MOTOR CYCLE NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 16, 20 January 1931, Page 14

MOTOR CYCLE NOTES.

TOURIST TROPHY RACE.

N.Z. TO BE REPRESENTED;

DISQUALIFIED RIDERS RETURNING

The report that the Isle of Man has offered to pay the fares and all expenses for two New Zealand riders to compete in the annual Tourist Trophy race during the coming season is the best news that local racing riders: have heard for a long time.

An elimination trial to choose the two New Zealand representatives will be held shortly, and will be open to all-comers. The place for the trial has not yet been fixed, but the Auckland Sports Cycle Club is asking that it be held on one of the larger islands in the Hauraki Gulf. Wherever the race is held, ordinary traffic will have to be barred off the road, and in few places could this bt done without disorganising motor transport. One or two of the islands in the gulf, however, are roaded, but the roads arc little used, especially during week days-.

Hill Climb. Practices for the Auckland Sports Motor Cycle Club's hill climbing contest will be held at Mangere next Saturday and on the following Saturday. Some of the riders who were suspended by the A.C.U. for competing on unregistered tracks or against disqualified'riders are already returning to the game. L. Coulthard has not yet announced his intentions, though he intends to compete at the Marton grass track meeting, probably on a model 90 Sunbeam. Both A. Lemon and 'L. Curtis are keen to get back, and the latter has already had several practice runs round the' Western Springs track, astride W. Muir's Douglas. He himself uses a Douglas, and has recently made several alterations to the oiling'system, resulting, he claims, in a considerable increase of power.

The embargo on C. Goldberg and Cyril D. Walker is to be lifted on January 30. and both riders hope to compete at Western Springs as soon as they get into training again. The former held the Gold Helmet at Blandford Park, where he put up some splendid exhibitions of broadsiding. He favours a J.A.P. motor in a Wallis frame, whereas Walker sticks to the Douglas. In addition to his old .machine. Walker now has a special Dixon-tuned Douglas, which is claimed to be very fast.

Sports Club Meeting. The Auckland Sports Motor Cycle Club is holding a meeting to-morrow night. Models for 1931. New models for 1931 are notable for one 'thing—refinement, says an English writer. It seems fairly certain he continues, that the motor cycle for 1031, as a class will cause considerable surprise. Apart from such features as improved silencing, easier starting and simpler liandling, mudguards and leg-shields have undergone almost a revolution the enclosing of engine parts has progressed further than ever before, larger ?oot-rests and other aids to comfort are. general, and neat instrument panels will be noted on most of the more expensive machines.

A large percentage of the machines will be those primarily designed to meet the needs of men and women seeking cheap and efficient ones for business and pleasure.

The Matchless firm have also a new "utility" model, which again will bo. under 2241b in weight, with equipment for the road, including the electric lighting system. It ie of 350 c.c. claes, the engine having side valves, and like all other singles in the Matchless programme there is a duplex cradle frame. Among its features are a decompressor and ii centre-prop stand.

Among the utility models will be one by the Douglas, a 350 c.c. side-valve model weighing less than '2241b. The frame has a , single loop on which the engine is- mounted and is free to slide for primary chain adjustment. The engino lias- a bore and stroke of 00.8 and .00mm, Each cylinder has a detachable head; oiling is of the constant, circulation type; a'thrce-epeed gearbox its fitted; there are Sin tsemi-servo internal expanding brakes; the lfghting set is one with separate dynamo in the timing-caee cover; the silencer is of a new-type, and the wheels are particularly heavily spoked.

Two four-cylinder machines of the "V" type are now br.-ing turned out in England to meet the demand for smoother running and greater power. Hot ,l claim to be very fast and silent and to have remarkably flexible engines.