MOTOR CYCLING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 8 September 1928, Page 15

MOTOR CYCLING.

ITEMS OF INTEREST.

A Sunbeam, ridden by an Italian, lias won. the Italian T.T race, the Oircuito del Lario.

Valves and valve gear were responsible for more failures in the recent T.T. races than anv other mechanism.

From January to December, 1927, 92 per cent, of the motor-cycles imported into East Africa were of British manufacture.

The reliability of the small twostroke in the recent T.T. races is to lead to the mass-production or threewheeled delivery “forecars” using this type of unit.

The Indian, Harley-Dayidson, Ace, Excelsior, Henderson and Cleveland combined output for 1927 was 85,900 motor-cycles. This figure is expe. led to be exceeded by 5001) in 1928.

To prevent acid from attacking the terminals and wire, shape a piece oi cardboard round the terminal and cable end, and pour parafiin wax into this former until the terminal is covered. The cardboard can be remoter! after the wax has hardened.

In the 209 miles Brooklands races high speeds were established in the 8/50 o.e. and 500 c.c. classes, the winners being \Y. H. Phillips Grind lay (Peerless), 56.6 m.p.h., and ■ W. Le Vack (New Hudson), 94.8 m.p.h. respectively.

A new scale of motor taxes is in operation in South Australia, under which motor-cycles formerly taxed on a power-weight, basis are now sueject to a flat-rate tax of 39s per year .or solo machines and £2 for sidecar outfits.

The Auckland City Council is purchasing three motor-cycles for the ti.se of its traffic staff. Following the lead given by the A.A.A., it is calling tenders for British machines, one condition being that the three machines at present own'ed by the council be taken as part payment.

The Auckland Automobile Association at its last monthly meeting decided to donate £5 toward the Sports Motor-Cycle Club fund to contest the pollion-riding by-law in the Supr. me court. The" A.A.A. holds that a national regulation should over-rule a by-law, and on these grounds is supporting the. Sports Club in its mo.e.

In the German T.T. the 350 c.c.'class was won hv the well-known English rider \Y. If. Handley at an average speed of 62 m.p.h. The distance was 266 miles. Handley was riding, an o erheacl camshaft A.J.S. A wonderful ;eature of this win was the fact that the winner of the 500 c.c. event averaged only 59 m.p.h.

Art P'echer, described as “the man who runs on T.N.T.,” has teen successful in smashing up several of the European dirt track records. Per her, who comes from America, rides 350 c.c. Indians in his races. He beat a record established by Spencer Stratton, the New Zealander, at Stamford Bridge, ;«r one mile.

It is expected that the engines of many London taxicabs will shortly he replaced by 350 c.c. single-cylinder motor-cycle units, which will result in greatly improved speed, smoothness of running and efonomv. (“The Motor Cycle.”)

For the twelve months ending on February 29 last 82.) new motor-cycles were registered in Northern Ireland.

F’rom January to December, ]927, 92 per cent of tlie motor-cycles import ed into East Al'ri.a were of British manufacture.

V. L. Handley’s, the famous Rex Acme rider, nomination as a driver o. one of the Bagonda cars racing at Be Mans (France) recently suggests that his activities may possible extend outside the motor-cycle field in the future.

The following are the details of 'the sales of motor-cycles in Now Zealand for July: B.S. A. 49, Douglas 36, Harley 31, Triumph 29, Ariel 22, Indian 20.

In the Junior 'Touris't 'Trophy races, Dunlop tyres “were fitted to the machines which secured first, .second and third places.

The 500 c.c. class and the unlimited class-at the 50 miles Welsh championship races were won by A. M. Jlnrry, riding a .500 c.c. Now -Hudson.

The Triumph has a reinark'able T.'T. record: In 1907-OS-09-10-12422 and 1927 Triumphs were in the first three machines to finish, and in 1908 Triumphs secured first, third, fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth places; six out of the first ten to finish.

HONOURS TOR NEW ZEALAND

The Auckland Motor Racing Club has received advice that the one-mile records established at the March meeting at Takapuna have been accepted overseas as official world records for grass track speeds. Certificates to this efi'ect have been issued to P. Coleman 7 h.p. Harley-Davidson), 4G 4-55., and C. Walker (23 h.p. Rex-Acme), 50 4-ss.