RELIABILITY TRIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17665, 18 December 1917, Page 8

RELIABILITY TRIAL.

ROUGH RETURN TRIP FROM

The Pioneer Club's side-car reliability trial was concluded yesterday, when the competitors returned from Akaroa by the Long Bay and Summit Roads. The outward trip had boon practically without incident, as 'tho coach road was followed throughout, but the rain on Sunday, which continued yesterday morning, made tlio prospects of the return trip verj iinaardous, and at ten o'clock a meetin" of competitors was bed at AUaro° to decide, whether the trial' should bo continued. By this time the weather had cleared somewhat, and it was decided to go on with the trial, but tho experiences of the riders were anything but happy on the return journey, as the mud-bespattered condition of'the machines testified. The route lay up tlio very clayey Long Bav road, along tho Summit, through Pigeon Bay, Port Levy, Purau, Governor's Bay. Lyttelton and Sumner. It was expected that the Long Bav ascent would prove the undoing, of the competitors, as the road is rarely taken by motor-cars without chains on the driving wheels. But it was astonishing how well some .of the riders took this hill, and more formidable patches of clay were encountered on tho road out of Pigeon Bay and near Church Corner. Port Levy. These patches simply defied nearly all the driving Wheels, and it was impossible to get a grip. Curiously enough the only competitor .on the return journey to negotiate all the roads without stoppin.T had lost 2min 40sec at the start through inability to get going in time. This was H. Jennings, riding a o h.p. Indian. The day was suited to a light car and ridor, and it is quite -'on tho cards" that Jennings will win the event by reason of his good riding performance. . The competitors were dispatched from Akaroa at short intervals after 1 p.m., and they were due at llalcrow and Ingram's garage some time after fire o'clock. A very large crowd assembled at the parage, and at 5.i p.m. W. Jones put in an appearance, lie had had slops owing to the wheel spinning round on the clay surface. Ho was followed in by E. F. C. Hinds, who also had had a stop, but had put chains on his wheel. H. J.ones was the next man in. followed by G. Lambert. 11. Jennings, A. Nelson, F. Howarth, R. Kennett, F. Sprosen and J Lee. It was reported by the judge (Mr W. Minson) and secretary (Mr P. 11. ;human) that owing to mud clogging up the front wheels S. Leniue (Henderson), T. C. Tyson (Henderson) and G. B. Brown (8.5. A.) had abandoned the. trial. C. Boil (Indian) also had a broken chain, aud rode in very late being quite out of the contest, and R. H. Parker (Triumph) did not time in. . , ... , The results of the trial will be announced by the judge (Mr W. Minson) in the course ol a day or two. lhere are several elements in the trial which may make the judging a matter for much caution, although fortunately there is no petrol' test. Ihe competitors timed in at Christchurch yesterday were: — ~ . W. Jones (Harley-Davidson). E. F. C. Hmds (Indian). H. Jones (Harley-Davidson). G. Lambert (Indian). H. Jennings (Indian). A. Nelson (James). F. Howarth (8.5 U.).. ~ . R. Kennett (Harley-Davidson). F. Sprosen (8.5. A.). J. Leo (8.5. A.). ; The mileage registered by one of tho competitors for the run out and home was 12-1.8 miles. The test was one of the very hardest that could have been set any competitor, either motorist or solo motor-cyclist, and the results so far speak eloquently for the reliability of tho machines and the skill of the riders.