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Graphic: An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand 1966.

Warning

This information was published in 1966 in An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock. It has not been corrected and will not be updated.

Up-to-date information can be found elsewhere in Te Ara.

MOTOR CYCLE RACING

Contents

Submitted by admin on April 22, 2009 - 21:56

International Competition

For some years New Zealand riders have been prominent in competitions overseas. R. W. Coleman established a number of world speed records on grass tracks, won the Isle of Man 350 c.c. Tourist Trophy in 1954, and gained third place in the World Championship Grand Prix road races on two occasions. Another New Zealander, H. Anderson, won the 50 c.c. and 125 c.c. World Championship titles in 1963. For a short time in 1955 New Zealanders held the major world speed records for the solo and sidecar events. R. Burns won the sidecar record at 163 m.p.h. in a Vincent Rapide V-Twin while R. Wright held the solo record at 185 m.p.h. in a streamlined “Black Lightning” 1,000 c.c. Vincent V-Twin. These performances were all the more meritorious because they were achieved by private owners and not by official works riders.

New Zealand National Motor Cycle Speed Records (as at April 1964)
125 c.c. Flying Half-mile Beach Record
A. Bishop Auckland 22 Aug 1953 61 m.p.h.
Open Flying Kilometre Sidecar Record
R. Burns Christchurch 11 Dec 1954 154 m.p.h.
125 c.c. Flying Half-mile Road Record
K. Gillard Christchurch 19 Nov 1955 69·4 m.p.h.
250 c.c. Flying Half-mile Road Record
P. Phillips Christchurch 19 Nov 1955 114·8 m.p.h.
Open Sidecar Flying Half-mile Road Record
R. Burns Christchurch 18 Sep 1954 141·1 m.p.h.
350 c.c. Flying Half-mile Beach Record
R. McKay Ohope Beach 28 Sep 1958 107 m.p.h.
Open Flying Half-mile Road Record
R. Burns Christchurch 7 Dec 1957 164·5 m.p.h.
200 c.c. Flying Half-mile Road Record
G. Low Christchurch 7 Dec 1957 91·2 m.p.h.
350 c.c. Flying Half-mile Road Record
B. Benke Christchurch 26 Sep 1959 129·4 m.p.h.
500 c.c. Flying Half-mile Road Record
B. Benke Christchurch 26 Sep 1959 144·4 m.p.h.
Open Flying Kilometre Road Record
B. Benke Christchurch 26 Sep 1959 136·6 m.p.h.
500 c.c. Flying Half-mile Beach Record
M. E. Low Ohope Beach 12 May 1956 120 m.p.h.
200 c.c. Flying Half-mile Beach Record
L. E. R. McKay Ohope Beach 12 May 1956 72·5 m.p.h.
750 c.c. Flying Half-mile Road Record
H. J. Munro Christchurch 13 Apr 1957 143·6 m.p.h.
Open Flying Half-mile Road Record
H. J. Munro Invercargill 9 Feb 1957 131·4 m.p.h.
250 c.c. Flying Half-mile Beach Record
F. Cardon Auckland 10 Nov 1956 87·8 m.p.h.
Flying Half-mile 750 c.c. Slide Valve Beach Record
A. Groves Oreti Beach 20 Feb 1960 95·1 m.p.h.
750 c.c. Flying Half-mile Beach Record
H. J. Munro Oreti Beach 16 Dec 1961 129·8 m.p.h.
Standing Quarter-mile – 250 c.c.
O. Frew Timaru 26 Mar 1961 17·5 sec.
Standing Quarter-mile – 500 c.c.
W. Veitch Timaru 26 Mar 1961 14·8 sec.
Standing Quarter-mile – Open
H. J. Munro Invercargill 25 Mar 1962 12·3 sec.