DIRT TRACK CHAMPION

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 891, 7 February 1930, Page 11

DIRT TRACK CHAMPION

CHARLIE SPINKS TO RACE AT WESTERN SPRINGS

ONE-MILE RECORD HOLDER

To continue his invasion of the Dominion, Charlie Spinks, the crack Australian dirt-track rider who, during the last seven weeks, has thrilled Wellington fans with his performances, set a new time for the New Zealand one mile, and defeated some of Australia’s and New Zealand's best, will make bis first Auckland appearance at the Western Springs Stadium tomorrow evening. Spinks, who arrived in Auckland from Wellington this morning, expects to be here about three weeks. In the South he had a. sensational run of successes, for he introduced himself by doing the mile in SOsecs, which is a New Zealand record. Then he established the best time for one lap whan he covered a circuit in 19 3-ssecs. Tile clinched numerous scratch events, and in doing so defeated such well-known performers as Pearce, the world’s one-lap champion, from whom he managed three wins out of three, Kdlminster, the Wellington crack, from whom he took the Wellington gold helmet; Man, the prominent Australian rider; and Van Pragg, the Australian. who managed the big scratch race the other evening. Charlie Spinks, when interviewed this morning, was rather reserved, but sufficient was gathered to announce that ever since he took the sport up he has been prominently to the fore. His home was in Brisbane, and during the first days of his career he confined himself to riding on the various Queensland and Sydney tracks. He caused a big sensation in the sport when he did four laps on a grass track in 77 3-5 seconds, and this was really the forerunner to him being chosen to travel to England with other prominent riders, including Spencer Stratton. In the Old Country he continued adding to his long list of successes, and then returned to Australia, where he was busily engaged in the sport up to the time of coming to New Zealand. Spinks intends to return to Wellington after his stay in Auckland, and tomorrow evening his feature engagement will be that in a match with “Skyd” Perkins.

CHAMPIONS ENGAGED

LIST OF HANDICAPS

Several champions will be engaged at Western Springs Speedway tomorrow evening, and there is little doubt that the meeting will be the most successful that has yet been staged. There will bo C. Spinks and “Skyd” Perkins, who will be engaged in a special match race. Datson. 1 1 popular Australian will be makh i reappearance. With these rid* rs and the local champions, Mattson. Herbert, Bray and Garmson, there should be keen racing and thrills a-plenty. In addition there is the class for improvers, who have made greatly improved showings in the past weeks. Handicaps are as follow: Improvers’ Handicap.—F. Day (scr), A. Way (4s)’, A. Coppins (3s). J. Jordan (ss). B. Coyle (Is), C. Gordon (4s), B. Keeling <6s), A. Fribane (Ss). J. Stewart (scr), P. Fletcher (3s). B. Cairns (ss), A. McDonald (ss). Open Handicap.—C. Spinks (scr), B. Herbert (4Xs), J. Stewart (Ss), C. Gordon (11s), S. Perkins (Is), B. Bray B. Coyle (Ss), P. Fletcher (11s). ,T. Datson (Is), J. Garmson (ss), A. Way (Os), A. Coppins (11s), A. Mattson (3£s), F. Day (Ss), B. Keeling (11s), A. Fribane (12s). Big Nine Special.—A. Mattson (3Js), J. Garmson (ss), B. Coyle (6s), B. Herbert (4is), F. Day (6s), A. Way (7s), B. Bray (3is), J. Stewart (7s), B. Keeling (7£s). Australian Match Race.—C. Spinks, “Skyd” Perkins, J. Dattson.