THE MOTOR (By "Autos.")

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 117, 19 May 1914, Page 11

THE MOTOR (By "Autos.")

An excellent account is given in the Sydney Morning Herald of Guillanx's epoch-making hydroplane flight off Sydney Harbour on the Bth May last. The machine — a Maurice Farman, imported by Mr. Lebbens Hordern— was launched in Double Bay. Its measurements are given as 57ft span and 35ft length, and 15ft freight from the floats to the top plane. The engine is described as an eight-cylinder Renault, developing 70 horse power, which seems rather small for so big and heavy a machine. The tuning up was done very carefully with the aid of a spirit level—which, by the way, does not appear to have bsen used iti erecting Scotland's machine for flight, so far as the writer witnessed operations. Guillaux took up with him a heavy mechanic. The Farman lifted from the water very quickly, states the nccount, and flew over towai-ds Mossman and out in the direction of Manly. One of the ferry boats sounded its whistle by way of salutation. After a circular cruise, the hydro came back to its starting place, alighting in the water some distance out from the shore. Guillaux spoke enthusiastically of the machine. Mr. L, Hordern was the next passenger, and this time the flight was longer. A wider detour was taken to include Circular-quay and part of the city. Mr. Hordern, an enthusiastic motorist, came back delighted with his voyage. "What about motoring?" he was asked. "Motor cars?" he replied with emphasis, "why, motoring isn't in it with flying." The third flight was ao complished with the French Consul, M. Chayet, as the passenger, and then it was too dark to fly any more. The whole thing appears to have been eminently successful and to have impressed everybody who witnessed it profoundly. M. Guillaux has great faith in the hydroplane as a protector of harbours, and, coupled with the submarine, it seems to be the thing for New Zealand as well. Land flying will always be unusually dangerous in New Zealand on account of the absence of suitable landing places, but on the other hand in her harbours, lakes, gulfs, and sounds, the Dominion has ample room for safe waterplane work. The writer understands that there is a waterplane in the course of construction in Auckland, but definite details are lacking. A waterplane fleet should be a paying proposition on either Auckland or Wellington Harbour, and also on the Hot Lakes, the Wanganui River, and the Mariborough Sounds, to take the most likely places first. Of the prospects for land Hying the writer has always had his doubts, and nothing has yet happened to upset these — rather have vecent events confirmed them. Passenger-carry-ing with the hydroplane is a lucrative business in the calm waters oil the coast of Florida, and Southern California in America, and on the Riviera in the Mediterranean. It ought to pay in New Zealand. This is quite apart Irom the possibilities of the waterplane in defence, which is a matter for the Government to consider. The first day of the Junior T.T. was yesterday, and the final to-day. The senior event takes place to-morrow and Friday. Notes of prominent riders are given in the latest Motor Cycle to hand (2nd April) :—: — S. L. Bailey.—A n Australian by birth, he came over to England ?arly in 1912, and soon began to rawke a name for himself as a track racing expert. Most of his successes were achieved on Douglas machines, which he expects to ride again during the coming racing season. In the 350 c.c. he is still the holder of the flying kilometre and flying mile record on a Douglas. These records were set up in December, 1912, and Bailey attained the remarkable speeds of 72.63 and 70.04 m.p h. G. E. Stanley.— The great Singer rider, who has rightly been described as the "wizard of tune." He is holder of the coveted 1 hour) record m the 600 c.c. class, which he set up on 15th October, 1912, covering 67 miles 782 yards in the sixty minutes. Stanley hopes to attain some wonderful speeds this year, . and is very busy preparing his Singer for the track. He is matched against Carlo Maffeis, champion motorcyclist of Italy, the duel to take place at Brooklands. Stanley, in addition to the 500 c.c. hour record, is holder of the flying 5 miles, the 10 miles, and 50 miles records in the 350 c.c. class, and the same records for 500 c.c. machines. Hugh Mason.— The N.U.T. machines and Mason have proved a Newcastle-on-Tyne combination hard to beat. His wonderfully plucky riding and sensational victory when in the doctor's hands in the Junior. T.T. last year stamped him as one of the "grittiest" riders imaginable. On 16th July, 1913, Mason made a regular raid on records on his 350 c.c. N.U.T., and today is the record holder from 100 to 300 miles, and from 2 hours to 6 hours in that clasa at Brooklands. H. C. Newman, the Ivy-Precision expert, is considered one of the quickest starters. He holds the side-car records in the 500 c.c. class for the flying kilometre, flying mile, and fifty miles. The speeds attained were 61.45 and 60-81 m.p.h. respectively. J. L. Emerson, 'of Hull, is chiefly notable for his record-breaking at Brooklands on 13th January last, when he set up speeds of 80.47 and 78.46 m.p.h. for the flying kilometre and flying mile, riding an A. B.C. motor-cycle with a special engine, and with also a special attachment of a stream line-tail to reduce wind-resistance. J. R. Haswell, on his favourite Triumph, has had a long career of success, particularly in the Senior T.T. He still holds the 200 mile and three and four-hour records in the 500 c.c. class. He averaged 61.59 m.p.h. for three hours. H. A. Collier.— The elder of the famous pair of brothers, "H.A." has the distinction of holding the oldest existing records. These are all in what is known as Claßs E for motor-cycles not exceeding, 1000 c.c, and they were set up in May and June, 1909. In the former month he set up records from eleven to twenty-four hours, riding a twin Matchless-Jap of 862 c.c. His total distance was 775 miles 1340 yards, his average speed working out at 52.~6'<>. m.p.h. The following month, riding a similar machine, the 500, 600, and 700 miles records fell to him, his speed for the full distance working out at 32.56 m.p.h. The history ot the Collier Brothers is practically the motor-cycle racing history of England, and their successes on road and track in the last ten years have been phenomenal. H. V. Cplver holds • the one hour record for side-car outfits in the 350 c.c. class, which he set up in October last, on a 350 c.c. Royal Enfield combination, his speed on that occasion being 40.56 m.ph., remarkable for so small an engine. <( C. R. Collier.— While _ his brother "H.A." holds_ the long-distance records in the big twin class, "C.R." has confined himself to the short records, and holds the flying kilometre, Hying mile, and flying five miles, which ho annexed in August, 1911. In the flying mile he attained a speed of 91.37 miles an hour on his 980 c.c Matchless-Jap. This is the highest speed ever clocked for a motor-cycle at Brooklands, and a great deal of speculation hns arisen as to whuther Collier could attain 1U) miles an hour on the track. His memorable series of matches with the lato Jake de Rosier at Bvooklands will be remembered. Together with his brother he lias had his share of successes in the T_.T.

