Stutz Sets Lap Record at Mangere

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

Stutz Sets Lap Record at Mangere

DUST WORRIES DRIVERS i SPEEDSTERS’ DAY OUT Heavy dust-clouds thrown from j the wheels of the racing cars as | they dashed round Henning's Speedway, Mangere, on Saturday I afternoon, prevented any high I speeds during the events. In setting the track lap record of 59sec, however, R. M. Grierson, in a Stutz, put up an average speed of 63 m.p.h. Spectators, too, found the dust annoying - . The strip in the straight, which had been sprayed with heavy oil, was not wide enough to prove fully effective. There were few starters in the motor-cycle races and, although speeds were good, interest was lacking. The fastest lap was nearly lOsecs below the record of Percy Coleman set up at the last meeting. Struck a glancing blow by a Morris Minor car on the first corner at the start of the Women’s Handicap, a Baby Austin driven by Mrs. W. Sinton ran off the track and overturned, i Fortunately, the driver was not hurt and the car was able to be driven off, although it was not started when the race was re-run. Shortly before three o’clock an airplane, piloted by Lieutenant D. M. Allan, chief instructor to the Auckland Aero Club, flew across from the airdrome and performed a series of evolutions, including the spin, roll, and falling leaf. He was joined by the visiting airplane from Fiji, and another Aero Club machine. Thirteen cars faced the starter in the Mangere Handicap, which was won by McGrath’s Rugby, at an average speed of nearly 55 miles an hour. The race was run in two heats, the first three cars being placed in the final. PUKAKI HANDICAP Five laps Cyril Walker (Douglas). ser 1 K. Teats (Rex Acme). lOsec 2 C. Goldberg (Douglas), ser 3 Won by 300 yards. Time, 5.25. Only three went away. Walker was last to get off. but passed Goldberg into second place before quarter of a mile was covered. He picked up ssec on Teats in the first lap. Coming past the stand for the second time Walker was only 10yds behind the leader, having lapped in* 63,sec, and took the lead going out of the straight. Goldberg was 300yds behind Teats at the end. WOMEN’S HANDICAP Two laps Miss G. Clark (Chevrolet), lOsec .... 1 Mrs. G. Campbell (Essex). lOsec .. 2 Harrison and Gash (Morris Minor), 25sec 3 Won by 200yds. Time, 2.51 1-5. After a false start the Morris Minor led from the Chevrolet, with the Essex third. Mrs. .T. G. Brook had trouble with her Bugatti and lost half a lap. Miss Clark was never challenged. FIVE-CAR HANDICAP. Four laps. T. S. Butler (Norton), lOsec 1 G. F. Sherwin (8.5. A.), 15sec . . .. 2 Won easily. Time. smin 36 2-ssec. There were many defections in this event, there being only two starters. The machines went round in the opposite direction to the others, racing with sidecars on the outside of the track. The B.S.A. went away first, but the Norton had made up its ssec handicap after a lap and a-quarter had been covered. However, at the end of the straight for the second time, the B.S.A. developed trouble, and stopped, restarting only after half a lap had been lost. Further trouble a lap later allowed the Norton to come in with nearly a mile lead. N.Z. LIGHT CAR CUP, Twelve laps. P. Seabrook (super-charged Austin) . . 1

