MOTOR AND CYCLE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7976, 6 December 1911, Page 9

MOTOR AND CYCLE

Considerable surprise Iras been caused in New South Wales motor cycling circles at the decision of the New South Wales Cyclists’ Union—with which body the New South Wales Motor Cycle Club is at present affiliated —that none of ito members will be permitted to take part in tho Dunlop relay dispatch ride from Adelaide to Sydney. The executive oi tho amateur cycling body has decreed that as three teams, respectively of eyelists, motor cyclists and. carisis, will bo currying three separate mil nary dispatches, and their respective times will be compared one with another, then the ride according to their rules is a -public exhibition and one in which eye]lets who have raced tor cash will be allotted relays in the cycle division, consequently if any of their members take part in tho .aide they will lose their amateur status. The following rule is cited os

ground fer the action taken: “An amateur forfeits his status and becomes piotossionul by knowingly competing with or pacemuking lor a professional person under suspension in public or tor a prize." The interpretation of this rule was never intended to apply to a tesrt; such as a relay ride, in wiucli sportsmou volunteer their services for the purpose of demonstrating whut could be accomplished in times of national stress in tiio way of dispatch currying. No prize is awarded in any way, all that the dispatch carriers receive being a souvenir medallion In recognition of taking part in the ride. If over there was a genuine apiateur sporting event, the forthcoming ride will bo one, and yet the New South Wales Union, which allowed E. A. Pearson (amateur) to team with T. Larcombo (cash) over the last section of the .1909 relay ride, now prohibits its mcmbeis from taking part in a siinilar event because there will be three sections of the ride -instead of ono as in the 1909 event. What difference does it make if there are one, two or three classes? If it was permissible for E. A. Pearson to take part in the cycle relay of 1909, when the same rule was in force, the writer cannot see that tno addition of a motor cycle section and a further section of motor cars, to a similar ride two years later, alters tho interpretation of tho said rule. The decree of the union has -astounded the members of the New South- Wales Motor Cycle Club, and it will certainly strengthen the feeling that exists in tho .mother State that the motor cyclist© of New South Whiles should have their own governing body and not bo under tho aegis of a cycling association. As several members of the New South Wales Motor Cycle Club have volunteered to take part in the forthcoming ride, and are still desirous o! assisting in tho event, it now remains to bo seen whether this club or Its members will abide by the decision of tho executive of the Cyclists' Union. The action of the New South Wales Union is not likely to seriously affect tho relay ride, tor tho promoters state that ample applications are to hand from unalhiimotor cyclists in New South Wales to insure tho carrying of the motor cycle dispatch over tho New South Wales section of the route, Whilst in Victoria and South Australia the motor cycle clubs have granted their patronage and are doing ail they can to insure the success of the big undertaking. The Dunlop- Company claim that the relay ride is not a competition, within the ordinary meaning of the word, and-have asked the New South Wales Union to reconsider the matter, for they claim that - tho event is at most an endeavour to make <a comparison of the possibilities of cycles, motor cycles and motoi cars tor dispatch carrying.

Tho success of Brooklands automobile race track in England lias induced some American financiers to lay down a similar track near New York <(U.S.A.) A fiJO-acre block of land iwu> been secured for tho purpose, and already work has started ou Laying the banking tor the track. A grandstand, with seating accommodation for KMLOJO people, is to bo erected. It is anticipated that the track —costing, • with stands, etc., about '•C3l>o,o^0 —will be completed in about twelve months from Cate. An idea of the popularity of motor car racing in America may be gathered from the fact that 100,900 spectators is not uncommon at high, automobile coutotAe.

• W. Tormey, a well-known New South Wales motor cyclist, intenas muKiuy an attempt at an early date to better the recent record run established by, J. Fair between (Sydney and Melbourne. If -experience and ability go for anything, - Tormey should put up a good perxormance, and it i© anticipated that he will easily reduce the 4Shr 40mln recorded by Fair for tho 575 imlus between the two capitals. Tormey'© mount will be a Dunlop-ohod 3i ii.p. Speedwell machine. Tne attempt will be made from Melbourne to Sydney.

Interest in tho six-days' bicycle race Which is to bo held in Sydney next January, \is now becoming more keen, and' tho arrival during lust week of several intending competitors from America has drawn attention to the fact that the big event is drawing near, Tho conditions of the race will bo as follows: Originally the first prize was fixed at X 750, but it has been altered to X7GO to make prizes of X3O and X2O for the fourth and fifth teams; while the second team receives -£2OO. and third XSO. This takes up .£IOOO, and special prize© are to bo allotted to every team completing the journey’ and to those teams riding 1800 miles. The race will start at midnight (12.5. a.m.) on January Ist, and will finish at 10.5 p.m. on January Gth. The race will be a continuous ono of 142 hours, the teams having the right to relieve each other for spells as they think fit, but no rider will bo allowed to ho on tho track tor longer than twelve hours in each twenty-four.

Interviewed in Sydney Ivor Lawson, the crack cyclist, said: “You ask mo who is the fastest man in America today? Well, it depends on how a race is lain. If slowly, with everything depend-' ing on tho final sprint, Frank Kramer; but if tho race is red hot from start to finish, then Jack Clarke ds the bc©t man. But recollect that in A. T. Goullct you have a man in my opinion quite equal to Clarko or Kramer in America. Ho won more races than cither Clarko or Kramer in America this year. I think that in Clarke, Goullet, P. Hehir, and Gordon Walker you havo riders destined to becomo the- fastest men in the world,”