CYCLING AND Motor Notes.

Otago Witness, Issue 2664, 5 April 1905, Page 55

CYCLING AND Motor Notes.

BI DESION. ,

I can never stand at the top of the ' rise leading down from the A.M.P. Buildings to Rattray street and watch some riders going full tilt down this incline with their free-whels without a feeling of irritation at their foolharcliness.- The free- ' wheel is indeed a boon to all cyclisis, but I am sure th» inventor of this labour-save-i . never intended those, tising it to take the i-isks which the riders in question take. Some of these days one of these free- ! wheelers will bump up against something heavier than himself, and the jury em- i panelled when such an event happens wouldbe quite justified, to my thinking, in bringing in a verdict of killed "while temporarily insane." i In the early days of the introduction of the bicycle, with the advent of tho winter months the cyclist used to consult his more experienced cycle-riding friends as to the beet mode of storing his machine ! ( till the advent of "gentle spring," and the j genius of tb& cyclist was exercised to its J utmost in planning contrivances with that end in view. As the years have passed, ' the utility of the bicycle as a means of loco- ' motion has gone on increasing, and nowadays there are very few riders who do not - use their wheels winter and summer alike. ' In the Sydney Thousand Pounds' Race, ■' the final of which was decided in Sydney j on Monday night of last week, the first prize I , was assesed at £750. second £100, third £50. j the odd £100 being reserved for heat win- ' ners. The fh'st five in the preliminary heats qualified for the semi-finals, and the first in each semi-final qualified for the final; while the seconds, thirds, fourths, and n^cha in the semi-finals raced off in two special semi-finals, the first three in eaoh lieat qualifying for the final. There were , 10 heats in the preliminary of the big race, and five semi-finals, which left 11 to face the starter in the final, as follows:—Ellegaard. Laweon, and MacFarland (scr), Far- •' ley, 10yds; R. W. Morgan and W. Palmer, ' 60yds; G. H. Horder and O. H. Brook. 90yds; E. T. Harris, 110 yds; B. Bestel, 130 yds ; and W. J. Lear, 140 yds. As notified by"cable, the final of the Sydney Thousa/nd, which was postponed from Saturday week on account of the rain, ■ and run off on the following Monday, re- ; suited in a win for W. Lear (Victoria) from : Horder (N.S.W.) and Ellegaard (Germany), j . Time, lmin 51 4-ssee, which reads as pretty < slick going. i j Lear was in receipt of 140 yds, and ] in the first heat finished fourth, the time j taken to traverse the mile being 2min ; 2 l-ssec. In the- semi-final Lear improved i on this performance and passed the post i first in lmin 53 l-ssec, and in winning the * final Lear again i*ediiccd the time—namely, £ to linin 51 4-Sseo. > i - ■ 43

