CYCLING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2631, 17 September 1902, Page 51

CYCLING NOTES.

BY DEMON.

Week-end liding had to be abandoned last week owing to a decidedly coid acid wet snap, and the Otago Cycling Club\run to Portobellc now stands adjourned tilh^tlm Saturday afternoon, when we hope the ele^ mento will be more favourable

With an idea of making a formal opening of the cycling season, the members of the Otago Cycling Club purpose mustering on Saturday afternoon, 27th inst., and riding as far as" St. Clair. All club members are expected to roll up, and unattached riders are invited to join in the run. Lady. cyclists who help to swell the muster "are cordially invited to become the guests of the O.C.C at afternoon tea.

An interesting letter from the Wellington correspondent of' 'the Otago Daily Times is given below, and 1 imagine that the possibilities of -motor car traffic will b« well tested by the company, which is about to put forward a number of cars in Wellington -and Christchurch. The directors of our Kaikorai cable tram service have, I know, been making inquiries regarding the possibility of putting on a motor service from the Kaikorai Valley to Halfway Bush, but from what I can gather the outlook is not favourable. They should watch the outcome of the proposed service in Wellington and Christ-church, and thereby gather sufficient knowledge of how far success might be looked for in a motor service as an extension to the present admirable- cable servic.

Club matters in connection with the Dunedin Cycling Club are very quiet at present. The only item of interest is the billiard tournament, which is now in progress. Two rounds have been played off, end the conclusion is expected to be reached in about three weeks' time.

The two- billiard tables at the O.C.C. rooms are in full swing juet now owing to a billiard tournament being played off. There have been some exciting games played, and the favourite at the present moment is an old olub enthusiast, H. Gunthorp©, who should just about win if he maintains his form. His finish in the la9t round with a 65 break unfinished was a splendid performance.

R. Oonnell, the speedy New Zealander who during Bill Martin's visit to our shores was a thorn in his side, is now in Australia, and get* 70yds in two miles from W. C Jackson at the Melbourne Exhibition track "this month.

The - votaries of ping-pong in the Otago Cycling Club are determined Ut reach North-East Harbour co Wednesday evening, and it has been arranged that if the weather is bad, drags will'tafcs? tHo place of bicycles as a means of conveyance to the destination.

"The Wanderer," in the Melbourne Sportsman, states that he had met Messrs Oalder and Ralston, the New Zealand r««'presentatives in the Warmambool-to-Mol-bourne Road Race, and after devoting a few lines to Calder, who was delighted to see many of his old friends again, has Hie following to Bay regarding Ralston: — One can easily understand Ralston' 1 ? popularity here, aad why the New Zealanders are so proud of him. He is very modest in his demeanour, and has a manner which gains one's respect right away. In faot, there were not many at the road race who knew Ralston was there, for he only stayed a few minutes. The strutting round in the cocksure dcu't-you-know-who-I-am style so often recognised in the craokajack was entirely absent. Ralaton puts one iv mind yerv much of Jack Green. He is like him in feature and build, and has the same staid, quiet style. He is using the same machine as he had here last year," geared to 84in. and with a 3-16 i« block chain, half-inch pitch. As Ralston rode away, he showed perfect riding style, quite in keeping with his reputation a-s the finest road rider in Australasia.

The Social Committee of the O.C.C. are at present considering the advisability of holding the annual social. lam pleaded to he able to say in connection with the club life of the O C.C. that matters are now much more satisfactory, members taking a much greater inteiest of late. If thov only go on os they havo started, there should !>e a very successful tea=on'-* work tn record <>pxt year.

• O'Oullajrl.an. who sectrred Ilif> pri7e for the fnat'-st turn- ; 'i tl c Warrnaml'ool-t'i Melbourne Road Race, is a well known rider, and has shown that he possesses both stamina and pace He is a good stamp of rider, and his performance occasions no surprise. Castles, the second man in. should, it was stated,. havo won the race last year, a^ at Wornbee, 20 miles from the finish, hf* had a substantial lead, but meeting with a bad accident ho was unable to finish. His position in this year's event may be some consolation to him. J. R. M'Donald is a comparatively old rider, but evidently possesses the necessary speed and endurance for contests of this description. Last month, at Colae. he won .-> rood race of 46 miles, and was of tlie opinion that he would ride well in the Warrnambool *>vent. He expresses himself very well satisfied with his performance.

There were several falls in the Warrnambool-to-Melbourne Road Race owing to the gi-ca>y road, amoncc the mo-.r unfortunate of t lie unfoi ti 'aates boinc H Mayo and J. 11. Robertson. The firstnamed, who is a resident of Geelong West, was the recipient of a double dose of bad luck. He was treated at the Geelong Hospital on the Saturday evening for injury to the bhoulder, occasioned by a fall =oon after leaving Warrnambool, and on Saturday morning he was- fined 20s by an unsympathetic bench for daring to violate the- usual calm serenity which prevails in the fieelong Botanic Gar dens by- training there for the race on hi« bicycle. The other unlucky wipht. -T. IT Robertsca, met with a »< rion- acodent through running into a btrav hcrie or tho road at Pirron Yalloak. Hio machine was broken and twisted into a- shapeless mass. Robeitson was very badly cut and bruised, and sustained concussion of the brain. He was conveyed to Costello's Hotel, where Dr SWyntie attended him. The New Zealand League have decided to remain out of the federation of the

leagues, in which all the other leagues are joined. The secretary of the Federal Council, Mr Theo. Heide, has been officially informed that the Maoniand body do not see their way to come io, but will recognise Australian riders, amd wish New Zealanders to be similarly recognised in Australia. The "Victorian League have decided >to fall in with this suggestion The Council of the N.S.W Lcaguo take a different view, and will not recognise New Zealanders, who, if they come here, will have to join the league in the ordinary course, and they object, urder the provisions of the reciprocity agreement, to New Zealand riders being recognised by the Victorian League, except under the rules of the L.V.W., to which they must apply for permission to race. It is a matter of indifference almost (to the Victorian League whether New Zealanders are admitted or not, but the question is tairlv raised. I think, whether the Islanders should be- allowed the same privileges as the contracting parties to the federation without the responsibilities. In other words, if the New Zealand League do not think it worth while to join, are the privileges worth bothering after? As a matter of fact, the best New Zealand riders must necessarily come to Australia to race, and if they cannot obtain the right in any other way, they will reside in Australia for the purpose. Australians, on the other hand, except exNew Zealanders, are not likely to want to race much in New Zealand.

The position of the New South Wales League in the matter is~*-rather different from that of any other body. Here we have the New South Wales Cyclists' Union, the recognised controllers of amateurism, with which the local league are at war. I don't approve of the antagonism that exists (says "Wheeler," in. the Sydney Referee), but it is there, r ancl as fche New Zealand Le«gu» are in agreement -with the New- South Wales Cyclists' Union, it is only natural that the league here don't regard the New Zealand League with a friendly «ye. The New Zealand League have two classes, amateur and professional, but it seems to me they should either join the Federation of Australian Leagues or go "on their own." They can hardly expect to "run with the hare and hunt with the hounds." On the old footing, their amateurs can reciprocate with th© New South Wales Cyclists' Union, and their professionals can cope over independently and join the Australian Leagues for the ben son, or for whatever time they wish to re main.

In the great Paris-Bordeaux race decided last July, L. Lesna was, contrary ta expectations, beaten by Garm, another wellknown rider. This race is more than double the Warrnambool to Melbourne contest, being 363 miles, and which was covered at about the same rate that O'Callaghan travelled in the Australian event — about 18£ miles per hour. Garin's time was 19£ hours. Lesna fell seven times during the race, and, covered with wounds and bleeding profusely, took one hour longer. Between the towns of Bio is and Efcampe-s he punctured 22 times, while several other riders complained that nails had. been v plentifully sprinkled on the roads.

The 25 mike championship of Natal, South Africa. "Tiae ""been won by Dunetah, of Victoria. Dunstan was an up-country cyclist,' a big in an', aiid.onljr a. thrrd-rato rider. When riding in Victoria he used 'to get, about. 200 yard 3 handicap-" in "two miles.

: "The worid-'s_ record" for one mile was broken" by~<Elkes, the well-known 'American pare follower, who covered the first mile of « 25 miles .motor-paced . race in Inr.iu 21 2-sscc at^Provideuco_ JlLoJ.e Idaud.

