SPEED TEST TODAY?

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 872, 16 January 1930, Page 11

SPEED TEST TODAY?

SMITH CHASES SOUTH AFTER TIMEKEEPERS WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT THE Sl.S' S special Reporter KAITAIA, Today, ■aheu it became known the A.A.A. timekeepers had left last evening on omir return to Auckland, there were moura in Kaitaia that “Wizard” would have to abandon his atmot on the w orld's 10-mile record, if was not until Smith arrived from ,he beach yesterday that he was infirmed tlle Auckland timekeepers f ere then on their way South. This caused considerable consternation among the members of Smith’s jjarty for it was intended to make the Attempt this afternoon if conditions *ere at all suitable. A lengthy discussion took p ace, and a few minutes before midnight, after he had phoned the A-A.A. secretary in Auckland, it was decided Smith should make an immediate start South in an endeavour to catch the timekeepers. At 12.30 this morning Smith, H. Naltrass ani two pressmen set out on the journey in a fast car. The route taken was through the long and winding Manga tnuka (Jorge and on through Oka hau. The road surface was good. bid. owing to numerous hills and bends it was impossible to attain a high speed. At 3-30 this morning the party arrived at Ohaeawai where the timekeepers were located. A short korero took nlace, and while it w as necessary for some’of them to continue on to Auckiaild, a suflicient number returned to Kaitaia for the timing of the event, which will probably take lilace this afternoon. The party arrived back home shortly before breakfast after a drive of nearly 135 miles.

DISAPPOINTING DAY

gale makes ninety mile BEACH UNSAFE LACK OF ORGANISATION THE HUN’S Special Reporter KAITAIA, Today. A strong wind blowing across the beach made it impossible for “Wizard” Smith to e.ttempt the 10-mile record yesterday. More than 2,000 people, many of whom motored from Whangarei. Dargaville and other outlying districts to see the speedy “Anzac” in action, turned away disappointed. Lacking in organisation, the Kaitaia Aero and Automobile Racing Club’s meeting, held on the Ninety Mile Beach, failed to attract the interest of the "crowds, which commenced to thin out early in the afternoon. It promised to be Kaitaia’s biggest day of the year, but ended a day of disappointments. From early morning there was a continual stream of cars into the town and along the road to the beach. Many were misinformed regarding the morning’s high tide, and a line of cars more than half a mile in leng h was held up wttile some of the more daring, who had risked the soft sands, were extricated. By the time the tide had turned and the majority of the spectators had run along the beach to the speed track, it was well after midday.

Two races were run off, then it was time for the record-making attempt. The “Anzac” was taken to the top end of the beach on a speedwagon and endeavours were then made tc clear the beach of traffic. It was a hopeless task. Thoughtless motorists raced across the track aimlessly, while many of the flags forming the Pi-mile line were knocked down. Eventually the beach was comparatively cleared and the. crowd was roped back near the sand hills. AFRAID OF HIGH WIND

A strong wind, almost of gale strength, w-hicli, for the most part, was coming from the sea. but which was moving suddenly about the points of the .compass, blew wisps of stinging dry sand across the beach, making conditions most unpleasant for the spectators. There was a long wait and then a car arrived front the top end of the beach to tell a few that the event was off on account of unfavourable conditions. There was no official announcement, but news soon spread among the crowd, who showed much disappointment. The timekeepers had advised Smith to postpone the attempt, it being considered that the sitrong wind would have swept the “Anzac” off the track when travelling at a high speed. The race meeting was then continued, but did not hold sufficient interest for the crowd, many of whom left the beach. A motor-cycle race was run, but a number of the competitors took the wrong course. This was followed by two car races. Many events on the progremme were not contested, and the 15-mile car race was witnessed by only a small band of officials and a few spectators. Two airplanes were present, but other than to take the air for a lieightSBessing competition, they took no Part in the meeting. It was indeed a (lay chock full of disappointments and mishaps. Several Maoris were injured when one motor-lorry collided with another while travelling up (he beach early in the day, while a number of cars which were late in leaving the oeach were driven up on to the loose eand by the incoming tide, and stranded