CYCLING & MOTOR NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13875, 12 April 1907, Page 3

CYCLING & MOTOR NOTES

By Deuox. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. JJakaT.EWA.—Your experience with tho article you name is not at all singular, local cycle agents having given up both stacking and using it. Tho article has not at all been the succcss it was thought it would be. You are wise to return to the old style ot doing tilings. M.'.gxeto, Millar's Flat.—Received too late for answer this week.

Good entries were received for the four bicyclo races at the Clyde sports on Easter Monday. Tho Half-mile was run in two heats, and resulted as follows:—First heat—A..' M'Kenzie 10yds 1, B. Collings 20yds 2. G, Patterson 35, J. Koane 45, A. Larson 60, G. Uren 70, also started. Second heat—H. Canning 60vds 1, E. Kibblewhitc 20yds 2. Also started: C. .Symons <10, E. Grovcr 50, K. Uren 85, A. \Yilsoll 85. Final—ll. Canning 1, B. Col- • lings 2, A. M'lCenzic 3. Time, Imin 6 2-ssoc. The limit.man, Canning (200 yds), al?o won tile Two-mile Raco from E. Kib. blewhite (65yds) and A. M'Kenzie (40yds). there being five other starters. Time, 4min 32scc. Nino riders faced the starter m the Mile ltaee, and on this occasion M'Kenzie (ser) prevailed over G. Patterson (50yds) and E, Kibblewhito (10yds), the time being 2min 30£ sec. The Farewell, of a mile, also wont to M'Kenzie (ser), who proved that ho is 110 slouch .on the cycling track by winning in the good time for a country track of 2min 23Jisec. Collings (15yds) finished sccond and E. Grover (100 yds) third, there being four other starters. It will thus be seen that the young Oamarii rider M'Kenzio put up a most meritorious performance during the day, scouring two thirds and two firsts.

Tho secretary of the Canterbury Automobile Association has been informed by Jle«sr3 Tnglis Bros., the Christehurch agents for the Star IJrftineering Company, of Wolverhampton, England, that it is the intention of that firm to donate to tho association, for competition, a trophy valued at 50gs. The trophy is similar to the Tourist T'ophv and the Gordon Bennett Trophy, which arc competed for annually in England. —At a recent meeting of the Leaguo of New Zealand 'Wheelmen, the South Canterbury Centre asked for a ruling from tho league as to whelhor a bicyclo handieapper had power to vlter a •handicap, as ••as done by the handieapper at tho recent Dunedin Cycling Club's sports, where tho handieapper put up Sutherland from scratch to 50yds and Randrup from scratch on to 70yds. The league ruled that tho handieapper had no such power, according to tho rules, but, recognising the soundness of 'tile position taken up by the Dunodin gentleman, Mr A. It. Barker lias given noticc to move ihat a,, now rulo should bo adopted by the leiguo to provide for the rearrangement of heats during tho progress of a race meeting, if desired, by the referee and the official handieapper. It is only fair to Mr S. D. Minn, the Dunedin handieapper, to point out, however, t-hat in rchandicapping Sutherland and Randrup as ho did he was quite within his rights, so far as the rules governing his club's sports were conccrned, one of tho rules reading that the' handieapper " had power to rcliaiulicap any ridor or roarrangc any kats." According to the ruling of the League of New Zealand Wheelmen, then, tho <rfficials of tho Dunedin Cycling and Motoring Qui) are to blame for inserting a rule in their official programme which thoy did not liavo the power to insert in the conditions governing tho day's sport. As this handiepping rulo has boon appearing in the Dunedin Club's sports programmes for a number of years now, it seems rather strange that the infringement of tho league rules has not before been noticed. TIIO death of M. Leon Serpollot, which was announced a few weeks ago, removes from motoring ono of the earliest pioneers. M. Serpollot was born at Culoz, and passed away at his residence in Passy at the age of 48. Early in his career ho showed a liking for mechanics, and he created something of a sensation by accomplishing a ride from Paris to Saint-Germain and back 011 a steam tricycle of bis own make, which is said to luive been the first machine of that kind ever seen in Paris. Shortly after he turned his attention to steam motor <mrs, and began their manufacture on a large scale. His name was always closely identified with steam as a motive power, and he probably did moro than any other man for that class of motor vehicle.

