MOTOR CYCLING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 27 December 1924, Page 5

MOTOR CYCLING.

RELIABILITY CONTEST. OUTWARD JOURNEY. ROUGH EXPERIENCES. There was quite a crowd present early on Boxing Day at the Post Office to see the start of the annual trial for motor cyclists to Te Kuiti and back. .The weather was not too good, hut much enthusiasm /was shown. Altogether the competitors were sent off in good heart, speeded by the interest shown by.the spectators. The time advertised for starting was 7.30 a.m., but owing to the conditions it was 8 a.m. before the first machines got away .They were Herfival and Bodle, and. they were followed at five minute intervals as follows: Wann and Clarlngbold, Mackay and Rowson, Phillips, Archbold, Wedgeboom and Webb (of Wellington), Crockett, Running, WankU7 1 . oml Lightband, Champion and Phillips, Gabbie and Jones, Mackay, Adlam, Gaeson and Hall, Gyde, Robinson and Frewin, Penniall and Rowe, Streeter and Hunt, Mcßeth and Therkleson, New and Adlam, Fitzgerald and Gillice.

The starting arrangements were in the hands of Mr Lysons, and he had able help from Mr L. O. Hooker and from Messrs W. Adams and E' Evans, marshals.

The Te Kuiti competitors did not put in an appearance. Webb, of Wellington, rod© through to Hawera on Christmas Day, and will return to Wellington on Sunday, four days in succession on the road.

A Press Association message from Te Kuiti last night reports as follows: The first half of the reliability trials under control of the Hawera 'Motor Cycle Club, was run to-day. Leaving Hawera at 8 a.m., the majority of the competitors arrived at Te Kuiti between 4 and 5.30 p.m. They had a rough trip through the driving rain at Tongaporutu. They met a bad portion of road there, the rain making a quagmire. The same conditions prevailed at Mokau, after which there was a good metalled road to Te Kuiti. It is expected there will be a very large crowd of spectators interested at the finishing point at the Post Office about 3.30 p.m., when the first machines are timed to arrive home.

THE RETURN TRIP. ' WEATHER CONDITIONS VERY BAD. _ The competing riders set off from Te Kuiti. on the return journey this morning, and are experiencing conditions which will he a very keen and searching trial of the various machines. They are due to arrive at Hawera about half-past three o’clock. The state of the roads is shown by the following press telegram from Te Kuiti: “There were heavy rains over the.Te Kuiti district, and the river is rapidly rising. A large number of motorists were delayed at Te Kuiti, though some continued the journey to New Plymouth. The road is bad between Mokau and Tongaporutu.” This will no doubt cause trouble, and may cause delay to the motor cyclists returning to-day.