Woman Motor-Cyclist Arrives in Auckland

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 895, 12 February 1930, Page 13

Woman Motor-Cyclist Arrives in Auckland

TOWN HALL WELCOME

GAINED FAME QUICKLY “Absolutely fascinating" is how Miss Fay Taylour, the only woman dirt-track rider to visit New Zealand, describes the sport which is her profession. Miss Taylour arrived In Auckland this morning, and was met at Papakura by representatives of various bodies, and was given a civic reception at the Auckland Town Hall. A charming Irish colleen. Miss Taylour was delighted with her warm welcome and chatted brightly to a Sun man on questions pertaining to motorcycling. She is very much in love with motor-cycle racing and has no regrets that she has selected it as her profession. Several cars decorated with Auckland’s colours left Auckland this maiming for Papakura to meet Miss Taylour, and were surprised when her blue and cream car flashed past without stopping. Telephone wires were set ahumming and a car started in pursuit, eventually bringing Miss Taylour back to the waiting representatives. Miss Taylour was welcomed by Mr. J. McCall, thairmau of the Papakura Town Board, and was presented with a bouquet by little Miss Jean Cooper, daughter of Mr. L. Cooper, the town clerk. Other representatives present were Mr. R. Brown, representing the sports bodies; Mr. G. W. Venables, of Otaliuhu, the Business Men’s Association; Mr. G. V. Pearce, of the Otaliuhu Borough Council; Mr. J. C. F. Paine, the motorists and Miss Matthews, Mrs. Penny and Mrs. George, the Ladies’ Progressive Motor-Cycle Club. Coming to Auckland, the party went to the Town Hall where Cr. J. B. Paterson, representing the Mayor, welcomed Miss Taylour on behalf of the citizens of Auckland. He hoped that her stay here would be enjoyable, and that she would be successful in her efforts on the track. Mr. C. L. Mclntosh, of Auckland Speedways, Ltd., also welcomed Miss Taylour, and said he hoped she would find Western Springs Stadium comparable to any track on which she has so far ridden. Miss Taylour expressed her thanks for the warm welcome which had been accorded her. “I am delighted to visit Auckland,” she said, “and i lit is anywhere near as, nice as what I have seen I hope to stay quite a long time.” It is only three years since Miss Taylour first made the acquaintance of a motor-cycle and she has only been riding in competition for just over 18 months. After riding in what are known in England as “scrambling’’ races, Miss Taylour saw a cinder-track race meeting and was impatient to have a try herself. It appeared difficult but that did not deter her in her efforts to make the cinders fly. APPLICATIONS REFUSED The first two promoters she visited in her attempts to make a start on the cinder track refused her request, so she went to the Crystal Palace. Luckily for her, the officials were away and no obstacle was placed in her path. In her first two races she fell, but was taken in hand by Charlie the Australian star, who is well known in Auckland, and today she is perhaps the foremost woman rider in the world.

The two Douglas machines which Miss Taylour rides have shifted the cinders to good purpose, and in Adelaide she did the mile on a third df a mile track in lmin ssec. Her best time on a quarter-mile track is 1.20.

“It is absolutely no use comparing times and tracks,” said Miss Taylour. “There is such a difference in the weather and general atmospheric conditions, the shape and the surface make a great deal of difference, and eves the same track is sometimes quite different on successive occasions. Sand and granite are much better than cinders. They do not make the track so bumpy.” Miss Taylour is quite an accomplished mechanic. She can do her running repairs and can overhaul her machines, but she generally lets the men do the tuning. “They can do it much quicker than a woman,” she smiled.

With all the welcomes over and with her bouquet clutched tightly in her hand, Miss Taylour left for her hotel. She may have a try-out before Saturday, hut that depends on several conditions. However, she will be at the Western Springs Stadium on Saturday evening to try conclusions with the prominent men riders.