HILL-CLIMBING TEST

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 12, 8 October 1921, Page 8

HILL-CLIMBING TEST

SWEEPING SUCCESS OF ESSEX CARS. (Published by arrangement.) The increasing popularity of the motor wa.« strikinglv on Saturdaylast, when about 1500 .interested spectators gathered at the Okoia Hill to wit-, ness a number of interesting hill climbing competitions which had been arrniiged bv the Wanganui Motor Club. For hill-elitnbinir tests the_ locality was well chosen, the course being ninetenths of a mile, with several sharp bonds and a. grade iu places of one in eight. Competitors started on the fiat at the innctioii of the Matarawa and Okoia Ttill roads, and in the early stages had a straight run. After a few hundred vards it wes steady climbing all the way to the fop of the hill, with some difficult corners to negotiate. It was a course more than sufficient to try ' the nerve, skill, and judgment of competitors and an acid test of the reliability of the engine" of the respective ■ cycles and cars -which took part. The. most popular vantage point was half-way ur> the hill, and from where the competitors could be watched practically all through their journey. It was hero the official time-keepers took up their nosition ;nd tho tests were directed with flag signals, the officials keeping 1-ouch x v’it]i both the start-, in" and finishing points. The club wore indebted to Mr. Higeie who allowed his land to be used by the spectators. During .the afternoon, tea was provided ' v a number of lady members and friends of tho club. o The outstanding feature of the test w/i" the performm"e of the Essex car. This can bo 'npreciatod when it is remembered th"t of the renresentative field which faced tho starter, cars of considerably greater horse-power and weight were unable to gain a placeagainst the Essex. Rnceial interest was lout to the motorcycle event bv Percy Coleman, of Palmerston North, and Len Mangham, of Otaki. taking part, two of the bestknown riders in the Dominion. The programme was excellently carried out by the officials, and everything "'passed off without a hitch. > The working out of the car results necessitated the services of a mathematician. and in that respect Mr. E. Stan ley Coss, A.M.1.M.E., rendered valu- . able service. Motor-cars. The Essex cars were most successful. They secured first, second, third, and .fourth places, also the fastest time. In the hill-clinibing test for private cars, an Essex also won. Trade Class. Essex 2-seater (Mr. B. Campbell). C.C. 2931; weight, 2688; time, 1.35 1-15; result on formula, 10.061.7, first. Essex 2-seatef (Mr. J. Cochrane). C.C. 2931; weight, 2772; time 1.39 2-15 sec.; result on formula’. 11*388.3, second. Essex 2-seater (MrL H. S. Harman), C.C. 2931: weight', 2772 ; time. 1.42 .1-5 sec.; result on formula, 10,643.0, third. Essex 4-seater (Mr. G. IT. Jones). C.C. 2931: weight. 274-4; time. 1.45 2-ssec.; re=nlt on formula, 11.803.0, fourth. Morris Cowley. 2-seater (Mr. Spencer Isted), C.C. 1550; weight, 1680: time, 1.575ee.: result on formula, 12,629.7, fifth. Studebaker Light Six (Mr. G. Hill) C.C. 3392; weight 2660: time, 1.46 3-sseo.; result on formula. 14.490.6, sixth. Special Six Studebaker (Messrs. Adams), C.C. 4727; weight. 3164: time, 2.315ec.; result ou formula. 29,386.0, seventh. I Private Car Owners. E'sex 2-seater (Mr. A. N. Sutherland), C.C. 2931; weight. 2688; time. 1.40 1-5; result on formula. 10,946.7, first. Buick 4-cyclinder (Mr. Nicholson), C.C. 2565; weight, 30.24: time, 1.38 4-sscc.; result on formula. 11.968.0, second. Tn addition to the above, the following cars also competed-Talbot. Darracq, Buick (2). Studebaker (2). Ilnpmobilc, Minerva, Maxwell, and Hudson. Motor-Cycle Hill Climb. J K. Aiderton, 7.9 h.p. Indian (4soc.). 'Time. 1.32 4-5-tcc 1 Goo. Hill, 1 li.p. Triumph (6sec.) Time. 1.37 2-5 2 Geo. Jones. 3 h.p. B.C. (6sec.). Time, 1.37 2-5 3 Geo. Bill, 4} h.p. B.S.A. (sscc.). Time, l.llsi-c 4 The winning Essex car. which was driven by Mr. Cnmplicll, is now on view in tho showrooms of tho Dominion Motors. Ltd.. Conrlonay Place