What was termed an "endurance contost" was conducted last July on the road between Boston and New York, a distance of 451 miles, in which 31 machines .were engaged. These were all motor cyclos — that is, bicycles with motors attached. The contest demonstrated thoroughly the practicability and reliability of these self-propol'ling machines on the road, and under conditions both favourable and unfavourable. It also proved as fully that the mai. is no less a factor than his ma-chine, and that skill and experience counted for much. This test run was fathered by thr> Metropole Cycling Club of New York, and created a great amount of interest in iaotor3. a-nd awakened a new phas**- of the C}'eJ<* business. The course was divided into ten sections, at which the machines underwent aai inspection, and. accordmg to thoir condition, as well as their arrival within the time limit, were awarded a maximum of 100 points at each checking pUce. Thus it was possible for the riders to gain an agi-egate of 1000 point-, and it was tho endeavour of the motoi.rt* to achieve that total. No less than seven of thp 31 starters scored the nosiible, while the eighth was within 6 point*, the ninth Within 31 points, and tenth witliin 55 points of the thousand. Gold medals were awarded to tho seven highest >corers, while blue, red, and yellow ribanda were secured by the next three men. The run was described as th-e bigest, event that hud occurred for years, and the first in nearly a decade in which bicycle manufacturers Had vitally interested themselves, and in which they were ranged in more thnn morejy commercial competition. .It was exactly th» form of rivalry that existed when the bicycle was young and needed stimulant, publicity, and improvement The '-aluo o! the <.ont<>st as a promoter of mechanical betterment wis also brought out with clear cut distinctness. Nearly all those promoters who participated freely acknowledged the instruction gained, which, as it benefits their prociuotioai3, returns t<j them the benefit of those who purchase and use them. It may I>p argued that all that «a« accomplished and Icaruod could have been done and learned in other ways. But it is there the element of public competition -hows its woitli. When makers receive individual complaints thc-v arc prone to con;idcr the <-ource and minimise the significance, or delay action. But when the same things occur in a public demonstration, under their own eyes, and wher* the world may aico »co. it i B rare fhat action is not prompt and emphatic. It is in thia respect that France has had a great advantage over other nations Motcn-ts in that country have had a free u->c of the highways at any pace they elu^e to travel, with the result that French manufacturers were enabled to more- quickly find out the weak points and determine upon the necessary improvements

■•Handicaps of th* 1 following ):dern aie withhold by direction of the League of Victoiian Wheel.men secretary, who will for ward their starts when rules aio complied with," and "Handicaps withheld by direction of tho sports secretary," preface the names of many well-known ridcr3 mentioned in connection with the haadicap. list of a race meeting to be held next month. Ratlwr a neat and polite way of putting it. isn't it? The absent-minded beggar again, I suppose. — Melbourne Sportsman. The best -laid schemes are often rudely

