MOTOR TRAIL BLAZED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 15, 18 January 1930, Page 11

MOTOR TRAIL BLAZED.

OVER THE TOKATEAS. THRILLING MOTORING. KENNEDY'S BAY ASTONISHED. An exploit-of considerable interest was* performed this week by an Auckland motor mechanic; Eric M. Biel, who, accompanied by . Mrs. Biel, blazed a motor trail in a super-six tourist car over the twelve-milo bridle'track that crosses the precipitous Tokatea ranges from Coromandel to Kennedy's Bay. The journey occupied' between four and five hours. The story of the thrilling trip was recounted this morning. Mr. Biel has relatives living at Kennedy's Bay and he had visited them during Christmas, when he registered a vow that he would attempt the crossing by motor car, a feat which, not without reason, was' regarded as an utter impossibility by those who know the country. Leaving Auckland at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Mr. Biel arrived at the Coromandel garage and was asked by the owner if he wanted a horse to go over the wild saddle track, on both sides of which are sheer drops many hundreds of feet. "No, I am going to ■take this car through," replied the city. •man. . . • ■ ;, . , "We'll, I'll bet you £100 it can't be done," said the garage-man.

Grades of "One in Six." Mr. Bid insisted that the car's tanks be filled up, and soon afterwards he started along the rocky narrow winding path, many parts of which were difficult owing to the undergrowth. Grades of one in six were frequent up to the crest of the range. The driver and his companion had many thrills en route. I Several times they had to stop owing to rubbish getting into the benzine tank 'and blocking the pipes. However, they pushed on. The run down on the-Ken-nedy Bay side was. equally exhilarating. The noise of the car booming over the track in .the vicinity,'followed in due course by its appearance, caused one of; the biggest stirs the township at the bay has ever known. It was not only astonishing to the little community, but a rare shock to the stock that leads a quiet existence in that remote portion of the peninsula. Cows broke away from their bails, and, while dogs raced madly about and barked, other animals scurried about their paddocks. For the settlers it was a great moment. The arrivals were received with much enthusiasm. They had cov-" ered themselves with glory. The perilous track, which for years had known nothing better in transit than a bush dray, had been conquered.

Return' Trip in Two Hours. ■Mr. .Biel resolved that lie would make the return trip to confirm his mastery of the track. Yesterday, with his brother-in-law, Mr. J. Anderson,, as passengeiylie recrossed the dangerous track : in two hours. "The rocky road to Dublin had nothing on this trip," says Mr. Biel. "We made a few stops en route, and, except for some narrow escapes, got through without a hitch. Anyhow, they a.re all amazed about it, up Coromandel way. We were back in Coromandel at 3 p.in. and arrived in Auckland last night at nine." Kennedy's Bay is the centre of a dairying community on the east coast toward the top of the Coromandel. Its settlement dates back to the early days. District Outlets. There are from twelve to twenty families in the district, all mostly engaged in dairy and sheep-farming. The cream, is usually sent by dray over the 1 okateas twice a week to Coromandel and thence it is conveyed to Auckland. Residents asked the Government toj convert the track into a road, but the Government surveyors said that a proper grade could not be made. Mr. Biel maintains that, despite the roughness of the track, a good road could be formed with very little expenditure, if about four bends were improved. The '•Government, it appears, did improve the road by relief works between Coromandel and Whangapoua. The settlers are now hoping that the stretch from the latter place to Kennedy's Bay will be taken in hand, if nothing is done with the mountain track. _ The distance to Coromandel that Avay is 20 miles.