G. Faul (Thomas Special' .. .. .. J A. J. Keycroft (Bugatti Four) 3 Won by inches. Time, 14m 1 2-ssec. The Austin went away well, with Royeroft’s car handy, followed by the Thomas Special. Brooks's Bugatti Eight was slow eft. and lost half a mile. Before a lap had been covered, the Bugatti Four was in first place, and along the back the two leaders were fighting for supremacy. The Austin took the lead for a lap. oniv to lose it a mile later, and the two went on again side by side. The Thomas Special was keeping up in third place. The race had resolved itself into a contest between the Austin and the Bugatti. with the Thomas Special coming up on the outside. With five laps to go. the Thomas Special kept level with the Austin, and then with the Bugatti Four. The three cars were bunched together with less than 20 yards between them. The Bugratti Four was slowing notice--1 ably. With a lap to go. the Thomas : Special led the Austin by 100 yards, with j the Bugatti Four 250 yards away. The second car was creeping up. and coming round the last bend, came up level with | rhe Thomas Special, to creep ahead and j gain the decision by inches. The leaders lapped twice on the Bugatti Eight. I HU MAT AO HANDICAP Five laps. Cyril Walker (Douglas), ser i C. Goldberg (Douglas). lOsec 2 K. Teats (Rex-Acme) 3 Won by 450 yards. Time. smia lOsec. After the lap. Goldberg led bv i:>> yards from B. Smith, with Cyril Walker next, and K. Teats last. Walker was gaining fast, and gradually drew up on the leader, taking charge during the first lap. lie was not challenged, and won easily. MANGERE HANDICAP Four Laps. First Heat: A. R. Messenger (Messenger Special) 255, 1: A. M. Grierson (Stutz) scr, 2; D. C. Sutherland (Sutliei - land Special) 10s. 3. Won by 100 yards. Time. 4m 4S l-ss. The Messenger Special showed a remarkable turn of speed and soon led well from Cleave’s Austin, which quickly dropped back t«> third place. The Stutz passed the Sutherland Special with a lap to go, but could not catch the leader. Second Heat: F. H. McGrath (Rugby) 30s, 1; G. Smith (Smith Special) 255, 2; C. J. Paine (Chevrolet) 30s, 3. Won bv 200 yards. Time, 4m 465. The Austin did not get away until the leading car had covered nearly half a lap and did not show any great speed. After a mile. McGrath’s Rugby lead the Chevrolet by 200 yards. The positions were maintained to within 300 yards from the finish, where the Smith Special proved too fast. Final:F. H. McGrath (Rugby). 30s 1 C. J. Paine (Chevrolet) 30s 2 A. It. Messenger (Messenger Special) 25s Won by 50 yards. Time, 4m 39 2-ss. The Rugby was half a lap away when the. Stutz left the starting line and, after a lap, led the Chevrolet, with the Messenger Special, the Smith Special, the Sutherland Special, and the Stutz. The Smith Special and the Messenger Special changed places, but this was the only alteration over the full four laps. PRESIDENT’S HANDICAP Five laps; motor-cycles Cyril Walker (Douglas), scr 1 C. Goldberg (Douglas). 15sec 2 C. Yeats (Rex Acme), 35sec 3 Won by half a lap. Time, 5.20 3-5. There were four starters. Smith went away first on handicap, but did not hold his advantage long. Goldbeig went to the front, but Walker was too fast, and passed him with two miles to go. CLOSED CAR HANDICAP Two, laps; standard equipment. B. Shorter (Essex) ssec 1 G. Campbell (Essex) ssec 2 G. W. Hutchison (Buick), scr .... .. 3 Won by 10yds. Time, 2.54 4-5. The Baby Austin led for a lap, but could not hold the big cars. The two Essexes came round level. Shorter’s machine just gaining the verdict. SPEEDWAY HANDICAP, Eight laps. B. Shorter »Essex Special). 60sec .. 1 G. Smith (Smith Special), 45sec .... 2 P. H. McGrath (Rugby), 25sec . . . . 3 Won by 150 yards. Time, 9.22 4-5. Shorter’s Essex Special was first off in a cloud of dust, through which followed the Smith Special, Cooper's Essex Special, and the Messenger Special. McGrath’s Rugby came well back, having been rehandicapped. The Sutherland Special crept up into third place from well to the rear. * With a lap to go, Shorter’s Essex was holding its U-au

well, with the Smith special 2*>n varde away, and the Rugby htlf a lap'back third. ONE-LAP HANDICAP P. Seabrook (Austin), 4sec t T. 3.. Cooper (Essex Spe a!* s«,ec .. j G. Smith (Smith Special). 4>- • s Won by five yards, three yards ating second and third. Time, lmin 20 The Austin went to the front at once, with Cooper’s Essex uext. followed hv the Smith Special, with the other ters strung behind. The leading C4*c« came round the last corner in a bunch, the Austin beating the other two in • fast finish.