shattered in cycle racing. An ipstance of this (says an Australian writer) was supplied in the final of a race. It appears -thai; a certain rider was anxious for a man with a good handicap to win, and he arranged to slow the field. That is to say, w<hep. it came to his turn for pacing he would not hurry himself, thus enabling the leading t>unoh to increase their lead. This came to the ears of tw.o other, contestants, and they rightly informed the referees. Truly enough, at certain periods the pace slowed, and up went the hands- of those affected. The officials promptly warned the rider responsible, and the effect was magical. He put in a run that altogether altered the complexion of the race, and in a short while the leaders were oaptured. Country Life (England) tells a good story at the expense of a magistrate, who found himself under the necessity of. making a quick journey from a town in which his court was held to a spot 24 miles distant. No train was available, but there happened to be a motor- oar depot in the town in question, and the magistrate called there to inquire how long it would take a motor ear to cover the distance. "Two hours and a-half," was the reply. Somewhat taken aback, the magistrate said he thought tha '• journey could be done in an hour, "Well," rejoined the motor agent, 'no doubt it ' coivld ; but you fined me 40s and costs the other day for furious driving." . ; Chicago papers under date June 5 bring intelligence of a, regrettable incident " at the big motor meet at Staten. Island, from the scanty information to -hand,' it appears that in.^fie one-mile speed test an. , electric racing device, specially built" by, the ~- manufacturer with the object of deducing > ithe mile world's record, became unoon- • trollable — from what_c%use- has riot yet .been " ascertained-r-and travelling at 75 miles -an - hour, crashed into a orowd of- spectators, i with fatal results to some of the bystanders. The occupants of the electric torpedo- on wheels were not injured. The Automobile ' Club of America, who organised the meet, are terribly out up over the accident, II appears that they made provision -guarding for such an accident by arranging that spec tatore were only to line one side of th« road, so that any competitors" could run off the traok should it become neoessary ( , but the huge crowdi became uncontrollable, despite the efforts of the police to follow . out the club's arrangements. , The once big concern, the American Bicycle Company, a combination of the most , important cycle manufacturing firms in tho United States,, has practically passed into - the hands and is now under the control oi one man, Colonel Albert A. Pope. The. - colonel is father of the cycle trade in America, and has identified bimjelf iri&every great movement connected with, th« wheel. Tho desire of Colonel Pope to' repurchase his old Columbia factory recently ww a hint that something was doing, while, insiders were aware that he wu after a bigger game. The concern, is considered to be much the better for tihe recent transactions, and the shares have gone' up correspondingly. The day for cyclists in Paris -is. Sun- • • day, and specially- the day of' dcs Artists, •when tlie%prettieafr.'^tre»*eV-ty»> , Paris run races ; ' and, with, etebprateljr^der.* •Mrated'maohines, compete for* valuaWeprozea, - /Eheßoia then, (says'. the Univergar-S^mgaiine).' <i» almost. as crowded .as on "the: dajr off tKe T Grantj Prix, and there-are probably- -inore " cycliats to the square kilometre than in any | othrr city in the world. '• — — The monthly committee meeting .of ih« ; Otago C.C. was held- in the olt»brj>otu; when' the president (Mr W. Begg) presided. The following were elected to the various sub-com-mittees for the ensuing season, ami no doubt will greatly assist in making the season, a.a attractive one : —Racing — Messrs Gunthorp, Anderson, Craig; House — Messrs Nelson, H. Begg, Murdoch; Musical and Social — Messrs Nelson, Murdoch, Little. It was 'decided to ho! da club-Tun to Portobello to-day (Saturday). ' Four new members were elected. * LEAGUE OF WHEELMEN. GHRISTCHURCH, Scomber 9. At a. rueatißfj of the -Council o,f fhe League of Wheelmen to-night a letter was read from the M»now»tu Cycling Glub having reference to the "pen ally en Clarkson and Wcodroffe, and in connection with their riding at club ings while application for reinstatement was pending. It was resolved that the letter be referred back to the club, with Ihe intimation, that the council refuse to consider it until the objectionable references to the Wangftnui centre and to the member of the council are deleted therefrom. A LOmi BICYCLK RACF. (Fp.Oir OUR iIELBOUBXE SPORTIXtt COREESI'ON'- - DENT.) The annual cycle road race from Warrnambool to Melbourne — » distance of about 165 rmlos— took place on Saturday last. The road is oii.e of the best in the State, though there is a bad seven miles shortly after leaving "Warrnambool. There were 101 starters. The limit men were sent away before daylight, and the fiist man to reach the Hayrnaiket, Melbourne, was M. ChappeU, a country rider, who hod a start of 55mm. C. W. J. Castles, on the same mark, was second, and lie was 12min behind, while shortly afterwards J. R. MT)onalci v'Ouim start) came to hand. M'Donald, who was one of the limit men, had one or two fails, and lua face was cut about a good deal. The winner's actual riding time was 9hr 3eec. The time of O'Callaghan (who finished ninth) \?us the fastest — viz., Bhx 46min. The time of the winner i° the best of those that have won since .1. Carpenter won in 1896 m Bhr 40minj The race v,ns, however, paced on that occasion. The field included fioirxe of the best rideis in Australia and New Zealand. The. scratch men were Ralston, of New Zealand, who made the fastest time in the Dunlop Road! Race last year; Jewell, of West Australia; ai<d A. C. Forbes, an Austral Wheel Race winner. A Ralstcn, the New Zealand re,preseiitaihe, n.id first scratch man to finish, said. lie had a hard rido, aa more rain had fallen, ovc-r the first 50 miles before he got away, and after roost of liis opponents had passed over it Moreover, he obtained but little help from hi? fellow marksmen, and had to do the bulk of the pacing himself. Both the competitors ajid the promoters express themselves highly, pleased with the attention shown them by the railway officials, who did everything in their power to prevent delay and facilitate the progress oi the race in its various stages. The Din 'op Tyre Gompa-n3" had chartered a special! truck, in which the clothea of the racers- were placed, and on arrival in Melbourne they were coii\eyed to the City Baths, where hot baths awaited the competitors, the expen.se being borne by the promoting company. Refreshments were also distributed at various potntu along the cojirse by the company for the bei.efHj of the ridfrs. The Dunlop Tyre Cct.ip VI estimates the cost of conducting tins cot: tition to be about £300, but they made no ron«

