MOTOR-CAR CONTEST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22499, 17 August 1936, Page 11

MOTOR-CAR CONTEST

' DRIVING ROUND AUSTRALIA £IO,OOO AS PRIZE-MONEY The executive council of the 1938 round Australia motor-car contest has decided to aim at obtaining at least £IO,OOO for distribution as prize-money. It has been agreed that at least £SOOO should.be awarded to the outright winner of the contest, and that consideration should be given to presenting a medallion to each competitor who completes the course of approximately 8000 miles.

The Royal Automobile Club of Great Britain and 'motor traders throughout Australia will be asked to support the project. The principal motoring organisations will be asked to form committees to organise the contest in their States. '

Mr. C. W. D. Conaher, representing interests in Northern Australia., said that between Katherine and Derby no supplies were obtainable, and supplies would need to be sent forward in advance. The whole of the route from Charleville to Hall's Creek had been traversed by cars, but there were bad patches which would need to be covered carefully, especially in crossing creeks and rivers. At Cockatoo Sands, the natives were inclined to be troublesome, as it was a crossing place between two hunting grounds. As the cattle business was in a bad state, the minimum number of men were employed and, therefore, gangs of men could not be obtained to facilitate the progress of the cars. Beaver-tailed cars could not be taken oiit of some of the creeks.

Other 'decisions are: —That any mechanically-propelled vehicle, excepting motor-cycles and motor-cycle outfits, should be eligible to compete in either section (sports or touring), and that the entry fee for all cars should be £lO 10s; that competitors should be allowed to start from any mainland city; that the person or persons entering a car need not necessarily be the driver or relief driver; that relief drivers, as nominated, should be allowed provided that they were occupants of the 'competing ears; that permission should be sought from the Post-master-General's Department for amateurs to establish a network of radio communication along the route, and that the Australian Inland Mission should be asked to place its wireless facilities at the disposal of the executive.

It has been suggested that all competing cars should be equipped with a simple radio' apparatus, enabling the sending of S.O.S. signals.