WHEELING

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1745, 16 August 1905, Page 47

WHEELING

(By ‘Austral.”)

West Australia bas unearthed a promising road-rider named ‘Foster, who .recently succeeded .in carrying -off the 25 and 50 miles TWA. Read Championship. Foster is spoken of as the most likely W.A. rider to represent That State in the forthcoming Warmambod—Melbourne Road Race. By cable we learn that a 1 wonderful speed was obtained from a motor cvcle on the Brighton Esplanade (England) two weeks ago, when a motor cyclist covered a short distance at the rate of 86 miles an hour. This speed is equal to a mile m 41 seconds, which is nine -seconds slower than the mile record for motor car®. The short distance world’s motor cycle records are held by ?a Frenchman named Lanfranchi, who, in October, 1904, covered a flying kilometre (1093 yards) on the road in 29 1-5 seconds, equal to 761 miles per hour, and also drove a mile from a standing start in 57 4-5 seconds, equal to 62 miles-an. hour. The fastest time recorded by a motor car for the mile is-32 A-r&seconds (equal to 109£ miles an hour), established by H. L. Bowden on Daytona Beach, Florida (IJ.S.A.) last January. The standing mile record is 46 seconds (equal to 78 miles an hour) driven by C. Basle at Providence' (IJ.S.A.) on the 9th September, 1904. The probability is that the speed test just cabled 'was accomplished on one of the high-powered English motor cycles manufactured with a view to competing in the French International Motor Cycle Road Race. The Automobile Club of Victoria is bolding a 125 miles non-stop motor car contest from Melbourne to Ballarat and back on Saturday, August 5. r Oars-will be classifiedun three section®, viz., Class 1, cans of 5,6, or 7 h.p., carry two passengers ; Class 2, cars of 8 or 9 li.p., carry three passengers (or equivalent weight) ; Class 3, cars of over 9 h.p., to carry four passengers (or equivalent weight); average weight. IQst each. Maximum points, 100. Qne;pomt to deducted for each and every minute engine is stopped (removing a sparking plug to count as n stop). w Each ear to carry a “Club Observer.” Minimum time, 7:V hours; maximum time, 9 hours. The condition® of the forthcoming big motor reliability contest to-be held from Melbourne to Sydney on 'the "14 th to 18th'November, 1905, have now been issued. Jt will, be remembered that the contest was inaugurated last February, with a view of conducting a big annual Inter-State Motor Contest that would be interesting and enjoyable to the contestants, and instructive to thy .'general public a-s 'demonstrating that the -automobile Vi's suitable and reliable for’travel line; over rough Au-stralian roads. 'The aim of the promoters was achieved in both directions, and the event proved an

unqualified success. It was originally intended' to hold the contest in February every yeai*, but after consideration it was decided to alter the date of test to November, about which time it will be conducted armuallly. In the_ forthcoming competition reliability will again be the principal factor in the contest, although a good touring speed has to be maintained on the road that will allow very little waste time for overhauling and repairs between the two capitals. The contest will this time be held from Melbourne to Sydney—a distance of 572 miles- —and will start from the Haymarket, Melbourne, on Tuesday, November 14, and finish in Sydney on Saturday, 18. The course Till be divided into five stages, each se -cion to be covered under schedule time, for which 500 points will be awarded each day. On the concluding day’s run — .'from, Goulburn to Sydney (129 inde-s) — an additional 500 points will be awarded each contestant who establishes a nonstop engine run over this hilly course, which includes a stiff climb up Razorhack Mountain (roar Picton), which is about a mile long, and has a grade of I—B in places. For every minute or part thereof of each engine stop, three points will be deducted from the score of cars with two or more cylinders, whilst two points for every minute will be deducted for every engine stop made by single cylinder cars. To ensure the proper carrying out of this condition a passenger from aboard a contesting car will be changed on to another car at Goulburn to record particulars and duration of each stop. Tyre-repairing delays will not count against non-stop run. All cars to carry at least two people. Should two or more cars tie on points, a further non-stop contest to be held. During the test all repairs and adjustments must be made during the driving time allowances. All cars to be locked up as soon \ as handed over at the end of each day’s run, and car not to be handled in any way until handed over by officials five mintites before starting the next morning. Prevision is made for filling water and petrol tanks under official supervision before car is locked ' up for the night. The classification of cars has been decided on as follows: —Class A, single cylinder cars. Class B, multi-cylinder cars that accelerate over 12 h.p.-. Class C, cars over 12 h.p. The speed averages for the three classes over the five sections are as follows : Melbourne to Buroa (100 miles). —Class A, 8 hours 50 minutes (15 miles an hour). Class B, 5 hours 50 minutes (17 miles an hour). Class C, 5 hours 20 minutes (19 miles an hour). ' Buroa to Albury (101 miles). —Class A, 6 hours 45 minutes (15 miles an hour). Class B, 6 hours (17 miles an hour). Class C, 6 hours (17 miles an hour). Albury to Gundagai (121 miles). —Class A, 7 hours 45 seconds (15 2-8 miles an hour). - Class B, 7 hours (17 miles an hour). Class C, 6 hours 40 minutes (18 miles an hour). Gundagai to Goulburn (121 miles). — Class A, 7 hours (17 miles an hour). Class B, 6 hours (20 miles an hour). Class C, 5 hours 30 minutes (22 miles an hour). Goulburn to Sydney (129 miles). —Class A, 7 hours 50 minutes (16£ hiles an hour). Class B, 7 hours 10 minutes (18 miles an hour). Class C, 6 hours 30 minutes (20 miles an hour). The aggregate time allowances and speed averages for the full distance are as follows: —Class A, 36 hours 10 minutes (average 16 miles an hour); Class B, 32 h oux-s (average 17 7-8 miles an (hour); Class C, 30 hours (average 19 miles an hour). It will thus be seen \ that although the contest will be spread over five days, for the comfort of contestants the actual time for covering the 572 miles between Melbourne and Sydney for the light cars is only a day and a half. Whilst the heavy car allowance is only l£ days, which is undoubtedly • quite far enough considering the nature of the road. It should be* distinctly understood that the contest is not a race as no extra paints are obtainable for covering sections in time faster than the schedule allowances. The speed of contestants will be controlled through the different townships along the route by means of flags, and penalties are provided in the form of heavy loss of points for reckless driving through townships, etc. The premier prize in connection fig?with the contest will be the Dunlop Cup, valued at 100 guineas, which will be held by the winner for 12 months, and won outright in the event of any individual winning the trophy twice. In addition, the winner will receive the valuable Garland Cup, the Australasian Automobile Poad Blue Riband for 1905-6, and a gold medal commemorating the event. Other valuable trophies will also he presented for competition, y A motor cycle section will also he held in connection with the reliability test on the same dates and over the same sections as the car competition. The rules and conditions are practically the same as for the cars, with the exception of the last day’s run from Goulburn to Sydney, when instead of non-stop conditions being enforced, an extra 150 points will be obtainable by climbing Razorback Mountain Avithout dismounting. The hill will be divided into three sections, the end of each being flagged by an official. Fifty points will be awarded for each section of hill ridden, making a total of 150 points for surmounting the climb, Avhich is the stiffeet on the whole route. No limit as to horse-power is made. The promoters intend erecting directions and danger

boards along the route, so that contestants will have no trouble in following the course. Detailed, maps of each day s section are being prepared for the use of the competitors. Provision \yili also be made for suitable accommodation at the end of each day’s run for tho contestants and for supplies of petrol and oil along the route.