ditaons aB to -what make of tyre ehould Tie lused. . . ' . The following is & list of the prize-winners : — JM- Chappell (55min), 9hr Omin 3sec .. ». 1 C. W. Castles (55min), 9hr I2mdn 12Eec .., 2 g. "R. M'Donald {70mdn), 9hr 27mia 45sec . . 3 jD. Capples (35min), 9nr Omin 27seo .. .. 4 I?. Shaw (35mi&), 9kr 6min 26sec 5 .ST. Hawker (56mxa), 9hr 26min 27sec .. .. 6 Ift.. Nioa (15min), Bhr 51min 20sec 7 The firs* batch of the other 9 to -■finish. in the order given were : — (ttV. E. Hawley (45min), 9hr 21min 21sec, (B; H. G. CCallaghan (lOmin), Bhr 46min 23sec, <9 ; A. J. Hocking (40min), 9hr 19mia lOsec. 10 ; ffE. Doyle <55min), 9hr 84min 12s«c, 11; H. rThorn (20min), 9hr Omin olsec, 12; D. D. (lomin), Bhr 58min 56sec, 13; H. E. "(Andrews (35min), 9hx 26min 30sec, 14; A. fiCalder, N.Z. (lOmin), Bhr 57min 53sec, 15; D. i&aviea (50min), 9hr 39min 22sec, 16; C. Rivers ■K2smin), 9hr 16min 4sec, 17 ; W. Barton (40min), ishr 33min 57aec, 18; A. Ralston, N.Z. (scratch), ?Bhr 54min 22sec, 19; G. Dotzauer (15min), 9hr 12min 20sec. f. The following are the names of those riders ,'}wh.o won the prizes for the /Easiest times m .{their respective sections : — ! 1. Fastest time, H. G. O'Callaghan (lOmin), Shr 46mia 23eec. 2. Fastest competitor receiving over lOmin' Btart, A. E. Nioa (15min), Bhr Blmin 20sec. f f 3. Fastest competitor receiving over 20min fetart, J. Shaw (35min), 9hr 6min 26sec. 4. Fastest competitor receiving over 40min Mtart, W. E. Hawley,-9hr 21min 21sec. ' . The following is a lilst of the prizes : —First, Cheque '£3/0, and £5 5s gold medal, by th)e cDuniop Tyre Company; second, Speedwell teyele, by Messrs Bennett, Wood* and Roche; ' ihixd- Albion cycle (made to order), by the 'iAlbion Cycle Works; fourth, Charleston cycle, Iby Mr D. Charleston; fifth, cheque £& Se, by 3fr W. B- CasQuang; sistk, cheque £3 2s, by *he Melbourne Sports Depot; seventh, cheque . tf2 2s, by the Acme- Cycle Company. Special (Priaes.— Fastest time, Massey-Harris bicycle, by the Massey-Haxris Company, fastest competitor receiving over lOmin start, not winning any other bicycle, Dux cycle, by the CDnx Cycle Company; fastest unplaced competitor (meaning "neither 1, 2 8. nor 4) receiving over 20min start, cheque £2 2s, by the Beauchamp Cycle and Motor Vv'orks; fastest unplaced competitor (meaning neither 1, 2, 8. nor -1) receiving over 40nain start, cheque £2 2s, by Mr Syd. Day. It is estimated that there was a crowd of nearly 20,000 people at the Haymarket, m JlelIbourne, to see the finish. . i The following sketch and interview is rather amusing. It w from the Evening Herald — The winner i* an ideal cyclist. There is not jnuch of him— he is only sft 5m in height «nd weighs between 9sfc and lOat-but what rthere is of him is nearly all muscle. He is £5 years of age, and was born near YackanIdandah. This is his fir»J> plunge into cycling feme, for although he has been cycling for Wee years, his only success worth nifntionane was the winning of a maiden race at Wan- ' B aratta"a week or two ago. Chappell arrived /"dead; to the world." f He carried samples of all the 165 imlea of Jthe road on him. -When he was helped off his anachine he was as lunw as a. wet ra«, and «nta a- whisky and soda was poured down nis »aro»t im was unable to articulate. When h^ h»A slightly recovered hft waa put in a- cab mhA t«^ -to- fh« Melbourne baths. There » Bfenidreparter had. soms words with him, (bat very few, far Chappell went- to sleep alaaoat' immediately, and had to be ahook up Uafefore lie could -mnswer a question. like ~," he said; but forJfai^fttery the graijeful wnrmtli of the . bath Wwwuaie Tinn, Tjefore he could fintsii the sen--itaux: His head, was lifted out of the watec HnTliiine to prevent <3rowniag, aod he made Mother r«n«*. "1 rode- » Helay machine, find it brought me through without a i"*ch. ''BeinK ««ain accused, he