MOTOR-CYCLING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18897, 20 December 1924, Page 32 (Supplement)

MOTOR-CYCLING.

Sports Clubs' Hill Climb to-day at Mangere.

Loose chains mean worn sprockets and additional expense.

i Attempts are being made on Brooklands r to reach 100 m.p.h., with 250 c.c. engines.

Sudden stoppages cost money in worn tyres and strained parts. Apply the brakes gently and with care.

During the six months ended June, last, 865 motor-cycles valued at £36,482 ( were imported into the Irish Free State, all but five machines being British.

The Auto Cycle Union of New Zealand has forwarded' a letter to the Auckland Motor Racing Club complimenting them on the splendid organisatu 11 and manner in which the Takapuna races were run.

From Sydney to Perth in 7 days 9 hours 32 minutes is a record just established by an Indian Super-Chief outfit, ridden by Messrs. Ford find Watson. The existing record was lowered by 2 days 6 hours 17 minutes.

A further decline took place in the export of motor-cycles from the United States during last July. The returns for the first seven months of the present year show a total of 10,000 machines against 13,000 for the same period last year.

The Auckland Motor Racing Club is again offering the biggest prize money in New Zealand at their February meeting at Takapuna Racecourse. The prize list shows £215 while a special invitation race of £40 is to be 'added if the American riders are present.

An accident occurred at Muriwai last week-end 'through a machine at speed striking soft sand. It is always advisable to wait until the tide is well out before attempting speed and even then it is wise to take a steady run up the beach tc ascertain if there arc any bad spots.

The opening of the Melbourne speedway attracted an attendance of over 30,000 spectators. The best race of the day was a' seven lap event when Hipwell (Australia) beat Davis (America). Paul Andercon, another American, won the big race of the day. The course is i-mile to the lap.

The February racss at Devonport will include an Australasian Middleweight (600 c.c.) Championship. The event will be .particularly interesting in view of the fact that Moller (3£ Norton) beat Coleman (C.'A Davidson) in the New Zealand Championship at Rotorua while Coleman reversed the position last month at Blenheim. There is also the possibility of at least two American riders appearing on .3£ h.p.'s, as well. It is gradually becoming a practice for the smaller motor-cycle racing clubs to have to pay appearance money for big riders, to appear. ; The matter was discussed at the council meeting of the Auto Cycle Union held in Auckland at the beginning, of the month. The motion to put a stop to this practise was defeated. This means-that small clubs can still be victimised. The action seems particularly weak for a body of such standing as the A.C.U. claims. . The following . is a report of the performance of .a h.p. and sidecar; which climbed a steep grade in England. " The gradient is 1 in '2. The tyres were studded with . steel prong's, which .. pro-' truded half an inch, and the' engine was raised specially high on the machine to enable boulders to be surmounted. As far as possible we kept, to the heather, but, about _ 900 ft. up we went through a wet bogV. in which the machine" sank to the axle's)";. A'motor-car which once tried to climb the mountain stuck in the bog we encountered. At times we had to press down tho wheels for the machine to get a • grip. ' OPOTIKI MOTOR- SPORTS. . Much interest is being taken in the annual race meeting of the Opotiki Motorcycle and Athletic Sports Club which will be held at the racecourse domain on Boxing Day. There will be eight handicap events from a novice race of 5 miles, for which the first prize is £6, to the Presidents Handicap of 15 miles for a firist prize of £20. The races are all to be run under the N.Z.A.C.U. rules. Eaveral of the leading racers of Auckland and the Waikato are competing and the racecourse domain is in excellent order for fast racing. The flying mile for fastest time should be very interesting. The weather in the Bay of Plenty is exceptionally fine, and the roads are now in excellent condition for motor traffic. ' XMAS TOURS. To many the motor-cycle is the means of leaving far behind the busy city life and spending quiet days in the country. A run through to Gisborne makes an ideal i ten days trip. Leave the main South ' Bead at Pokeno, branch off across the Hauraki Plains and travel via Paeroa and Waihi to Tauranga. This road is good in fine weather. A little roughness may be met on the hills near Katikati, but the road is quite easily negotiable. From Tauranga to Opotiki; the route improves all the way. Some very beautiful scenery is encountered between Opotiki and Gisborne and if rain happens to fall the machine may be railed over the bad portion. The return journey may be made back to Opotiki and through Rotorua or via Napier and Taupo. PLEASANT DAY TOURS. This holiday season will see many now riders on the road some of whom will not yet have found the best" of our picnic spots. According to inclination the .holidays may be spent at the ordinary crowded pleasure resorts or away in soma remote place with only the native bush and open sky for company. Hunua Jails. These at once come to mind. Situated some 30 miles from the city the waterfall and stream surrounded by bush and ferns makes an idea] spot for a quiet day. The route is along the Great South Road as fiir as Papakura where a sign post indicates a turn to the left.' The road after a few miles runs alongside a stream through a gorge and then passes through open country until a sign at a sharp backhanded left turn indicates the branch road to tho falls. Nihotapu. Away up in the Waitakere Ranges there are innumerable spots ideally suited for holiday camps and picnics. Piha on the West Coast can also be readied by the same road and with its splendid beach is fast becoming a popular motorists' resort. . The road runs through New Lynn and Glen Eden turning off the Henderson Vallev Road about one milo past the Glen Eden station. Signposts direct, all the way from this point. In fine wenfher it is better to take tho surnme- road after reaching the turn off on tho Henderson Valley Roads. Muriwai. ; All motor-cyclists have i.'eard of Muriwai but many have never visited* 10 famous racing beach. Splendid camping grounds are available or accommodation can be bad at the hoarding house. There is good,.fishing anil surf-bathing and when the tide is out a hard stretch of sand extends north for over .40 miles and on this those inclined towards speed can satisfy their cravings. A metal road extends within a few miles of. the beach and the balance of the distance is easily negotiable except in very bad weather. After passing Henderson take Lincoln Road branching to tho right providing fine weather has prevailed and half a mile past tho Huapai Hotel turn again to the left. Blgnpost3 indicate the way.