HELD AT EASTER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 74, 29 March 1938, Page 18

HELD AT EASTER.

SOUTH AFRICAN TRIAL. FAMOUS DI'NLOF TEST. Of the British Dominions. South Africa appears to be the keenest on motor contests. In addition to conducting three rich motor car (irand J'rix races annually, events which usually attract some of the Continental and British racing aces, various reliability trials are held from time to time. Followers of motor racing ■will remember that three years ago, a race across Africa from Algiers to Johannesburg (8130 miles) for a lirst prize of CIO.tMHI (donated by Sir Abe Bailey, the South African mining magnate) was to have been held, but owing to differences of opinion between the Johannesburg organisers of the proposed event and the Royal Automobile Club of South Africa at. Cape Town, the race across the /continent was abandoned, after much organisation work had been done.

Now the cables bring word of a l>ig Reliability Motor Car Trial, which is to lie held over a 2.">00-miles route during the Faster holidays. The "Round the I'nion" trial will provide a triangular contest, the competitors starting simultaneously from Cape Town. Durban and Johannesburg. As the time schedule calls for the covering of the strenuous course (which includes considerable climbing over the Drakeiisberg Ranges) at an average speed of 30 m.p.h., the event promises to be a particularly strenuous one.

The longest and severest motor trial ever held in Australia was the Dunlop Keliahilit v Contest, conducted ltetwcen Melbourne and Sydney, in 1 !><).">. In that epic event, 23 cars started, and despite hundreds of miles of had tracks and roads. 10 cars readied Sydney (.">7— miles). Seven of the competitors scored full points. A non stop engine run was then held to Medlow Hath (Mount Victoria) and hack to Sydney (132 miles), hut it resulted in the elimination of onlv one car.

To determine the prize winner, the Dunlop Company decided to continue tlie trial, and the six remaining- contestants set out on a non-stop engine run from Sydney hack to Melbourne. The result was unprecedented in the world's motor history, for after travelling a total of 1270 miles, five of the competitors tied for the' 100 guineas

'\Dunlo|> flip." They were each presented with a replica of the beautiful trophy, which graces to-day the hoard room of the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria.