FOG ENCOUNTERED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27093, 30 May 1949, Page 6

FOG ENCOUNTERED

MOTOR RALLY HAZARD WINNER OF CUP NOT YET ANNOUNCED Thick fog on the summit of Mount Cargill provided a' hazardous ending to the motor rally held through Central Otago for the Sundstrum Cup on Saturday by the Automobile Association (Otago). None of the 46 competitors was involved in any accident, however, and their times for this last section of the 140-mile route—from the Waitati Post Office to the association rooms in Moray place—were comparatively accurate. Fog was also encountered between Macrae’s Flat and Dunback on the return home from the run up to Middlemarch. With a mass of data to be checked, the supervisor of the rally, Mr Turner, was not able to announce the winner of the Sundstrum Cup last night. He expects to know the result on Wednesday. Other trophies are to be awarded to the winner of the “ cash amateur ” section of the rally. The rally began at 9 a.m., when competitors were briefed in the lounge of the association rooms by the president of the Sports Committee. Mr T. Y. Turner. The first car moved of? at 9.30 and the others followed at specified intervals. The first test, apart from secret and open checks on general driving ability, came a few yards past the Outram bridge. There competitors had to undergo a routine of stopping, reversing and accelerating within a certain time. Similar tests were held at points on the road between Outram and Middlemarch, and although most drivers passed the tests, some showed a singular lack of attenion to their instructions sheet. Their driving was both amusing and exasperating to the officials.

At the Middlemarch Showgrounds, further tests were held. These included handling problems from “kerbside parking” to manoeuvring around a figure of eight and then parking in a “garage” in a certain time.

From Middlemarch to Macraes, drivers had to average a speed of 20 m.p.h. for part of the way and then 30 m.p.h. for the remainder of the run. Speedometers were sealed, but most drivers were close to the times scheduled. „ , From Macraes Flat through Palmerston to the association rooms in Moray place, drivers were subjected to speed judging and timing tests. Officials considered that the judgment of most competitors in these sections was good.