Cycling and Motoring.

Free Lance, Volume XVIII, Issue 948, 12 September 1918, Page 27

Cycling and Motoring.

One of the best-known and most successful of the American racing drivers -is Rirkenbaoher, who, when he first enlisted in the American Army, was appointed to drive General Pershing's personal car in France. Now I&ickenbacher is in the U.S.A. Aviation Service, and here his old car-racing experience has proved of value. He discovered a German plane approaching from underneath with the obvious intention of looping up and over into a ■favourable position. Rickenbacner 'grasped, the situation in a flash. He could not bring a gun to bear, but, charging straight at the enemy, managed to sweep away the German's tail, with the result that the enemy "crashed" from 5500 feet. The- American plane was also rather badly damaged, but managed to make a good landing.

The writer has always advocated larger tyres for motor-cycles, especially for high-powered twins. A factor •contributing to the success of the American passenger motor-cycles in this country has-- undoubtedly been the circumstance that they are fitted with 28in by 3in wheels. .English makers .have always been inclined to undertyre their machines, and this is particularly 'the case with the higher-pow-ered oxitfits on the one hand and lightweight machines on the other.

The benefits from standardisation of parts was recently demonstrated in France in connection with, landing and assembling of the now famed U.S.A. "Liberty" aeroplane. One shipment arrived in France and parts taken indiscriminately from various cases. In less than two; hours machines were assembled and in .the air. It is worthy of note* that the training airplanes are now flying 220,000- miles a. day in America, from which a fair idea can be gathered of the vast number, of aviators who are being trained for service on the Western Front.

There is every probability o£ a motor cycle reliability trial being held about Christmas time between Melbourne and Sydney, via the coast road.