THE MOTOR CAR TRIAL.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13005, 6 January 1908, Page 8

THE MOTOR CAR TRIAL.

♦ FROM OHRISTCHURCH TO DUNEDIN, AND RETURN VIA RAKAIA GORGE—SO 3 JULES.

FACTS ABOUT THE TRIAL. The trial waa arranged in two classes, one for small cars under 12 h.p, and ono for large cars over 12 h.p. In the small car section seven cars started and six finished; in the largo car section 28 started and 26 finished. The large number of cars finishing proves the reliability of tho modern motor car. Tho maximum number of marks for a non-stop trip was 1000, less deductions for stoppages on the road or any other reason. Fivo Talbots competed in tho largo car class only, three of which wero in the open section, entered by Adams Ltd., and driven by Messrs R. M. Macdonald, F. N. Adams, and H. T. Adams, and two in the private owners' class, entered and driven by Messrs W. E. Mills and David Matson. It was quite expected that the Talbot cars would show out prominently in the trials, therefore it is not at all remarkable that four out of the five Talbots made absolutely non-stop runs and obtained marks as follows:—-Mr W. E. Mills 1000, Mr David Matson 1000, Mr R. M. Macdonald 1000. Mr F. N. Adams obtained 999 marks, being penalised one point owing to the judges finding, on examining the car on arrival at Christchurch, that the radiator fan belt had slipped off during the journey from Oamaru. The Talbot driven by Mr H. T. Adams lost five point* owing to ing stopped five minutes in crossing a deep water-race and one point for being stopped ten seconds duet to missing gear on a hill. The five Talbots ran liko express trams, always on time, and as a.team of five cars, the performance was- really excellent. Mr W. E. Mills and Mr David Matson were each awarded a first prize m the private owners' class, and Mr R. M. Macdonald a first prize and Mr *. -V Adams second prize in the open class. The 12-16 h.p. Talbot, driven by Mr H. T> Adams, is two years old, having been driven over 50,000 miles. Phe 12-16 h.p. Talbot, driven by Mr W. E. Mills, is about a year old, and is tho same oar on which ho won the Duvauchelles Bay contest on the 9th May last. ' Tho cars driven by Mr David Matson, Mr F. N. Adams, and Mr R. M. Macdonald are tho new lo h.p. Talbots just received. The success of tho Talbots in the reliability trial proves that the old and new model cars are equally good, and cart ho depended upon for reliability and time-keeping after years of hard work. Tho petrol consumption test from Timaru to Dunedin proves Talbot cars to ho very economical. The 15 h.p. Talbot, driven by Mr R. M. Macdonald, was third in tho petrol consumption tost, with 20 miles to tho gallon (under Id per mile) Mr F. N. Adams's Talbot was fifth, and Mr W. E. Mills's Talbot sixth on the list. We have, in stock new 15 h.p. four-cylinder Talbots, also 12-16 h.p. Talbots, same as driven by Mr W. E. Mills, and 10-12 h.p. twocvlinder Talbots. The 15 h.p. Humber. driven by Mr A. Morton, President of the Automobile Association, lost marks owing to dirt finding its way into the carburetter nipple from the petrol tank and also for missing gears; Dr. Finch's 15 h.p. Humber lost marks owing to coil troubles, otherwise both Humbers came through successfully, haying no mechanical stops. Wo can give immediate delivery of Humber cars from stock. 15 h.p. four cylinder and 10-12 h.p. four-cylinder. The 22 h.p. Minerva entered by Adams, Ltd., and driven by A. Kerr, lost one mark owing to missing the gear on a hill, and finished with 999 marks. We can give immediate delivery of 22 h.p. and 24 h.p. Minerva cars. The team of eight cars ffivo Talbots. two Humbers. and ono Minerva) came through the trials most successfully, none of them having any mechanical troubles or even tyre troubles on tho road. Inspection of any of the above makes of cars cordially invited. Adams, Limited (late Adams Star Cycle Co.). 138-140 High street, Christchurch; Mercer street, Wellington; The Avenue, Wanganui: The Square, Palmerston North; and j Stafford street, Timaru. 6 j = 1