MOTORS AND MOTORING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13226, 11 July 1906, Page 7

MOTORS AND MOTORING.

; s THE GRAND PRIX: 750 MILES IN 73+ ; :: : MINUTES. ■ , .;V"""-' ■ . The race for the Grand Prix, the great in- ...; V ; ternational motor contest promoted by the . Automobile Club of Prance, took place* over : the Sarthe circuit on Juno 26 and 27. It .•.'■'■■ was lield over a triangular course, starting 'seven miles from Le Mans, thence to La Porte Bernard and St. Calais, and back to t .the starting-point. The distance of this . : course was 62£ miles, and had to be covered ~'-"* six times on each of the two days in order . to compete the full course of 750 miles. The -, event was inaugurated during the present year by the French Automobile Club, under ■ pressure from the French manufacturers, who, dissatisfied with the conditions attached to the annual -Bennett Cup race, decided to abandon the latter, and hold a speed event which would'enable each maker ! to be represented by as many cars as he ~. those to enter. Great Britain, Austria, :':;,. Switzerland,.and America objected to the-e " : ; regulations, holding that a representation'of three car 3 for each nation, as in ihe;GordoiiBennett, was the only Way to decide 'the con- . test on ■an international basis. * As the French makers, however, held that France. ". ; as the hub of motor industry, was entitled to a preponderating representation, all coun- ■' " -tries that usually sent cars to compete in the Gordon-Bennett, excepting France. Italy, and Germany, held aloof. That the rate was almost entirely confined' to French pro- ■ ductions is evidenced by the fact that out of 34- entries 25 were French, six Italian, and three German. Ton individual French makers, two Italian manufacturers', and one German firm entered ears for the contest. '■ ■ The entrance fee for the race was £200 per ___■ [J.' 1 car, and £400 for bite nominations. As if, is y if''' probable that all the cars entered early the '; "' promoters would have had at least £6800 , in fees. This stun, and £4000 voted to them by the town of.Lc Mans, would have en- ;,: ' '■ »b!r>d them to pay the £5000 to the winner j -: a- well as other prizes and expenses. As regards the race itself little U known outside that just received by cable. The first 1 >>' home was a Renault, driven bv Sis-/., '":'- which covered the course in 12b. Mm. 7s. ■:' The second cat. ti Fine, driven by Nazza.ro, ' was only 32m. 19s. behind the winner. The third car, a Bayard-Clement, driven by A. •> • Clement, took 3m. 20s. longer than the Fiat to complete the journey.: That tiio race was k ' '' a great one is undoubted, and :• remarkable flirt in connection with it. is (he closeness 'villi which the, three placed cars finished. The winner's time averages about 62 miles i 1 an hour, whilst that made by the other two , civs doe- not fall far short of this. Con- . Mdnring the sharpness of the three turns. '■'''.''.'- ftr| d that each ear had to slacken speed at ; ( - : ; : ■ St. Calais in order to be checked, it is nroiv ■' able tlliat close on 90 miles an hour, if not ! ',-i greater speed, was attained over the fine strqiglit stretches of a" almost perfect course. |.'"' i The winning car is a French production wHi- ! - known in European circles. This i' its first. | ' fwafc victory' in speed contests, Risz. the L •* driver, is little known out here. Th« Fiat . fir, which secured second p'ace. is of Ital- '...'■ , 'an manufacture, and has o f late years at- . timed a prominence in sjved and rebnhi'ifv i' f ,■'<-. ••* contents 'which has placed ; t on a footing with the world's best, cars.. The driver. Na-<- „ ! ' ,lro - is a prominent motorist "-''o-e name is ;'/•■, . ■ familiar to all autoipobilistfl. The, third car, v. th«» ■ Bayard-Clement, like the winning ,: ;• ■ j chicle, is of French construction. Hith .-.-. '* ha- rot attained any srre.at prominence as : " spe<;d motors Th" driver. Clement, is a. -, son of-the. builder of the vehicle, and is recarrled- 'm a flaring exponent of moror^driv-' inir. Mo.-1 of the car-i'were'iour-CTlimlered. I' , c I

although-a. f<>w ; had six and one car, as least . eigin. and the horse-power ranged from oil to 200. . ' - TTHE DUNLO.P ROAD RACE. ' The big. annual Ditiilop• road race." from Warrnambool to Melbourne, over a, distance of 165 mile.i; will take' place this year on September 22. Riders from all "the Australian States as well as from New Zealand will, it i* expected, compete. '. Already test ! races to decide each State'* representatives for the great event are> being arranged. In last year's contest there were. 157 starters, and of these 113 got*to Melbourne in record time, considering that the roads were muddy and bad for almost half the .journey. The 'conditions which will govern the coming race will be practically the same as those in use last year. ;No outside pacing will. bo allowed, and competitors must ride the same machine -throughout the race Food and refresh ■ will be provided at certain 'centres en route gratis by, the promoters. Youths under 18 years of age will not be eligible to compute. Tho handicaps will he declared on September' 3, and tho acceptances will close.eight days before, the race. The entry fee will lie 2s 6d, and the acceptance' a like sum. Tho League of Victorian Wheelmen will govern the racing. The prize-list for the event- will be exceptionally good. ; The first man home will get £30 and a £5 5s gold medal from the promoter?. Cycles will be given by separate Melbourne firms for the next three placed men. In addition to the above prizes there will be a long list of special trophies for the. best best "country and fastest time performers.