-The London Cab Company have just placcd an order for 4000 10-12-horeo power motor cars with tho Darraeq Company. A few weeks ago this company also scoured an order for 500 SVpassenger'buscs for London and Liverpool. In Hawke's Bay farmers are using cars on the baek-country roads (says Mr Bockaert, the well-known motor ear expert), and seven of thcni have been purchased by members of one family. Mr Bockaert is so sanguine of the future of the motor car thet he has cabled Homo for 21 Darracqs of 10.12-horsc power, and 12 of 8-10-horse power. Of these eight have already been bespoke by South Canterbury people. Tho smaller car is of a now type, a very light two-seater. Mr J. S. Rutherford (of South Canterbury) has just ordered a £1000 car, and another is going to a southern settler. The case in which an English cyclist unsuccessfully brought an action against the owner of a hen which, straying on the highway, dashed into the wheel of his bicycle and caused him to be thrown off is to be carried to a higher' court, and the C.T.O'. (acting on counsel's opinion) have decidcd to support the appeal. The case is of considerable importance to cyclists, and, in a- lesser dogrnec, 1o motorists. — According to. L'Auto, ono of the leading French sporting papers, the English, French, and German works of the Diinlop Tyro Company turned out half a million motor tyres during last year, equal to a value of £2,400,000. This conveys an idea of tho way motoring is booming in Europe. — California boasts of nearly 3000 miles of oiled roads. The crude petroleum used as a dressing has transformed dusty and often impassable highways into excellent thoroughfares, and made motor travelling over them a pleasure and delight. Of the 57 counties of the State 40 now have oiled roads. Tho first experiment with oil was made in IE9B. and it was found that when it was applied it immediately began to bind together the loose particles on the surface, and form a stratum resembling asphalt. California now occupies a foremost position_ in mileage of good roads as a result of this method.

The proposed match between Mogson and Horder, two well-known New South Wales racing cyclists, has had to bo postponed, at any rate for the present, owing to most unforseen and ..unusual circumstances. It appears that Mrs Megeson lias been dangerously ill, and in order to try to save his wife's life Megson, as a last resource, bad tho main nrtcrv of his left arm tapped and two pints of blood extracted, which was injected into Mrs Mcijfon in the endeavour to save her life. Acting under his doctor's orders. Megson has to now take rare of himself for some time, nnd will naturally bo unable to prepare himself for his proposed match with Horeler for £100 a-sido.

——I" connection with the proposal of the Dunlop Rubber Company that the combined automobile clubs and motor trades of the Australian eastern States should organise and conduct a big motor contest from Brisbane to Adelaide, a distance, of 1850 miles, the Dunlop Company, with a view of bringing matters to a definite shape, have now issued a letter (o all the trades interested for the purpose of ascertaining what amount will bo forthcoming for the holding of the proposed contest. The Dunlop Company have started the list going willi a donation of £100 towards the £700 that it is estimated will be necessary for properly organising and carrying out the Brisbane-Adelaide contest. Should sufficient support bo forthcoming to warrant, holding the proposed event, the routo will be motored over at (in early date, for the purpose of formulating the conditions of the test and gaining data for maps, petrol supplies, and accommodation along the route. The proposed contest, should it eventuate, v/ill be the and severest of its kind held in the world. —- The two biggest manufacturers of cyelo parts in the world, the B.S.A. Co. and tho Eadie Manufacturing Co., have decided to join forces. The amalgamation of these two big manufacturers of component parts will undoubtedly have an important bearing on the Australasian cycle trade, for fully three-quarters of the locally assembled cycles are built up from either B.S.A, or Eadio parts. — Messrs It Tannic and A. Warren, tho two Western Australian cyclist-s who left Perth on Monday, sth February, with a view of establishing a new overland record from Perth to Sydney, had at the latest advices, dated 14th March, only succeeded in getting as far as Balladonnia; which is almost midway between Kalgoorlie (W.A.j and Port Augusta (S.A.I. The ovorlanders, who were joined by l'\ Birtles at Balladoiiia, havo had a rough trip, heavy rains having' fallen, tendering progress slow,

and all chance of their establishing a better record than Donald M'Kay'e 40 days from Perth to Sydney (3050 miles), is gone, for Lannie and Warren have already been on the road eome.26 days, and have not yet been reported from the South Australian border. Lennie and Warren evidently recognised ot Balladonia- that their chance of boating M'Kay's record was gone, for they wired that they purported trying to put up now figures for the Adelaide to Sydnoy run. WAERNAMBOOL-MELBOURNE ROAD RACE. TIIO Dunlop Rubber Co. have mado application lo the League of Victorian Wheelmen for -Saturday, 28tli September, upon which to hold their big Australasian road raco from Wammmbool to Melbourne, a distance of 165 miles. Provided the date applied for is granted, the world-famed Dunlop road rare will bo held 011 tho dato mentioned. This race, which is tho longest and most coveted cycling event in this part of tho world, was inaugurated as far back of 3895, tho first rare being won by the Victorian (but now New Zealand) rider A. Caldcr. With tho exception of 1898 and 1899 tho big road race has been held over tho lino Warrnambood course every year, and has under careful and'strict management developed into the most, sucocc-sful road race in tho cycling world. The. ovent is ono that appeals to all classes, and is very popular with country cyclists, owing to tho fair an equitable conditions that tho Dunlop Company enforce with a view of placing tho country rider 011 an equal footing with tho moro favoured city cyclist, who under tho old regime could command such outside assistance on the road that tho unknown country rider had a poor chanco of succcss. This is all changed now, and the records of past Warrnambool races bear evidence of the success of the country competitor. As soon as tho L.Y.W. liavo considered the matter full particulars of the prizo list and conditions will bo issued by tho Dunlop Company.

