Pearce Brilliant

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 917, 10 March 1930, Page 7

Pearce Brilliant

SETS BROADSIDING TIME Thrills at Western Springs BROADSIDING brilliantly, Frank Pearce, of Australia, smashed his own lap record on Saturday evening at Western Springs Speedway by four-fifths of a second. Pearce’s new time is 20sec. The world champion also set up extraordinary lap times in a race with a fellow-Australian, Charlie Spinks.

Apart from the? excellence of the displays of Pearce and Spinks, it was a thrilling and well-organised evening’s sport. Pearce made several starts to attempt the lap record on his Norton, but the pace did not please him. Mounted on his new Harlley-Davidson, he went round the track in the record time, showering cinders on the bends in a fashion which won tremendous applause from 12,000 spectators. Pearce held the edge of the track without faltering. His new time is l»ec better than the performances of Syd. Perkins (Australia) and Wally Kilminster (Wellington). More surprising lapping was displayed by Pearce in the three-laps challenge match event later in the evening against Spinks. It was in the third race of the event, and Pearce, on his llarlej—Davidson, clocked at 61 3-ssec from a rolling start. Compared with the former lap record of 20 4-5 sec, his lap times were 20 3-ssec, 20 l-ssec, and 20 4-ssec. In this match event, Spinks won the first race; the second was abandoned: and the third went to Pearce. Spinks set up the exceptionally good time of 62 3-ssee from Pearce, who rode his Norton, in -winning his race. This was a fine performance, especially because of an injury Spinks received shortly before in the first heat of the Pascoe Cup Handicap. The chain of the Australian’s machine broke, and he received such a painful blow on the hip that ambulance attention was required. SPECTACULAR CRASHES There were several spectacular crashes, but no one was hurt. Mishaps were, indeed, few when the daring riding was considered. On his new machine, Pearce won a heat and a semi-final in the Pascoe Cup. but his old machine gave him only a third in the final, which was won by Alf Mattson from Bert Coyle. Only local riders are eligible to win the cup. which is to be competed for on two more nights. Mattson was in

line form, and improved his- times in successive wins in a heat, a semi-final, ; and the final. He had an excellent chance in the Big Eight Handicap, too, but a crash eliminated him. This event went to the consistent rider Alf Way, whose start was too much for the other finalists. Bill Allen and Bill Herbert. ’ Way, off scratch, won a heat of the B grade handicap, but Coyle, 4sec, beat . the Sandringham rider for first place in the final. Coyle wa£ given a favour- . able handicap in the Pascoe Cup, but ; showed ability to set a difficult pace . for more experienced riders. Bill Herbert, although showing considerable dash, and achieving promin- ; ence in the eliminating events, was unfortunate in mishaps which dogged t him in a semi-final of the Pascoe Cup and the final of the Big Eight Handicap. Some blame may have been attached to the rites of a mock wedding ■ Herbert, who has recently been mar- , ried, was compelled to undergo publicly during the evening. Results: PASCOE CUP HANDICAP First Round For cup given by Mr. James Pascoe. Four laps. Only local riders eligible _ for Cup. First heat.—Bert Coyle (Royal Enfield), 7 sec, 1; Alf. Way (Velocette), ssec, 2. Time, lmin 40sec. Both Coyle and Way took full advantage of their starts on Ben Bray and Charlie Spinks, Coyle winning by 20 yards. It was in this race that the Australin was injured when his chain broke. Second heat.—Frank Pearce, Australia (Harley-Davidson), scr.. 1; Bill Allen (Norton), SJsec, 2. Time, lmin 28 4-ssec. Pearce outclassed Allen, Sel Casey (who was reappearing after an accident three weeks ago), and Jack Gordon, to win. easing up, by a quarter of a lap. Third v heat.—Bill Herbert (Royal Enfield), 4sec, 1; Percy Fletcher (HarlevDavidson), Ssec, 2. Time, lmin 36 2-ssec. Herbert won by 40 yards. Jimmie Datson (Australia) could not get his machine in j full working order. ; Fourth heat. —Alf. Mattson (Norton), -'sec, 1; Frank Day (Royal Enfield), ssec, Time, lmin 31 4-ssec. Mattson caught the field on the last lap, and won by 30 yards. Jack Stewart crashed. First semi-final.—Pearce, 1; Coyle, 2.

