SPORTING JUMBLES

Maoriland Worker, Volume 5, Issue 180, 15 July 1914, Page 3

SPORTING JUMBLES

Cycling Chatter. Further particulars received by the Dunlop Rubber Company from England in reference to the Tourist Trophy Race, decided on June 11 on the Isle of- Man, show what a strenuous test this. 600 miles . of . .mountainous course provided. -Twelity-threo of theworld's leading cars started, and only six completed the course. This is"weeding out" with a vengeance!. Several of the leading makers , entered teams of three cars, but only one team of three. Minervas' was left in the raco after 150 miles had 'been negotiated, and they finished up;'second, third and fifth. Such a result proves tbe need of long-distance road coiltests ■ to improve the breed and reliability of the present-day oar, which many people to-day look.upon as nearly perfect. The Royal Automobile Club of England, in again promoting the Tourist Trophy. Race after a lapse "of six years, has already proved the ! necessity for such road tests, and no doubt many valuable lessons have been

learned over the recent race. Ono thing the contef.t demonstrated in no uncertain manner, and that is tho reliability of the Knight Sleeve-valve En--gino for continuous strenuous work. Tho Minorva. team—who used Dunlop tyros—by "thoir fine performance, carried off tho teams' prize awarded by the Royal Automobilo Club. France possesses moro cyclists than any other nation in tho world. For 1913, 3,477,991 cyclists paid a 2s. 6d. tax on thoir machines, bringing in a revenue to the French Government of £432,220. Based on tho above figures one person in over, thirteen , of tbo French population rides a bicycle. Tho method of collecting tho tax is for cyclists to purchase at the beginning of each year a small Government plate from tobacconists' shop 3. Tho registration plate has to be affixed to tho machine and carried through the current year. Says the Dunlop Co.: AVo havo hefore deprecated the practico of passenger carrying on tho rear -carrier, of tho motor cycle. It is a practice which we regret to soo is becoming moro and moro common, since to our way of thinking ifc is ono of tho most, dangerous motoring practices which can be indulged in. A slight skid, a momentary loss of control, and thero aro all the makings of a bad accident. It seems to us that tho case is one in which tho foolish must bo protected from the consequences of their own folly. If the motor cyclist will not give up tho practice of his own free will—and wo know him too well to think that he will—then legislation must step in and forbid a practice which is highly. dangerous to the public. It is. pretty conclusive evidence as to tho danger of this practice when the.Auto-cycle Union of -England, which, conducts its ow;n insurance of members against" deaths ..and, accidents, lias' recently increased its, premiums 50 per .cent, m .iho case of. riders.who carry a; passenger on the carrier. "