NOTABLE YEAR

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6536, 18 February 1928, Page 13

NOTABLE YEAR

MOTORING ACHIEVEMENTS. phenomenal land records. The year 1927 was a notable one for motoring achievements, both in organised competition, record .attempts and endurance tests. In the way of speed, the most phenomenal land records have been accomplished by British, French and American cars during the past twelve, months: some 01 the most extensive endurance, tests possible have been caried out. and othr fine feats have been accomplish-' ed in races. The outstanding records of the year were, of • course, made abroad—-the first which stirred the world being the feat of the British driver. Major H. O. D. Seagrave, with his Sunbeam, in which he exceeded 200 m.p.h. for the first, time in the history of motoring

At the other end of the scale of records was the astounding achievement of the Hon. Victor and Mrs. Bruco, at Montlhery, Paris, .whose record, drive of 15,000 miles in 22GJ hours established one of the most remarkable automobile feats yet recorded. With the smaller racing cars some vry fine performances have also been recorded abroad, notably that of G. E. T. Eyston,. with a 1496 c.c. Bugattl eight, who covered 116 miles 982 yds. in an hour at Brooklands, The Australian performances were cxcelent, when it is considered- that they were all accomplished on stock model cars of the touring type—not built for racing or record-breaking performances —and driven Vy what might be called amateur or ownerdrivers. The brothers H. R. and Allan Clarke, of Sydney, driving a 14-40 h.p., Yauxhall, created a new 24 hours track record at Maroubra Speedway, N.S.W., of 14792 miles in January. Six months later this record was eclipsed by Messrs. W. Attwood and B. Colliver with a 3581 c.c. Chrysler, at Lake Perkolilli, W.A. covering 1607 mles in the 24 hours. On the road a number of records ranging from minor distances to across Australia have been established by motor cars and motor cycles. Long distance records were those from Darwin to Melbourne (3465 miles) covered by Dr. Alan McKay and Barney Wood with'a 2370 c.c. Essex car in 6 days, 3 hours 58 minutes, and Darwin to Adelaide (2091 miles) in 6 days 17 hours by the same motorists, Melbourne to Sydney (565 miles) covered for the first time in less than 12 hours on the road by Messrs. E. JBuckley and L. Bartlett, of New South Wales (Hudson car) whose time was llhr. 54 min. 30 sec. In the opposite direction, H. J. Beith (Chrysler car) covered the same distance between the two capitals in llhrs. 14 min. on December 21. Freomantle to Adelaide (1734 miles) in 72 hrs. 42 min. by Messrs. Clutterbuck and J. M. Thompson, of Adelaide, ;in a Chrysler. The light car record from Sydney to Melbourne whs also . broken ; by Drake Richmond, of Melbourne, in his 990 c.c. 8 h p. Flat, whoso time was 14hrs. 47 min. The greatest distance of n n—9692 miles —was covered by Messrs Woodward and B. Mayor, of Melbourne, in a Buick, in which they drove completely around Australia in 46 days, thus establishing the first timed record for the circuit of the