The second man in the hig Sydney race, Li. H. Horder (iST.S.W.), had a handicap of 90yds. and finished first in the ■-econd opening heafc, and just g-ot a place in the heat of the remi-final won by Lear, iinis'hing fifth, and first in tko special semifinal ; while the third man in the final, Thorwald Ellcgaard, the German rider, won both his heats in the preliminary and semiiinal. — in 2m in 1 2-sscc and lmin 55 4-ssec respectively. At the Sydney ThoYisund meetingKutt, th-e German ricbr. made a successful attempt on the Sydney Cricket Ground record for a lap (510 yds-), traversing the distance against a stiff north-easterly wind in 34- 4-ssec. ' I* 1 . G. Simpson, brother of the wellknown Canterbury athlete, W. F. Simpson, ! m receipt of 170 yds, won the third heat of i the Sydney Thousand, and D. J. Plunkeifct i (120 yds). another New Zealander, finished ! second in tho fifth heat. Neither of these I riders, however, could secure a place in I the semi-final. i _ At the Newcastle cycle race mes-t- ; ing on Thursday night, March 16, E. Arnst, the New Zealander, ran third to Lawson. in the Five-mile Invitation Scratch Race, with Floyd MaoFarland second ; v hile on the opening night of the Sydney Thousand meeting Arn?t again filled third place in the -feters'ham Five-mile. Scratch Race, W. M'Donakl finishing first and D. Houston second. There were 18 starters in the latter race, and the time -occupied on tho five-mile journey was lOnuu 16 2-ssec. A. Campion, the New Zealand rider. who recently won the AVest Australian \vn&el Race, is back in New Zealand, and competed at the Masterton meeting on March 17. He, however, was giving away big handicaps, and could make no imuression on the fion-t-markers. A writer in a London paper says he has been informed on the boat authority tl!at Major Taylor and Frank Kramer aie eaoh to receive the handsome sum of 5000fr (£200) for their match race at the Pare dcs Prince track, Paris, on June 1. This •«peaks well for the state- of professional cycle racing in Paris; in fact, the coming year throughout Euro-no promises to be an exceptionally brilliant one. Many of the best amateurs are turning- professional, and Germany has said good-bye- to amateurism altogether, the rulers claiming- that there is little distinction between "pot hunters" and "pros." Saturday afternoon's downpoui of rain settled most of our local motorists, so fai as out-door recreation was concerned, but was a good opportunity to provide a little attention towards preparing the motors for sweet running next day. Mr A- Anderson (manager Butterworth Bros.), Councillor J. M'Donald, and Mr W. B. Bell were driven by Mr Bockhaert in his two-cylinder 12-h.p. Darracq car to Henley on Sunday. and were accompanied by Messrs Stedman, Dod Bel!, Wetherilt. Gordon, and Boot on motor cycles. These riders had a very pleasant ( journey to Henley and Taieri Mouth, and returned to town after having spent a thoroughly enjoyable outing, the river part of the journey, from Henley to Taieri Mouth, being made in Mr A. MT£egg's oil launch. A few particulars as to how an enjoyable day was spent may be interesting. The motor car left town at 11.15 a.m.. and spun along against a very fresh i southerly wind, followed a little later \ by tho motor cyclists, who ran ahead or dropped behind accordingas matters were going with the slowest of their number. A halt was not called till reaching a sheltered and sunny hollow near Allan ton, to allow all the stragglers to answer the roll call, have a quiet smoke, and dilate on their experiences and hairbreadth escapes, and as to how they never pedalled! a yard — machine simply flew, etc., etc, Methinks the tales of the fisherman stand a poor ohanoe against those of the followers of this latter-day sport. The journey Tesumed, Henley was reached without incident, the 12-h.p. Darracq running) splendidly. It is superfluous to dwell on the quality of the lunch and the attention provided 1 at the White House : suffice it to state that the motorists indulged in a "gorgeous" xgpa^t. Lunch finished.

the ever-ready launch is boarded, and away downstream glides the party, off to the Taieri Mouth, till right into the swell of the ocean, then round, and back upstream to Henley, and again on the high road off home per motor, Dunedin being reached by the party, without a stop sinceHenley, in on© hour and 10 minutes, and daylight still good for a further threequarters of an hour. Journals by last week's mail bring particulars of the Olympia show (London), htld early in February last, and the most btriking feature about the show is the multicylinder tendency and Great Britain's progress in motor-manufacturing. If Great Britain is not quite at the front in motormanufacturing, she is nearer than ever shei was, and bids fair to be "right up against it" pretty soon, to borrow a phrase froril our American cousins.

In. reference to the number of cylinders now being fitted to motor cars, the single-cylinder seems to be getting ousted at a rapid rate, and four cylinders which were once only fitted to the larger cars-, are now being fitted to cars a,« low as 8-h.p. by Humber and other leading makers. A good many makers ar© fitting two cylinders to oars of 6 and 7-h.p.

The Cardan shaft is gaining in popularity over chain-drive in cars, as is the belfc drive over the chain in motor cycles.

