MURIWAI MOTOR RACES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 880, 25 January 1930, Page 11

MURIWAI MOTOR RACES

Ideal Speed Conditions CRACK DRIVERS SEEN IN ACTION IN one of the most thrilling and spectacular races ever witnessed on Muriwai Beach, R. Grierson, in his Stutz, won the Australasian Beach Championship at the Muriwai racing club’s meeting today. Throughout the race he was followed closely by R. V. Wraight’s Chrysler. This is the fifth time in succession that the Stutz has won the main event at this beach meeting. Another feature of the day’s sport was the fine performance of .McGrath’s Rugby, which clinched two important events.

Tt was a. good day's sport, and ox►fnt tor a delay shortly t>e!ore the women s race the programme was run ~(f Without a hitch. A. Shorter made ilia appearance in liis special Essex Vour which he Imported recently from vmerica, but it gave a disappointing s unlay. The Sutherland Special, which has done so well on the speedway at Mangere. failed to gain a place in anv event. It was indeed pleasing to motoring enthusiasts to see Howard Nattrass’s u,,ld Mercer again on the beach and tuned to hit the 95 miles an hour mark. ]t vraa driven by O. R. Stuart, and M op a fine p< rformance. During tiie afternoon two airplanes Hiw overhead and entertained the tr.-wd with a display of acrobatics. Early yesterday afternoon cars, wellloaded with passengers and camping -oar, rolled slowly along the picturTsaii© route through the Motutara Domain to the beach. Again this year the occasion lent opportunity to the ramp-lover. The Domain and camp •sitee were at their best and favourable weather conditions promise to continue. Many of the racing cars 3iad arrived and were under cover for Ihe night, while shortly before dusk there was a scene of activity as camps were pitched and fires lit. On toward evening the snug valley was filled with music from gramophones and wireless. But there were perhaps not as many cars present as in former years. Those who attend the Muriwai meeting, however, are always compensated J>y the magnificent drive through fivemies of native bush, the freshening effect of the popular West Coast fieach, and the splendid bathing and fishing. TODAY'S ACTIVITIES f This morning dawned bright and dear, and at an early hour mechanics and drivers began tuning their cars. It started with a crescendo of blasts and h roar from a high-powered car in the midst of the camps. This was followed quickly by others, and for some time there were deafening noises from rowdy motors, and the strong smell at the special “dope” used by racing cars. By breakfast all was quiet, and the air was given to the rumble of bpses and cars as they arrived all fatly laden. BEACH PYJAMAS The beach could even boast of its bathing beauties, who parading the hands in their beach pyjamas presented a medley of colour. By ten o’clock there was a regular stream of cars heading from the main road to the beach. The morning clouds had cleared, and there was every indication of ideal weather. The tide fell hack sufficiently for the racing gears to take the beach, and they whirled over to the starting place. Shortly, the crowd commenced to move along the beach, to the finishing post about a mile along the sands. By 11.40 the stage was set for tho first event, the opening handicap, but it was not until half an hour later that Grierson’s Stutz, Sutherland’s Special, Wraight’s Chrysler and other well-known Auckland racing cars lined up and raced away in the first contest of a successful gathering. Details of the racing are: OPENING HANDICAP Nine miles, with six turns R. D. Wraight (Chrysler), 20seo .... 1 O. Paul (Thomas Special), sseo .... 2 Paine Bros. (Chevrolet Special), 35sec 3 Time, Bmin Bsec. At the end of the first lap McGrath’s Rugby led easily from Donald’s Hudson •and Paines’s Chervolet, which were running close together. Then came AVraiglr.s Chrysler, the Thomas Special and the super-charged Austin, which had ♦ ome up well. The other cars wore some distance back. A lap later the Chrysler led tho Chevrolet, the Thomas Special, Hudson, Austin, Stutz ana Rugby, which had fallen back. The Sutherland Special and Shorter’s Essex were not running well. Coming into the home straight the Hirypler led. She was challenged by the Chevrolet and the Thomas Special. In a thr Hint- finish, the latter won by half *5 !*ngth. Further back came the Stutz. Austin, Rugby and Hudson. touring car handicap 6 miles; 4 turns •J- Shorter (Essex), 20sec 1 p- Brook (Bugatti), scr 2 iraine Bros. (Chevrolet), SOsec 3 Time, smin .46 2-sset. Over the first lap Shorter’s Essex got a good lead on the Chevrolet and Reston’s hssex. The Bugatti was well back. At the eml of tho second lap Shorter’s Essex still maintaining a good lead. The ougatii was further back, but was coming t : p fast. Reston’s Koser dropped , In the last mile straight tho BugaJu passed the Chevrolet to take second Place a long way behind Shorter’s Essex. WOMEN’S HANDICAP Two miles straight O. J. Clark (Chevrolet), SOscc .. 1 ,T 8 * Tovey (Essex), 25sec I. Wright (Hudson), lOsec .. .. 3 Time, 2min 36 2-ssec. AUSTRALASIAN BEACH CHAMPIONSHIP IS milts; 12 turns n' £ rierson (Stutz) 1 D. Paul (Thomas Special) 2 Sutherland (Sutherland Spatial) .. 3 rime, ISmin 39 2-ssce. -Uthougl, this was really only a two--3; , rac , e .it was one of the finest and most thrilling of the day. The cars