MORE ABOUT THE ENFIELD CUP RACE. C. F. Baker, ono of the five riders disqualified for collusion in the running of the raco for tho Christclmrch Enfield Cup last December, makes some startling revelations 011 tho race in question in a letter to the Lyltelton Timeo, and which I reproduce for my readcrs's edification: — Sin,—As a great deal has been said and printed about tho Enfield Cup Race of last December, I will ask your permission to reply through the medium of your paper, and to state what actually occurred. In the first place, I am not going to deny that there v;as an arrangement made by the. competitors as to who was to win. The arrangement emanated from two prominent members of tho New Zealand League of Wheelmen, who approached the rideiß in the race with a view to getting tho Enfield Cup deleted from the progiuinmo of the Christchurch Cycling- Club iu the future, as they considered that the trophy had become a drawback to sport, as tho race had always been surrounded by unpleasantness between the competitors and tho North Canterbury Centre, and that tho enp appeared on the programme valued at about five timos its intrinsic value, and also that the Christchurch Cycling Club had entered two men for the raco who had no right to compete, aa they wero not members of' the club, It was one of tbo conditions of the race that competitors must bo members of the Christchurch Cycling Club. The stotcra I allude to are Messrs J. Arnst and Wyatt.

The two members of the league who formulated the arrangement also considered that, as the club had resorted to so much uJrigue in the past to retain possession of tho cup, aud that it. represented eo much more prize-money than it really should, cycling men would be better off without it, as another race would tako its p'nee that would lie more benefit to cycling sport gen-r----ally. With this object in view, it was decided that, as I was tho only starter who had aDj" claim to the cup, having won it in tho previous competition, I should win. Somo of tho proofs of collusion that wcto advanced by some of the club officials wore very amusing,' not to say ludicrous. For instance, one pointed out that the time was slow. Of course it was slow, and so long as the conditions under which the race i 3 run remain unaltered, the race will always bo slow, as it only meajis a bit of a spurt past the post each timo round, and in the case of last year- even this was not necessary tor the fin»t Unco laps, a3 there were not enough starters for;the conditions to apply. Therefore, the first three laps were only a procession. Then, again, others said that Wvatt backpedalled coming up the straight. Now, anybody who has had any experience of cycle racing knows that the man who even attempts to back-pcda! when going at "top," generally takes a trip through space, and gets picked up more or less out of repair. But it is hardly to be expected that the "lion compos" who get pitchforked into official positions at bicycle sports meetings should,'.know these things.

Ab for collusion, as a general term, there is hardly a race ran without it, as without seme understanding amongst the riders, bicycle racing would not be worth going to see, as no ono would pace, and racing would 1m just a spurt up the straight. Under existing conditions, the scratch men must uudcrstand one another, or they would never get up, and the present mode of handicapping is conducive to the practice of collusion rather than otherwise. Now, with regard to the members of the league who fornm'ated the arrangement under which the last Enfield Cup was ran. Is tho league going to allow them to go scot free, while it-punishes the riders who only carried out their part of the agreement? Tho allegations concerning two officials of tho Leaguo of New Zealand Wheelmen aro of sucli a serious liaturo that I have no doubt the leaguo will take speedy action to ascertain whether there is any truth in the accusations mode by Baker. In the meantime cycling men will watch with interest for -the further developments which aro likely to ensue. SIR JOHN! MADDEN ON MOTORS. As president of tho Automobile Club of Victoria, his Excellency Sir John Madden received a great welcome _ back by club members on the occasion of hie return from his recent trip Home. Referring to bis motor experiences at the " welcomo home," Sir .John said that no matter what other-/, people thought and said, the motor car was an institution, and was here to stay. Its possibilities as Un aid to touring were in the nature of which they had no conception. Catering for taurine and to tourists was a vast business in Franco and Italy, and if they wero wise they should 'open up their line country for such a purpose and encourage touring by whatever means. "And," said Sir John, "while we are waiting for the airship and the submarine touring vessel, the motor car fills the bill very well." Speaking of the roads in England, ho said that a bad one seemed nonexistent; to travel along them was a keen delight, especially in a fine car handled by exi»rienccd men. Mention was also made of the motor in the shape of tho omnibus, and this was held to bo its most objectionable form— from its unsightliness, its smell, and its affinity to the .pavement, whence it caused impalpable splinters to rise from the wooden blocks, which found their way into one's lungs and set up an irritation. In connection with the number of accidents, Sir John said that the dangers from motor cars wero exaggerated by fhe sensational reports in the papers about accidents resulting from their use. "Horse accidents, railway smashes, and shipping mishaps were greatly in excess of motor mishaps, yet the latter impressed the public, while tho former - were accepted as daily happenings. In Prance there was no limitation to speed, and in that- country it. was recognised now that touring motorists contributed vast sums of money to the revenue, while the people obtained employment attho motor works."