Intending purchasers should remember that magneto high-tension ignition is not without its drawbacks, and should bo accompanied by the ordinary accumulator and induction coil, to be- switched -over too should there be a possibility of water reaching the magneto, which would immediately be short-circuited and fused by the water. A Christchurch motorist had this experience th-e other day running through one of the streams that abound in Canterbury. A temporary switch over on to any other type ot ignition and cuitiug out the magneto 'in high-tension casos) would have spved the fusing of the magneto. What is without doubt the finest motor exhibition which has ever bc^n he^ in England opened at Olympin in February. Piomoted by the Suc-cty of Motor Manufacturers and Trader-, ir may justly claim to be regarded (says a writer in. the Graphic) as rui international show, for amongst the 30C exhibitors in the building, Britain, America. "France, and Germany are fully raprcsented, while examples from Belgium. Italy. and Switzerland are slso to be sroi:. The Prince and Prineos* of Wales, v,-ith Sir William C.irri^srton and other members of their suite in r ic- -idanoc, were present olo l tb-o operi 1 .. ■ <>•' ) -.mc a touv of the hall.

-A separate specimen <\ b'.uih'* oavburettor"shown at the recout Olympia =how in London, and which cau c cd quite i. sensation at tho Paris show, was a source of great inteic^c. Tt claims to from 25 to 35 per ernt. of petrol, and gives quiet and steady running, and acts as a governor as well. It ensures correct proportions of mixture by giving a measured feed to each explosive stroke. Thi=! carbir-vror is associated with the Argyll car?.

At the greet Oiyrapin <=]i--v- 'he Dunlop Tyre Company exhiHtet' '.he first pneumatic tyre cvfv made. Tbi3. was made under Thompson's patent in 1845. and fitted to a. coach wheel. With this relic were, shown the latest uattcrn of Dxinlop motor tyres used in the list Gordon Bennett race by Mr Jarrott and Mr Girling. These tyres came through the ordeal without the slightest mishap. The New South Wales OhampicmsSip, one mile, was won on Monday evening, March 20. by Megson, by inches from Horder. It was a very close thing, and the decision of the judges did not meet V/ilh approval from the iTO.vd. The men eligible t<> start were Goodson. Megson, Brook, and Herder. In the first round' Harder was on the pacer's wheel, with Megson second. Goodson third, f-nd Brook last. At the bell the pace quickened until opposite the scoring board, when H-ordcr made a burst away, with Brooik almost level, while Ivlegson on the inside looked to be pocketed. Rounding tho last turn a desperate- effort by Horder got him a length ahead, but Messon, coming! up strongly, gradually loosened the distance, and both cros-od the !hve appalently together, though Mf-spon ere! the. verdict by inches.

""A little mors- tact, and ? gvcai (''c.il moi'e knowledge- of the manner m which a motor trial should be conducted, and the situation would tune been saved. Unfortunately, both these- needful qualities were lacking, and when next India unites motor car competitors ro a, motor ear trial, it is to be sincerely hoped that trade interests will "be subservient to true test.=. and that it will be made quite clear 'at the outsets what is intended and upon what basis th© prizes will tfe awarded." This is the criticism of the Autocar, the leading British authority, on the Delhi-Bombay contest. In the motor-car trial between Delhi and Bombay thexe was a car which cam.© in three hours late at one stag-e. and reported a "non-stop run." "What ! no slop?" ""No," said the observer; "but we had to get off and push her up all the hills." It will not be surprising to hear that a fiesh warning! to "observer*"' was issued on the folio v ing day. A motor car being driven through Faiuham recently skidded on the slippery surface of the road as the drher attempted' to steer bet.veon two vehicles, and collided! violently with the Roy. Mr Germ. a Romam Catholic priest. The rev. gentleman was 1 urled through the thick plate-glass window of a drapery establishment, and so badly injured that' he had to be removed to his home close by in an ambulance.