Time, lmin 29 3-ssec. Coyle and the other starters, Way and Allen, all came off, and Pearce won by almost a lap. Second semi-final.—Mattson, 1; Day, 2. Time, lmin 31 l-sse'c. Off the back mark Mattson rode cleverly, and won from Day by 20 yards. The place-getters, with Herbert, were seen in one particularly fine broadside. Final. —Mattson, 1; Coyle, 2; Pearce (on Norton), 3. Time, lmin 30 2-ssec Day’s machine would not start, and Coyle seb the pace. Mattson pursued him hotly, but Pearce failed to improve his position to any great extent throughout the race. In a thrilling finish Mattson won by inches, with Pearce 40 yards back. Coyle was overtaken at the last bend only. CHALLENGE MATCH RACE Three laps. Rolling start. First race.—Charlie Spinks, Australia (Douglas), 1: Frank Pearce, Australia (Norton), 2. Time, 62 3-ssec. Owing to Spinks’s injury in the Fascoe Cup, the race was set at three laps. Spinks had the better of the start, and, by clinging tenaciously to the grass border, always headed Pearce. Spinks Avon by eight yards, and broke the former track lap record of 20 4-ssec in one lap. Second race.—The race Avas abandoned. Spinks’s machine failing after the first lap, and Pearce sliding over shortly after. Third race.—Pearce (Harley-Davidson), 1; Spinks (Bray’s Douglas), 2. Time, 61 3-ssec. Dashing off from the start, Pearce gave a brilliant display of broadsiding, and set up the fastest time for the track over three laps. He gained steadily on Spinks, and Avon by 40 yards. The champion received a great OA-ation. ATTEMPT ON LAP RECORD Frank Pearce, riding his HarleyDavidson, succeeded .in lowering his former track lap record of 20 4-ssec by fourfifths of a second. He previously made several starts on his Norton, but the machine Avould not Avork satisfactorily. BIG EIGHT HANDICAP Four laps. First heat.—Frank Pearce (Norton), scr., 1; Alf A\ 7 ay (\ r elocette), ssec, 2. Time, lmin 32 l-ssec. Mattson crashed Avhen in a good position, Pearce going on to cut AVay out by 15 yards. Second heat.—Bill Herbert (Royal Enfield). 4sec, 1; Bill Allen (Norton), 3£sec, Time, lmin 34sec. Herbert won by 1 < yards. Day came down in a spectacular crash. Final.—AA'ay, 1; Allen, 2; Herbert, 3. Time, lmin 38 l-ssec. Pearce could nfet compete owing to a mishap to his cycle. Way kept a big lead, and won by 50 yards. Herbert crashed, but went on to gain third place. B GRADE HANDICAP Four laps. First heat.—Alf Way (\ T eloeette), scr., 1: Alf. Coppins (Indian), 4sec, 2. Time, lmin 38 3-ssec. A\ r ay won by five yards. Second beat.—Bobbie Cairns (Royal Enfield), 3sec, 1; Jack Gordon (Douglas), scr„ 2. Time, lmin 41sec. Won by 70 Third heat.—Bert Coyle (Royal Enfield), 4 sec, 1; Jack Stewart (Royal Enfield), Msec, 2. Time, lmin 40 3-ssec. Won bv 10 yards. Final.—Coyle. 1; Way, 2. Time, lmin MT i-ssec. Coyle preserved a substantial lead, and won by the length of the straight. Jordon crashed in the third lap, and Way headed Cairns out of second place.