went, away from a rolling start, the Stutz taking the lead immediately. The first turn was indeed a spectacular one. Passing the stand at the end of the first lap, the Stutz had a slight lead on Wraight’s Chrysler, while farther back came the Sutherland Special, the Thomas Special, with the Essex and Hudson together. There was little alteration on the next round, the Stutz maintaining its lead with the Chrysler following closely. Then, in order, came the Sutherland Special, the Thomas Special, Essex and Hudson. Not more than 30 yards separated the leading cars as they flashed past the stand, after another round, while of the other cars, the Sutherland Special was well back, leading the Thomas Special. Essex and Hudson were well out of the running. The Stutz gained a little, until there was 100 yards between them. After the turn, the Chrysler came tip quickly and along the far end of the straight the two machines were running almost side by side. They rounded the last turn together and raced down the straight, but the Stutz managed to gain the decision by a fair margin. Then came the Sutherland Special, the Thomas Special, Essex and Hudson. BABY CAR HANDICAP 4% miles; 3 turns. Seabrook Fowlds, Austin Seven, 60s 1 Seabrook Fowlds, Austin Supercharged (scr.) 2 Time, 4min 34 3-ssec. Three baby cars faced the starter. The supercharged Austin had been rehandicapped and McGuire’s Morris Minor and the Standard Austin driven by Grierson each went away on 60s. They had covered three-quarters of a mile before the scratch car started. The Morris Minor was not running well and it dropped out when a length had been covered, being then a riuarter of a mile behind Grierson’s Austin. This car was never challenged and won easily, although the supercharged Austin had nicked up nearly 40s. MOTOR-CYCLE HANDICAP 7 li miles; 5 turns. Jack Matthews, Royal Enfield, 40s .. 1 T. Griffiths, New Hudson, scr 2 Percy Fletcher, Harley-Davidson, 60s 3 Time, 6m 9 2-ss. From a good start, Williams (B.S.A) took the lead from Morris (A.J.S.), Matthews, Forder (Norton), with Griffiths well back. Matthews crept up gradually and after one lap was lying second, close to Williams. Fletcher was handy. When Forder whizzed silently past the judge’s stand it was seen that the machine was running on its own momentum, the cylinder and piston having been blown off. The connecting-rod alone was left, wavingly wildly in the empty space below the tank. Griffiths came up fast to take second place, 200yds behind Matthews. NEW ZEALAND BEACH HANDICAP 18 miles; 12 turns. F. 11. McGrath’s Rugby (120 secs) .. 1 R. Grierson’s Stutz (scr) 2 G. R. Stuart’s Stuart’s Special (50sec) 3 Time, 12min 37 2-ssec. The Rugby led throughout and won by at least a quarter of a mile. Shorter’s Essex, the Morris Minor and the Messenger. Special all gave engine trouble and did not finish. By the end of the third lap the Rugby was leading the Hudson, Chevrolet. Thomas Special, Aus f!, i, Stuart Special and Essex which were 1 travelling close together. The Sutherland Special, Stutz and Chrysler came further back. The Stuart Special went up to fourth place, while the Stutz was also gaining rapidly on the leading bunch. Passing the stand to enter the sixth lap, the Rugby still had a good lead. Following behind all close together were 11 e Stuart Special, Chevrolet and Thomas Special. The Hudson had dropped out. Along the straight for the last time the Stutz passed the Stuart Special, but failed to touch the Rugby. MOTOR-CYCLE HANDICAP Six miles; 4 turns D. Williams (8.5. A.), 50sec • • • • •• j Gordon Allen (Rex Acme), 50sec . . * J. Matthews (Royal Enfield), 3osec .. 6 Time, 4min 37sec. MOTUTARA HANDICAP Nine miles; 6 turns F. H. McGrath (Rugby), GOsec: .. .. 1 R. B. Wraight (Chrysler), 20sec . . 2 T. L. Cooper (Essex Special), oOsec o Time, 7min 47sec. This was another easy win for McGrath's Rugby and as in the previous race, he lead throughout the journey. At the end of the first lap it was headmg Cooper's Essex, Seabrook Fowld’s Austin and Donald’s Hudson. Farther back was the Thomas Special, the Stuart Special and Wraight’s Chrysler. Passing the stand after another round, Cooper’s Essex was still second to the Rugby, with the Austin next, while the Chrysler, Hudson and Thomas Special flashed past almost in a line. Up the home straight the Chrvsler went ahead to run second to the Rugbv, being followed by the Essex, the Hudson and the Thomas Special. The Stutz developed engine trouble and did not start. FAREWELL HANDICAP Six miles; 4 turns A. I’. Donald (Hudson), 27sec . . • • - - 1 T Is. Cooper (Essex Special), 20sec - R. D. Wraight (Chrysler), 14sec .... 3 Time, Smin 2 l-ssec. This Was one of the best events of the dav, competitors being bunched throughout. Coming past the stand for the first time. Cooper’s Essex Special led bv 20 yards from Shorter’s Essex Four, * with Seabrook Fowlds’s Supercharged Austin and Donald’s Hudson handy. Wraight’s Chrysler was leading the Stutz by 300 yards. A lap later the Austin came past, a few yards ahead of tiie Hudson, with the Essex Four and Paine’s Chevrolet close behind. The Stutz had passed the Thomas Special down the beach. Three cars dashed for the winning post together, but the Hudson managed to gain the^ decision by 10 yards, with the Essex Special a little ahead of the Chrysler. The Stutz had come up to fifth place.