The official refusal of tlie German Automobile Club to take part in the Gordon Bennett Race, if it be held at the same time as the Grand Prix, is an unpleasant matter for the French Automobile Club, which had confidently hoped for support from this quarter. England. Austria,- Switzerland, and Germany have now formally protested, and Belgium also stands down. Italy will in all probability follow suit, while America is hardly likely to compete if the others abstain. Thus there will be no inteiruational race. It only remains for America and Italy to follow the example o£ England, Germany, Belgium, Austria, and Switzerland, and bring matters to a climax. The difficulty which has arisen over the Gordon Bennett Cup Race and the Grand Prix (says the Paris correspondent of the Standard) ia not the only perplexing matter now before the French authorities. It will be remembered that the German Emperor 1 last year invited all the chiefs of States represented in the cup contest to witness tb* i-ace, M. Tjoubet, of course, being inclfeded. Though the President of the Republic declined' the invitation, the Emperor sent him a congratulatory telegram when the ©up \vas won, by a French car. In view

-of the precedent set by the Emperor William, it is thought that M. Loubet cann-ot do otherwise than invite the Emperor and the other chiefs of States represented in the race to witness i*. French automobilists are speculating as to what would happen if the Emperor accepted the invitation.

though there is little fear that he would «Jo so. • It is a common practice for the police, in some parts of England, to measure oft a piece of road. and. by the aid of signals and a stop-watch arrive exactly at the pace a. motorist may have passed over the stretch. It seems that some civilian informed a party • r»f automobiliats that there was such a timetrap at a certain place, with the result that the oars, when they reached the beginning tof it, cased down to their slowest pace, ana? (practically crsfwled over the section of roadSway. The informant was then duly brought (before a bench of magistrates at Barder . and charged with the offence of obstructing the police, and was fined. The incident

caused some little stir locally, and a lead- ♦ injr K.C. was asked to advise the motor ' union whether a civilian is justified in warning a person, and preventing him being convicted, and, if in doing so, he is obstructing Jhe police. In substance, the reply was that it is not a wilful obstruction of the police, but, moreover, is an act "which seeks to preVent the law being broken iby the motorist. Replying to- the toast of his health It the Melbourne Amateur "Wheelers' sports, . " she "Chief Justice of Melbourne, Sir John -" . Hodden, Spoke as follows : — " The amateur Jportsinan was one who lived in the pride J>£ a." noble manhood, and whose incentive in "Necking Tenown was that of nobility. He Vas one who withdrew from, the sordid

tiews of~~the world, and let his manhcod - laye~» straight run. A professional sought >eriown also, but he had a cynical indiffefenoe^to anything that did not put money u-his purse. The distinction between the >mabeur and professional had only to be itated to be appreciated. The first was of the greatest value to the community, because in seeking renown only* and not merely a cash advantage, he was raising , the morality of the whole community. No nation would be strong whose people were -not_ able to indulge in .healthy recreation, which recreated the body atod the mind. 'If a man indulging in athletics taught him- - calf -to proceed on lines j>f honour he would aiot desert those lines when he afterwards entered on other walks of life. It was a /wild and foolish' thing to talk of a man who merely sought to put money in his -_ purse as a sportsman. The amateurs were Jto be congratulated in putting do,wn betting, which was ruinous in thoss sports in . .which men -solely engaged as competitors. _ 'Amateur sport was now engaging moieh at.tention, particularly from deep thinkers. He wag pleased to look on amateunr sports, which as a young- man he enjoyed to the full, and which he wished to heaven he could eajoy again. "_ , Power transmission from the engine )o the road-wheel has always been a subject if deep concern in connection with motor >ycles. The belt drive, either by a flat or _ conical- band, preferably of leader or hide. Jhas- held- sway, but the ordinary pattern of 1 cycle chain, somewhat stronger, has also T>een adopted in conjunction, with a spring pulley to ease the positive draw of the ohain drive. To overcome the defectsT~and .'to embody the good points of both kinds, a" 'device called a "pitch-band drive" has -rbeen^Jß vented. It oons&ts of steel teeth. - shaped- to suit the standard pattern of motor chains, secured upon a flat, circular belt of liin wide, which covers the flat pulley fitted to the driving-wheel. The engine is fitted with a plain sprocket instead of a pulley, and a chain transmits the power. The slip which takes place between fcae canvas band and pulley is only what is necessary for purposes of starting, and no ( more. An advantage which it holds is that, | owing to the flexibility of the canvas belt, it always remains in true pitch with the chain, and additional advantage is gained by the equal distribution of strain over the teeth, • awhile removing the possibility of the ohain •••jumping — a defect with the ordinary chain sprocket. The weak point in the new - anethod of power transmission would seem •to be the canvas band carrying the steel teeth. .The constant tugging strain of the engine would be likely to tear them out. No tloubt the device has been tested, and may have answered satisfactorily. — — Milan, Italy, has instituted a postal i lervice with the aid of the motor that has ! smack of originality about it. It is performed by a veritable ambulant post office, installed in a van moved by electricity, and used for the collection and distribution of letters in the suburbs of the .*>wn. The van is divided into two parts, bi the front portion of which are the motor, the accumulators, and the -appliances for locomotion. The interior of the other portion represents a miniature post office, fitted with ventilators and warming apparatus. The "rcost office" makes * journey of about 15 miles, stopping at each letter box, where a postman alights and collects the letters. (During the journey from one box to another the letters are stamped and sorted. 'At the end of each circuit the letters are jhanded to an employee, who distributes them to the carriers charged with their delivery in the various parts of the town. I The service is said to be giving every Satisfaction.