A FIVE WEEKS' CYCLING TRIP IK THM NORTH AND SOUTH ISLANDS. I left Dunedin by the first express on tho 23rd February, and stayed in Christchnrch till the 26th. On that day I started my cycling tour leaving Springfield at 2p.m. for tho Bealey, which I reached after a hard ride over Broken River. Leaving for Rreymnuth next day, I had to cross tho Waimakariri Bret thing in the morning. It is not the depth of the river, but tho icy coldness of it, that makes it bad to cross. In the Oiira Gorge the rata was in full bloom. After having tea in Kurnara, a nice spin brought- me to Greymoufh in tho evening. Left there in the morning at 5.30 o'clock for Westport, which town I reached after a long ride, but the road was in splendid order. It was hew I had my first puncture on the road. I stayed at. Mohikinui for a few days, and through tho courtesy of .Mr Mitchell. I was shown all through the State coal mine at Seddonville. The Mohikinui Bridge is an immense structure, which is onlv used for foot and hoive. traffic, as there is only a bridle track to it. It must, have cost (lie Government a vast amount to build it. I departed from Seddonville on March 7, and had breakfast at Westport. A couple of days' solid riding brought me to Nelson, past Belgrove, Wakefield, and Stoke. Saw the hop-pickers busy at work in Ike garden?.: I hail to. wait

in Nelson till next day for tbo boat, so took a run out to Cable Bay Station. It was there that I got another puncture, and it tool: me all I know lo get back to Nelson in timo to catch llic boat for Wellington, where I arrived at 2 a.m. Left Wellington, and stayed at Levin that night. Up next morning. I had breakfast at Shannon, and stayed at. Marton for the night. MadcWanganui next day, had a look round tho town, and left by (he boat in tho morning for Pipiriki. The trip up the river was simply lovely. Next morning I made Karioi, where tho rails on llic south end of the Main Trunk Lino are up to. Waiouru was reached late at night, as the road.i were very bad, and I had to carry my bicyclo fully nine miles, and tho first 17 miks took mo six hours to do. A downpour of rain greeted 1110 next morning as I started for Tokannau, over the Ngaruahoe Plain and river. 011 the plain I saw about. IS wild horses. I had some trouble in crossing tho rivers, as they were in high Hood. Two o'clock taw me at Tokannau, and after a ride along the side oE Lake Taupo I reached Taupo—a hard day, in which I had to-ford three riveis and swim three. I took tho precaution to put my spare bicycle tubo round my chest and pump it up tight, cud it made a splendid lifebuoy. I "en roPcd my clothes up in my cape, tied .1 long piece of flax on to my bike, took my clothes on my shoulder, and swam across the river and then towed mv machine across. I had to do this three times. I left Taupo for Rotorua, where I stayed a day and a-half. Thence I made Wnitapu for breakfast, Taupo for dinner, and llansitikoi for tea. Next, day I rode over tho Titnekourac Hill, which rises 2750 ft. in four miles, and you run down the othor side (nine miles) without putting :>■ jioitiid upon the pedal. lXown the Mobnka Hill your brakes are well tested, as .sometimes you liavo to skid your wheels lo stop your machine fretting away. I had tea at the Moliaka Hotel, then rode into Napier in the evening, it being a bright moonlight night and a. iovelv rond all the way. Left. Napier first thing in Hie morning, had breakfast at Hastings, dinner at. Waipuluirau, and made Danncvirke for tea. Tho country right through from Napier is looking splendid, the grass boing good and the Kittle and sheep in excellent condition. Next day I was in Eketahuna for dinner and Masterton for tea. Left Masterton, passed Carterton, Greytown, Foatherston, Lako Wairarapa, over the Rimutakas, down through tho Upper Hutt and Pctone into Wellington. This finished a trip which occupied five weeks, and I rodo a distance of 1450 miles. I bestrode a Record cycle, and had only two punctures on the trip, and tho bike 6tood the rough roads well. W. A. B.