MOTOR-CYCLING.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19669, 12 July 1929, Page 7

MOTOR-CYCLING.

RACING IN GERMANY. A RAPID ADVANCE. The sporting side of motor-cycling has made a very rapid advance m popularity in Germany during recent years, it is stated that through contact with the Army of Occupation a If.rge number of Germans gamed a better technical knowledge of the motorcycle a3 a means of transport and a healthy form of sport than they could possibly have done by any other casual means. German motor-cycle manufacturers were a good way behind many other countries, but they set to work to produce new machines and to improve existing designs. However, it was L c jii - 2 before any really great 81-ort-iug events were run in Germany. Several largo reliability trials also attracted a good deal of interest. The Koft)erg races, the Avus track (Berlin) events, the Opel track races, and the "Solitude Races" were the first fixtures to be patronised by international riders, and such men as Le V.vck, Ashby, S. A. Crabtree, and Woods made great names in Germany in these events. The oponihg of the wonderful Nurburg Ring course in the Eifej Mountains and the initial international race which took place on this course, brought the first real struggle between England and Germany, and England scored a victory. There are several interesting event* in the German programme for thia year. Five of these fixtures are international events: the first is a reliability trial known as the ''Laenderfarht," which was run between May loth and 29th over a distance of 4260 kilometres. The greater part of this trial was held in the Balkans. One of the principal objects of the event was to popularise motor-cycles in the districts through which it passed. The nevt international fixture in the programme is the Kolberg racea. a spoed event already well known to English riders. About a month later (July 2Pth) the 1929 German Grand Prix will be decided on the Nurbura Rins;. The Freiburg hill-climb (to be held on August 4th) always draws a large num. her of spectators. Finally, of course, there is the fact that part of the In» ternational Six Days trial, which takes place in August, will be run In Germany. NOTES. With the rapid advance of the British mtor-cycle it is peculiar that some serious effort is not being made by manufacturers to standardise controls. It is a feature that causes much confusion. A rider becomes familiar with one make of machine, but on mounting a strange make finds that the various levers on the handlebars are situated in different positions The clutch control also needs attention. A foot clutch is quite suitable for sidecar work, but it can be very awkward with a solo in traffic. Some makes fit both hand and foot, some foot only, and some just a hand lever which, In many cases, gives trouble through excessive breaking of the bowdeq cable. At the present time in England there is a keen forward movement, and a erent manv improvement* are predicted! in the near future. The adoption of twist grin controls in England m helping to meet the trouble, but there ,wi!l have to be close co-ooeration between the manufacturers before the Ultimate noal is reached. Last y?'or Great Britain's motorcycle exports exceeded £3.525,000 in value.