. Won by 100 yards. Time, 1.46 1-5. Garmson’s engine failed and he lost a lap. Allen was going strong in a good position when he fell on the fourth corner, leaving Goldberg in charge. Final A. Mattson (Norton), ssec .. 1 A. Mann (Douglas), scr . . . . 2 Won by five yards. Time, 1.40. For once Mann got away before Perkins and gained rapidly on the leaders. Mattson struck Goldberg’s cinders and rode off the track but he came back and assumed control with a lap to go. Perkins came up to third place for a while but he fell in the back straight. Mann and Mattson hung close together throughout but the Aucklander was able to keep his lead. SPECIAL MATCH RACE A. Mann (Douglas) 1 Syd Perkins (Harley-Davidson) . . 2 Time, 2.5 3-5. After some trouble the three Austradian riders got away from a rolling start. Mann shot to the lead with the other two level behind him. Datson (Douglas). crept into second place. In his third lap the machine went into a terrifying front wheel skid and climbed the safety fence. Mann and Perkins were round on their last lap before the machine could be moved quite clear and fell together. They were pushed off again by track officials, and Mann's machine started. Perkins was pushed in to fill second place. TRACK LAP RECORD Alf Mattson (Norton), 22 3-5 seconds. All riders were given a flying start. W. Herbert (Royal Enfield), of Otahuhu, went away first, completing the timed circuit in 22 4-ss, an average speed of just over 39 miles an hour. Mattson then vent round on his Norton, clipping one-fifth of a second off Herbert’s time. W. Allen (Norton), who followed, completed the circuit in 23 l-ss. SPEEDWAY HANDICAP First heat: C. Goldberg (Royal Enfield), 4s, 1: Jimmy Datson (Douglas), scr. I’. Won by 30 yards. Time. 1.45 3-5. This promised to be one of the best finishes seen on the track. Datson was slow off the mark. He made a wonderful recovery from a skid on the third corner, and had passed Day CA.J.S.), the limit man, at