SYDNEY TO MELBOURNE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 20, 24 January 1913, Page 3

SYDNEY TO MELBOURNE.

The recently - established motorcycle record of 29 hours 43 minutes for the overland route, 572 miles, by J. Fair, New South Wales, was not allowed to stand _ long, for C. A. Mundy, a Victorian rider, has succeeded" in clipping 13 minutes off Fair's time. Mundy, who rode a 3£ h.p. Rudge, put up a particularly fine performance, as he was handicapped by having to repair 27 punctures. Fair, who used "Dunlops" on his ride, had none. Several further attempts are to be made at an early date to better Mundy's figures, which, considering the tyre trouble he had, must be fairly easy to reduce. Some time back the Dunlop Rubber. Company expressed the opinions that the 572 miles between Sydney and Melbourne could be negotiated in 24 hours on a motorcycle, and as an incentive towards that end) the Diinloj) Company' has ' now offered to donate a 20-guinea gold watch to the first motor-cyclist accomplishing the ride in a day. The offer is open only to members of the Victorian, New Sfcuth Wales, and ; other inter-State Motor Cycle Clubs, : and the record mast be officially , passed by the Victorian and New South Wales Clubs. The task sfefc by the Dunlop Company may on the face of it appear a severe on; but it is surprising what proper organisation can do in the way of eliminating .delays and cutting down time in a ride of this description. In almost every record ride over the SydneyMelbourne route, hours have been needlessly wasted, and tihe sporting oifer of the Dunlop Company should serve to induce motor-cyclists who attempt the record to pay < more attention to the details of the run. The first rider to make an attempt, basing; his time schedule on a 24 hours.' run, will be the well-known Melbourne motor-cyclist, J. Booth, who recently established an Australasian one hour track record, by riding 52 miles 201 yards in 60min. He is a first-class rider, and whilst his primary object is to endeavour to lower the record of 29-| hours established by C. A. Mundy, he will at the same time make an effort tc secure the Dunlop Company's prize. Booth's mount will be a3^ h.p. "8.5.A." shod with "Dunlops." Another Victorian rider, in J. Rollason (3-J Rudge) also has designs on the record, and will make an attempt at an early date.