21-9-53 MOTOR CYCLE RACES Promoted by Combined Molo: Cycle Clubs. WIGRAM In fid of AIR RACE FUND and KIWI RESTORATION. NEXT SATURDAY, 10.30 a.m. to p.ms Including: Side Car SEE NEW faces, (Les Moore and ZEALAND'S Bob Burns) BEST RIDERS Power assisted IN ACTION. Cycle Race, FIFTEEN Des Wild's Alta in action, THRILLING RACES. Women's Motor Cycle Race. ADULIS 2/6 CHILDREN I/- PARKING 1/- Special Transport Board Buses. Ice Cream and Soft Drinks available. 23-9-53 Arrangements for Traffic to Wigram Motor-cycling • large attendance is expected at the motorcycle races to be held at Ine RN.4.A.: Station, Wigram, on Saturday in aid of the International Air Race and Sign of the Kiwi funds. There will be two entrances for motor traffic, one at Vickerys Road, and the other at Middie Lincoln Road for motorists coming from the south end of the city. entry will be provided For pedestrians and cyclists, an Symes Road, and bus passengers will be discharged at the same gate. There will be plenty of parking space on both sides of the coursethe paved circuit of the aerodrome. MOTOR-CYCLE RACING CLUBS' EVENT FOR AIR RACE FUNDS More than 80 entries have so far been received for the motor-cycle racing festival on the perimeter airstrips at Wigram tomorrow, and since It has been organised by the combined motor-cycle clubs of Christchurch to help the International Air Race and Save the Kiwi funds, a big crowd is expected. The clubs first planned to hold the meeting through and round Hagley Park. The City, Council gave its permission, but after public protests the ¡ciubs decided to abandon the project in favour of another circuit. It was decided a few days before , Christmas to hold the race on January 24-this gave the clubs very little time: in which to make preparations. It is to the credit of the organiser (Mr T. R. McCleary) that so much good work has been crammed into so • short a time. "The purposes for which these races! are being held are very worthy, and I hope the public of Christchurch will give them their full support," said the president of the Canterbury International Air Race Council (Mr H. D. Christie). "The air race and the Sign • of the Kiwi are both of very great importance to everyone in the is of intérnational importance." city, and the air race, as we all know. Ine Wigram circuit has now become familiar to Christchurch motor-racing supporters, as four major car races have been held on it. This is the first I time racing motor-cycles have had a chance to show their paces on the course, and some very fast lap times are expected. The fastest race yet run on the circuit was in 1952, when Les Moore (supercharged 2.9-litre Grand Prix Alfa Romeo) won at an average 76.79 miles an hour. Hec Green covered a lap (2.1 miles) last year in 1min. 32sec., or 82.8 miles an hour in his supercharged 2-litre Vanguard Special, and lit will be interesting to see if one of the "featherbed" Nortons or A.J.S. can get round any faster than this. There will be one minor difference in the course which will siow the machines-the car course cuts across the concrete parking strip in front of. the hangers, but the motor-cycles will have to follow the full curve of the grass to avoid several drainage gratings which would be a source of danger. Riders and machines will appreciate their first chance for many years to race on fully sealed circuit-the New Zealand Grand Prix course at Cust is six miles of metalled * country roads, and the Halswell Hundred circuit is only partly sealed. The entries are in four classes-. senior (500 c.c.), junior (350 c.c.), light- ; weight (250 c.c.) and ultra-lightweight (125 c.c.). By far the biggest entry is of senior machines it may be neces- sary to split the field in this class into two races. Seven side-car combinations have been prepared. and will race in the "spectacular" direction-anticlockwise, with the passengers leaning out of the cars on the inner edges of the curves to . keep the single wheel down. Des Wild, one of the best-known racing drivers in Christchurch, will turn a few demonstration laps in his new 1e-litre unsupercharged Grand PriX Alta car. There will also be races for women motor-cyclists and for auto-cyclists. One type of "clip-on" bicycle engine has several times since its introduction in Christchurch proved its ability to travel faster than 50 miles an hour, so competition should be keen in this 23-9-53 HIGH SPEEDS LIKELY AT WIGRAM TO-MORROW THE mecca of tie Zealand's eR Station, Wigran will be put to another high speed purpose to-morrow when Christchurch motor-cycle clubs will hoid a series of scratch and handicap races in aid of the International Air Race and Kiwi Restoration funds. High speeds are likely to be registered by the competitors. talking point for car-racing about thirty to forty of the fastest enthusiasts and followers of motor- competitors. cycling events for some years has An event that should rate high in been the question of lap speeds at entertainment value will be a one-lap Wigram. Hec Green, with his R.A. race for power-operated bicycies. Vanguard, holds the car record with The organiser, of the racing Mr . R 82.8 miles an hour. McCleary) nas received about forty Howerer, motor-cycle enthusi- inquiries from prospective riders in asts believe that a good rider on this event. Some have made astona 7R &.J.S. or 500 c.c. Norton ishing claims about the speed of cpuld turn a lap speed of their machines. about ninety miles an hour. Side-car races, a motor-cycle race for women, and a demonstration run If such a speed is attainable, by the Christchurch racing driver, should registered to-morrow. Des Wild, in a 14 litre racing car, Among the competitors will be the will be additional attractions. Oamaru rider, Les Lamb, who, with his "featherbed" Norton, holds the New Zealand motorcycle speed record; the Dunedin riders, Gordon Haggitt (triumph 500), who has had many successes in the Dominion's classic events, N. McCutcheon, who was placed in the Haswell Hundred; and Tom McCleary, one of the most successiu local riders. These riders, with W. Fabian (7R prominent. Motor Over 80 Entries PROMOTED B 23-9-53 Cycle Y COMBINED MOTOR- Races -CYCLE CLUBS More than eighty entries have been received for the events, which will consist of a series of scratch and handicap races for senior, junior, and light-weight machines. Most races will be of three laps, but the meeting will conclude with a longer match race for the fastest riders and a ten-iap handicap for WIGRAM In aid of AIR RACE FUND & KIWI RESTORATION NEXT SATURDAY 10.30 A.M. TO 4 P.M. Including Side Car Races. with Les Moore and Bob Burns. Power Assisted Cycle Race Des Wild's Alta in action Women's Motor- Cycle Race i See New Zealand's Best Riders in Action Fifteen Thrilling Races ADULTS 2/6. CHILDREN 1/-. PARKING 1/- Special Transport Board Buses, Ice-creams and Soft Drinks Available.