RELIABILITY TRIAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17143, 24 October 1917, Page 2

RELIABILITY TRIAL

A considerable amount of interest, is always attached by motorists to the annual reliability trial of the OUgo Motor Club, and this year's trial wan no exception. Out of 12 entrants 11 faced the starter (Mr H. L. Jones) on Saturday morning. The riders wero considerably hampered by strong head winds, and up to Palmcrston by rough roads. A. J. Coucbman (Campion) was in trouble early in the day through a faulty sparking plug, and although he arrived at his first check on time was penalised 10 marks for mechanical trouble. A. Walker (Indian) had tho misfortune to receive a bad puncture, at Waitati, and arrived two minutes late at tho first check. A. Stewart (Indian), who was travelling well, struck trouble at Morton through his magneto, and, although ho made a food effort to check in to time, ho failed to do so. _ He continued his journey as a non-competitor. The shingle on the Palmerston-Bushey road caused a deal of anxiety to riders, and steering was. difficult. A secret check was set 22 miles north of Palmcrston, but tho majority of the riders were well on tune, and few penalties were incurred. All riders arrived on time at Oamaru. A. Scott (Henderson) had a puncture at Waitaki, and, fortunately for him, the railway bridge was closed, thus enabling him to effect repairs before tho bridge was opened, and to resume his journey without any time having to be made up. Tho Timaru check was reached without further trouble being reported excepting by King (Indian), whoso transmission chain came adrift, this entailing a loss of 10 marks. This, mishap was particularly unfortunate for him, as apart from this, he had an absolutely clean sheet, and put up one of the beet performances ever made on this run. T. E. Sagar (Indian) was the only other competitor to lose marks on this section, ho being penalised one mark. T. Isaac's performance to Timaru was distinctly good. Although having no speedometer to assist him, he lost no marks on tho outward journey., Timaru was left behind on Monday morning with the weather fine, but threatening. A secret check 'was set six miles out from Timaru and six out of the remaining 10 riders lost marks for being ahead of schedule time. This check was operated by Mr A Donaldson. A second check was set at Waimate Junction, and five riders suffered as a result. Oamaru was reached to time by all riders excepting E. Jago (Campion), who had tyro trouble and arrived 10 minutes late. . The third and final secret check was cleverly set by A. Donaldson 31i miles south of Oamaru. A. Crolly (Indian! was the worst sufferer by this stop, being five minutes late. Heavy rain and a gale caught the riders before Palmcrston was reached, but tho majority arrived on t ; me. Owing to the heavy rain making tho Puketeraki road impassable for motor competitors were forced to ride over the Kilmog. This caused delay and considerable risk owing to the very bad subsidence across almost tho whole width of the road near the top of the hill. Machines and side-cars wero pushed or carried over tho break, as many as six or eight men being required to escort the vehicle. W. 'Gibb (Indian), who on the outward journey was tho only ono with a side-car to arrive at Timaru without loss of marks, met trouble at this point, his clutch slipping 60 badly that he could not climb the hill, and he arrived in Duuedin about an hour late. The thanks of the club aro due to Mr W. Wright, who successfully controlled the competition and drove his car through as the official car, to Messrs J. Palliser (Timaru), L. Forrester (Oamaru), A. Do Taurettes (Palmerston), and to Messrs A. Donaldson and C. Stewart (Duncdin) for the assistance given at the various checks.

The following are the results:—Side-car class: H. Burrows (Indian), 98 marks, 1; T. E. Sagar (Indian), 97 marks,'2; A. Scott (Henderson), 96 marks, 3. The committed recommends that no award bo made in the solo class pending an inquiry into the non-observation of- rulo 8.