and other races — in fact, it would be difficult to tell which of the two brothers has won tho greater number of events on tra-ck and road. Numerous telegrams recounting his progress towards the centre of Australia have been received by (he Davies and Fehon Motors Limited from Mr. Francis Birtles, who, accompanied by Mr. Frank Hurley, on 11th April left Sydney on a 10,000 miles cinematograph tour. According to Mr. Birtles, Nyngan was reached at 10 o'clock on Tuesday morning, 14th April, and Bourke shortly after noon the next day. Tho 20 h.p. Ford car, which was loaded with half a ton of camp gear and supplies, averaged 28 miles per gallon of fuel. The Queensland border was crossed on Friday, 17th April, Barrigun being left behind in the morning at 10 o'clock. En route to Charleville (Queensland), which was reached on Tuesday afternoon at 2.20 o'clock, the motorists drove without stoppage through 100 miles of sandhills. Mr. Birtles uses Pratt's Red Label spirit. Tho great difference in the mileage results obtained from practically the same tires by different drivers can usually be accounted for by the treatment the covers receive. Tires require fair treatment and attention to give tho best results. The importance of correct inflation cannot be too greatly emphasised ; untrue wheels and dented rims, and rims of incorrect sizes, lead to various troubles, as will also those which are rough and rusty. Neglect of cuts in the covers, especially in winter,, is to be most zealously guarded against, and regular overhaul for damage of this kind and immediate repair where necessary will make a vast difference in the ultimate mileage obtained from covers. 'Do not run the tire to rags before deciding to have it retreaded. There were only four competitors on Saturday afternoon for one of the series of competitions for the Sutherland and Rankine Cup under the auspicea/of the Wellington Motor-cycling Club. Bad Weather reduced the attendance. The ] course was from the Oriental Bay Kiosk round the bays past the Patent Slip, up Wellington road and down Charles-street through Hataitai and Roseneath to the starting point. The competition was in the nature of a speed-judging test. Competitors went once round in their own time, and then were required to go twice round the course in twice their original time. On this double round F. Webb on a Triumph came in lOsec early and G. Watt, also on a Triumph, 10se,c late, the two tying for first place; E. Creed, on a 8.5.A., came third 25sec late, and D. George, 4min sse© late, was fourth. The tie for first place was run off by a single round. On this Webb won, thus securing 5 points towards the cup aggregate; Watt gets 3 points and Creed 3. ""Two events of the series are still to be run in the petrol competition, and another speed-judging competition. J. Boucher is at present leading for tho cup. The next competition will be Saturday, 30th May.