“WIZARD” SMITH READY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 870, 14 January 1930, Page 7

“WIZARD” SMITH READY

ATTEMPT ON TEN MILE RECORD MAY NOT RACE AT MURIWAI THE BL'y'S Special Reporter KAITAIA, Today. ‘"Wizard” Smith will attempt the world 10-mile record today, if the present favourable weather conditions continue. Although the previous evening's high tide washed a great deal of seaweed on to the track, and the wind caused more small mounds of soft sand, a report received in the evening indicated that the beach was now very clear and was in gcod order. Yesterday the party did not leave Kaitaia, and the rest was much appreciated after the past few days of strenuous travelling to and from the beach. The weather was ideal and, with the beach reported to he in such good order, it was generally held that Smith should have made his 10-mile run. Shortly before midday yesterday the official timekeepers arrived here after a run to Awanui wireless station, where it was reported that rain was probable. They endeavoured to induce Smith to make the run. but, acting on Mr. Allen Bell's advice, he refused to do so, as the tide would be particularly low today and the conditions on the beach generally would be better. Everything is ready for the attempt today, the party having left for the beach shortly after daybreak for the purpose of arranging flags ovdr a straight course of about 16 miles. Smith is still confident that he will break the record and in doing so will average a speed better than that attained on Saturday. It will not be necessary for him to traverse the course twice, this being necessary under the rules of the Royal Automobile Club, England, only when the distance is five kilometres or under. Smith has announced definitely that he will appear at the Kaitaia Aero and Motor Club’s meeting to be staged on the beach on Wednesday, and it is his intention then to attempt to better his own time over a mile. IDEAL SPEEDWAY Commenting upon the recent cable announcement that a 15 mile straight track is to be built at the Wash as it is impossible to find a suitable natural course of that distance for high speeds, Smith and many other prominent racing motorists at present here are unanimous that Ninety Mile Beach is one of the finest in the world, and that a track at the Wash is not likely to be built once the New Zealand speedway is known of overseas. Throughout the summer months it is possible to get a dead level straight of 26 miles on Ninety Mile Beach, while in the fine weather spell of last February there was a 35-mile stretch suitable for racing at highest speeds. MURIWAI MEETING Will “Wizard” Smith and the “Anzac” be seen in action at Muriwai? Touring motorists arriving here from Auckland have asked this question, but it is difficult to give any definite answer yet. “I don’t even know what races are on at Muriwai, so I can hardly say whether I will be racing there or not,” said Smith this morning. "According to correspondence which I received before leaving Sydney, I was informed that the Muriwai Racing Club was staging a race meeting on January 25, and I was certainly under the impression that I would be racing there. In fact, I was keen to give Aucklanders an opportunity of seeing the ‘Anzac’ racing, and there is quite a possibility that I could better my time for the mile.” Smith said he did not come into touch with any officials of the Muriwai Club on his arrival in Auckland, and left for Ninety Mile Beach still in the dark concerning his appearing at that meeting. “However, there is another party negotiating with me at the present time to appear elsewhere on January 25, and just at present it does not appear that I will be racing at Muriwai,” concluded Smith.