SUCCESSFUL FINALE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 936, 1 April 1930, Page 13

SUCCESSFUL FINALE

BLANDFORD PARK SPEEDWAY LAST MEETING OF SEASON Racing equal to any seen previously was a feature of the final cinder track racing meeting of the season at Blandford Park Stadium last evening. Special interest attached to the fixture as the winners of the special racing machine and the Blandford Cup were decided, the former being won by C. Goldberg and the cup by A. McLaren. While nearly every event was good, two races stood out far above the others. One was the first heat of the Gold Helmet championship and the other the final of the same event. In the former event the three best riders at the stadium. Lea Curtis, Charlie Goldberg and Cyril Walker were opposed. After two false starts the trio went away to give a great exhibition, Curtis riding daringly and brilliantly to defeat Goldberg alter Walker had fallen when in second position. In the final Curtis was again opposed to Goldberg. The latter went to the front and held the position for the first lap, but entering the second Curtis gave a great exhibition of brainy, as well as daring riding, cutting through on the inside to take the lead and win. Curtis will hold the helmet until'next season. •Goldberg was the winner of the Douglas cinder-track racing machine presented by G. McMillan and Company, Ltd., for the rider scoring the most points during the season, and after the presentation by Mr. G. Sutherland, who said that the winner had been a most consistent and entertaining performer, cheers were given for Goldberg. His nearest rival. Walker, had bad luck throughout the evening. Curtis did not enter the competition until late in the season, or he also would have probably been in the running.

With a total of 79 points McLaren carried off the Blandford Cup presented by Goodwin and Moorcraft. Ltd., for riders unconnected with the trade, and he was also cheered after the presentation. B. Smith was second with 74 points.

Miss Violet Matthews, who ga.ve a remarkable exhibition last week, did not strike the same winning form, although she filled second place on four occasions. Her machine failed in another event and again in a match against TI. Richards. Results are as follow: SOCCER HANDICAP First Heat. —A. McLaren (0.E.C.), "s, 1; M. Richards (Calthorpe), 6s, 2; K Yeats (Rex Acme), scr., 3. Won by 30 yards. Time, 1.32. McLaren took the lead off Richards on the second lap and was never headed. Second Heat.—R. Moorcraft (New Imperial ), scr., 1; C. Yeats (Rex Acme), Is, 2, Henderson (Rex Acme), 3s, 3. Won by 70 yai’ds. Time, 1.33. Moorcraft took the lead after 10 yards and won easily. Henderson was in second place when he fell, but remounted. Third Heat.—B. Smith (Rex Acme), 2s. 1: Miss V. Matthews (Velocette), Bs, 2. Won by 20 yards. Time, 1.32. Woods fell in overtaking Miss Matthews on the final lap. First Semi-Final.—A. McLaren (0.E.C.), Is, 1; Miss V. Matthews (Veloeettp), Bs, 2; C. Yeats (Rex Acme), Is, 3. Won by two yards. Time, 1.33. McLaren only just beat Miss Matthews In a good race. Second Semi-Final. —R. Moorcraft (New Imperial), scr. 1. Time, 1.31. Moorcraft was the only man to finish. Richards fell on the first lap and Smith’s machine failed when he was in the lead at the end of the third lap. Final A. McLaren (0.E.C.), Ss 1 Miss V. Matthews (Velocette), Ss 2 Won by 30 yards. Time, 1.34. Miss Matthews went away well from McLaren and Moorcraft.. Moorcraft fell on the third lap, and McLaren overtook Miss Matthews with half a lap to go. OPEN HANDICAP First Ileat.—C. Goldberg (Royal Enfield), scr, 1; R. Moorcraft (New Imperial), 7s, 2. Won by 25 yards. Time, 1.26. C. Yeats got away badly, and then fell on the first lap. Second Heat.—A. McLaren (0.E.C.) 10s, l; C, Walker (Douglas), Is, 2. Won by nearly three-quarters of a lap. Time, 1.30. AValker fell on the first lap, but remounting ran into second place. Peek having fallen in the second circuit. Third Heat.—L. Curtis (Douglas), Is, 1; Miss V. Matthews (Velocette), 14s, 2. Won by five yards. Time, 1.24. Curtis just got up in time to beat his female rival Henderson’s machine failed to start, and Yeats after having engine trouble fell on the last lap.

Fourth Heat.—B. Smith (Rex Acme), 9s, 1; B. Woods (B S.A.), 10s, 2; H. Richards (Calthorpe). 13s, 3. Won by 20 yards. Time, 1.31. Smith rode an excellent race. First Semi-Final.—L. Curtis (Douglas). Is. 1; A. McLaren (0.E.C.), 10s, 2. Won by two yards. Time. 1.25. On the first lap Goldberg got cinders from Curtis’s wheels and pulled up. Ho started over a lap behind, but fell. Curtis rode brilliantly to catch up a quarter of a lap on the last lap and win Woods fell. Second Semi-Final. —C. Walker (Douglas), Is, 1: R. Moorcraft (New Imperial), 7s, 2: B. Smith (Rex Acme). 9s. 3. Won by 100 yards. Time, 1.21. Walker took tlie lead in the second lap and went on to win easily. Miss Matthews's machine failed. Final A. McLaren (0.E.C.), 10s 1 C. Walker (Douglas), Is « Won by 100 yards. Time, 1.24. McLaren went away well, followed by Moorcraft and Walker. Walker fell on the second lap, but remounted. Moorcraft also fell. McLaren, with a tremendous lead, went on to win easily. Curtis did not start owing to a broken footrest.-

' GOLD HELMET HANDICAP First Heat.—L. Curtis (Douglas). 1: C. Goldberg (Royal Enfield), 2. Won by SO yards. Time, 1.17 4-.". Curtis drew the inside position, with Walker in the centre and Goldberg on the outside. After a i false start the trio went away to a good j start. Walker went ahead, but the red lights went up for some unknown reason, ! and the ra6e was restarted. Walker took j the lead with Curtis next, followed by Goldberg. On the second lap Curtis took the lead from Walker, who fell, and went ! on to win easily Second Heat.—A. McLaren (0.E.C.). 1: R. Moorcraft (New Imperial). 2. Won by half a lap. Time. 1.30. A poor start, the riders being anything but in line, but the starter, in striking contrast to the previous heat, gave it a start. Moorcraft fell and remounted to get second place. Yeats having fallen on the final circuit. Final L. Curtis (Douglas) J C. Goldberg (Royal Enfield) .... 2 A. McLaren (0.E.C.) 3 Won by SO yards. Time, 1.17. From a rolling start Goldberg led out from Curtis, with McLaren following, Moorcraft withdrawing. Entering the second lap Curtis, by wonderful riding cut in to take the inside position and lead from Goldberg, gradually increasing his lead to the finish.