1 have much pleasure in mentioning the names of three other riders who have /put up tha doughty performance of riding { up the "short cut" at Look-out Point from itbe Abattoirs. — viz., Messrs H. Gunthorp, <F. J. Townsend (twio^), and Robert R. Moss, — aad I herewith add these gentlemen's names to those of the other four 'ak-oady inscribed on the Lock-out Point scroll of fame.

. — ~ -^ a general meeting of the Otago ,Cycling Club on Monday night it was defcided to wind up this old-time sports body, and to give notice that the club intend Jto relinquish their present rooms on March ,31. Meanwhile, the billiard table and 'other effects are on offer, and I understand .that the proceeds from these will be required. to liquidate the club's overdraft. £There is a probability of club members .forming a kind of association, and still keepang the name of the Otago Cyclinjg Club, in the hope that better times may enable ;them to once again take an active part in club life — a consummation whicJ> I sincerely Jiope may be realised.

The 50-miles motor cycle race run on the New Brighton Beach, Christchurch, on Saturday afternoon was witnessed by a 'large number of spectators. Of the 24 entrants for the even£ 20 faced the starter, and 10 finished. The race took an hour and a-half to run, and was won by E. J. Ritchie, who.* it wjll be rememberai ?a

a competitor in the motor race at tho Dunedm Cycling Club's sports. Ritchie's time works out at an average speed of a little over Imin 42 l-sseo per mile ; while G. Standring (who was also a starter in the

D CC. motor race) traversed 35 miles in 59min 2sec. and secured the fastest time —

lhr 24min 21 3-ssec, his handicap being 3miu. The sand as a racing-track was highly «poken of by the competitors,

though, of^ course, it was heavy in places. The first ■live men finished as follows, the times given being the actual riding times : —

A cyclist on the TTaitahuna road recently m^t with a rather unpleasant experience. Whilst pacing a stray horse which was on. the road, the brute kicked out and put its foat through the rear wheel of the machine.

After his motor oar experiences in riding through from Rotorua to Napier, the Premier expects that the Postmaster-general will make a motor service essential when he calls for tenders for mail services over the Rotorua-Napier road. The motor ear, he believes, has come to stay, and must be taken into account

A Xapier telegram states that the Wel-lington-Napier Bicycle road record of 18hr liniri, previously held by W. Thompson (of Christchurch), was yesterday lowered by C. G. Smith, the winner of last year's Dunlop Road Race at Christchurch, who rode the distance m I6hr 24niin, thus beating Thompson's time by lhr 37min. The cyclist found the roads in good order all the way, A Sydney message saj's the time for the Thousand Pounds cycling event was wrongly posted. It should have been Imin 51 4-ssec.

Rider. E. J. Ritchie L. Pickles .. K. Ogilvie .. F. Smith yr Gr B. Brown Hep. Elding Time, h.p. ruin. h. m. s. 2 23 1 25 12 3-5 (Morel-Minerva) 2 23 1 35 29 4-5 (Mitchell) 21 11 1 27 36 CHumber) 21 14 1 29 37 CSaroiea) 2 20 1 36 57 1-5 (Mitchell) 1 2 3 I 5