ON THE CINDERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 863, 6 January 1930, Page 14

ON THE CINDERS

TWO MEETINGS TONIGHT GOOD CONTESTS EXPECTED Speedway followers in Auckland will be well catered for this evening when two race meetings on the cinders will be staged. The events to have been decided on Saturday evening at Western Springs Stadium will be run off, and the usual Monday evening programme will be staged at Blandford Park. Four Australians will ride at Western Springs. Their appearance in a special match race should prove one of the features of the evening, as all have put up excellent times on tracks across the Tasman. Lionel van Praag won championship honours in Australia, and his one-lap time of 20sec at the Wentworth Oval Speedway was unbeaten until a few days ago. On this track van Praag averaged nearly 45 m.p.h. Another new arrival is Harry Mangham, who won first prominence in the Dominion as a grasstrack speedster. His work on the cinders is said to be equally thrilling. A race for the mile championship of the Dominion between Wally Kilminster, of Wellington, the present holder, and two of Auckland’s fastest cinder shifters. Bill Herbert and Alf Mattson, should provide the best speeds of the evening. It is probable that the mile track record of Imin 28 4-6 sec, established by Billy Sticpewich at the last meeting, will be beaten. Novelty events and community singing will brighten the meeting and hold interest between events. AT BLANDFORD PARK The chief race of the programme to be presented at Blandford Park Stadium this evening will be the Big Nine Championship race for the gold helmet at present held by Chas. Goldberg. He will defend his title against Alby Lemon, Len Coulthard and Cyril Walker, to name the outstanding of "his opponents. The contest will be over four laps from a rolling start, and promises the fastest time of the evening. Lemon has a fast machine, and but for a fall when leading in this event a week ago might well have secured the coveted trophy. Len Coulthard’s lap record of 19 2-5 sec will be attacked by Goldberg, Lemon and Walker during the meeting, and should give opportunity for fast, spectacular riding. Good lighting and an improved track should help to make this the most successful yet held at this speedway.