said: "i* was a ab 'jjear7»nd I did all right. It was raining » Sot, raining like. '. Here he fell asteep «g»m. In bis next waking interval he said: *f was all right up to Geelong. Then, Castles 'and I were pacing. M'Donald also did some Wingi but not much. After leaving Geelong 5 feltpretty bad. I lost them at Geelong, and didn't know much after that. I was very tired v at Werribee, and I " "» Here the hero of the day fell finally and absolutely asleep, and as it. would be cruelty, besides an obvious impossibility, to awaken him, the Herald man left him to his sweet >nd refreshing slumber. AS AUTOMOBILE SEBYICF. - {Fbom Oob Own Cobbkspoxdznt.) WELLINGTON, September 9. vTo-night's Post contains some interesting particulars about a project that is likely to revolutionise to come extent the matter of traction in and about • our principal cities. ."Wellington, it states, and indeed the whole colony, is about to experience a motor l»viv»l the possibilities of which are very kTeat. Some time ago the New Zealand Motor Car and General Agency Company (Limited), represented by Mr W. M'Lean, secretary, imported two 'cars from France. "WTrile they worked satisfactorily, the oars w.Vre unsuitable for running od the hilly ground around Wellington, owing to lack of power. For come ye^rs. the company, at considerable expen«e, lias endeavoured to develop the business, and succeeded in getting an act through the Legislature; but now its operations have assumed a still more practical form. The company has succeeded in obtaining the sole agenoy Tor the Knowles Automobile and Motor Power Company (Limited) — an American firm — for the Wellington provincial distriot, the West Coast of the South Isla-nd, and for Christchurch and the chief parts of Canterbury, and has already ordered for the Wellington business five motor cars and two motor bicycles, which will be delivered in the next month or two, and three motor cars for Christchurch, which are to b© exhibited at the local A. and P. show in November. To the general public one of the most important proposals of the company is its intention to enter on an automobile passenger service between Wellington and the auburbs. Expert drivers will be imported lind will drive in a live-ry of the company, and will also teach others to drive automobiles. Street "buses for 8, 12. 16, 22, or 32 passengers are supplied by the Knowles Company, but it is not yet known J\ow many will be obtained, as the smaller ones will be tried first. As it is hoped to have motor cars running regularly in the streets in a couple of months a few particulars concerning them will be of interest. The Knowles " runabout " is a car that may be xis6cl either as a delivery waggon or as a pleasure carriage for two or four, «nd when used as the latt-er could not be confounded with the other. This car. like all the others. ha« much greater power than the two previously imported from France. It is supplied by a 51 horse^power slowrunoing Jiydro-carbon motor of great simplicity, and the exhaust from the motor is said to be so completely silenced by the use of a lftx&e juufflec fchftt peocle often

wonder what makes it go. AH speeds up to 25 miles an hour are possible, and there in only one lever for forward speeds and the reverse. The car will travel over 40 miles on one gallon of fuel, which would cost about Is 6d. The fuel tank holds sufficient for ISO miles travel. The prices are said to be very much lower than for any cars of the kind that have yet been imported into the colony. Mr E. Mayes, representing the Knowles Automobile and Motor Power Company (Limited), is at present in Wellington completing arrangements with the New Zealand company, which expects one shipment in November and another in December, and so on each month. It certainly looks as if the cars were to be given a fair trial in New Zealand.