Cycling and Motor Notes.

Otago Witness, Issue 2668, 3 May 1905, Page 55

Cycling and Motor Notes.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. Waipahi. — Maiden riders are quite eligible to ride in the Timaru to Christchurch road race. No, it is not necessary to befong to st cycling club or to hold a license. ' I understand the Otago Centre of the League of New Zealand Wheelmen will again supervise a road race this year, the rider putting up fastest time in same to receive a sum of money from the Dunlop Tyre Co. to enable -him to defray his expenses to Timaru to compete in the Timaru-Christchurch race. Last year the .Otago race was run from Henley to Milton and back, the course being traversed twice, and M'Mahon finished first and likewise put up the fastest time, thus taking the Dunlop Tyre Co.'s £5 for fastest time, and also the prize for the first man past the winning post. The competitor receiving the Dunlop Co.'s cheque has to compete in the Timaru-Christchurch race, and if he is unable to do so, the money is given to the rider ptitting up the second fastest time, and so on. M'Mahon competed in the Timaru-Christchurch race, but was not successful in being the rider chosen to represent New Zealand in the great Warrnanxbool to Melbourne road race.

BT DEMON.

Though the racing for the New Zealand championships at Temuka at Easter provided very close finishes in every instance, the events were largely discounted by the paucity of the fields — an average of four riders for the four events, and these riders who have now been on the raoing track for a number of years past. The handicap events, however, were well filled, and provided good contests, which shows that there are still plenty of riders, though they may not be quite, up to "star" form. What is wanted to bring out riders, in my opinion, is "class" riding, and a somewhat longer scale of handicaps. It is small encouragement to handicap men to come out race after race, and never have the satisfaction of getting far enough away from the scratch men to beat them in the finishing sprint. Of course, where the scratch men gain their advantage is in the fact that when they go out to race they arrange to pace each other, while the limit men are usually at sixes and sevens in regard to any such arrangement, and they, of course, ignore the fact that a Handicap is given to them to make use of. Under these circumstances, the limit men usually fiddle about till the scratch men get up, and theft, of course, their chance of winning the race is usually extinguished. However, "class" racing would enable the slower riders to compete amongst themselves, Hid by their annexing races^encourage them to preserve, and likewise introduce fresh blood into the cycle-racing arena. —«- - " Deuioa" was very nearly ihe cejj-

tral figure in a bicycle accident at the A.M.P. corner last week. Walking leisurely across Princes street at that corner, I heard the familiar sound of an approaching bicycle, and, looking quickly round, was just in ime to escape two free-wheeling" fanatics riding side by side, one of whom made a bee-line for the curb, and came down heavily, while the other went on the even tenor of his *ree-wheel way quite nconcernedly. I tried hard to arouse some sympathy for the cyclist who had fallen on the curb-stone, and who, fortunately, was unhurt, but -without avail ; and my former opinion as to the desirability of something being done to check the recklessness of cyclists using that pare of Princes street from the A.M.P. corner to Rattray street received additional force. In this connection, I understand that the Dunedin Cycling Club intend to approach the City Council with the object of trying tc regulate the speed of cyclists down this incline, it being even suggested that this part of our main thoroughfare be prohibited from being used by cyclists and- motorists. At the very same spot where the above-mentioned accident took place I, some time back, saw a syclist and motor bicyclist collide, both coming down, and the former getting a pretty sever shaking. All of which points to the necessity of something being done to safeguard these foolish cyclists from themselves. •

There is a road in Holland, leading from Haarlem to the Hague, which is said to be, and no doubt is, the most-travelled road in the world. It runs through what is known as the "bulb country," which is a Section of land 25 miles in length and two miles in width. When in bloom the bulb fields are a beautiful sight, and during the season it is estimated that 25,000 cyclists pass along this road every day, as well as upwards of 500 automobiles. The road forms a favourite drive for the fashionable classes, and the Queen of Holland is seen almost daily upon it in her car.

The American cracks, Iver Lawson, and Floyd MacFarlancl, are leaving Australia for San Francisco by the Sonoma on May 8. Lawson's trip has been a profitable one, he having won in stakes alone over £600. MacFarland, wHose disqualification was only removed late in the season, won close upon £200 in prize-money. Both riders will probably visit Australia again for next season's racing.

France has unearthed a new champion sprinter named Gabriel Poulain, from whom great things are predicted. It will be interesting to see how the new French crack will fare when tutted against the American sprinters, F. Kramer, Iver Lawson, and W. S. Fenn, all of whom will be racing in France this season.

The need of a thoroughly reliable motor car, at a price within the reach of the man with moderate means, is now being catered for by the "Rov«r" Company, which is placing on the market a 100-guinea 6 horse-power car. The two most interesting features about the car are said to be the reduction in the cost of production and the maintenance of efficiency.

Mr D. Strang informs me that during the Easter holidays he toured round the Waimatuku, Riverton, and Otautau districts on his three-horse-power twin-cylindered Clement-Garrard. "Davie" is very pvcfuse in his praises of the Southland roads, and says we have nothing in Dunedin to compare with them ; but as Strang's home is at "Waimatuku we have, of course, to allow something- for local preferences.

Two motor omnibuses are now running in Chrisfcchurch, and, judging- by the success attending the advent of this new mode of locomotion in England and the Continent, these 'buses should but b» the precursors of many more in New Zealand. The Warrnambool-to-Melbourne road race will be run this year on Saturday. September 30. In London's new fire automobile, the sl-eam water-tube boiler, situated between the rear wheels, is heated by a. petroleum burner of new design, in which tho paraffin is sprayed into the furnace together with steam. This gives a very fierce fire. Tn. front of the boil«r is tiie engine, consisting

of a pair of inverted c/linu driving two dneet and double-acting pumps. The same* motor takes the vehicle to the fire, and o:i arrival pumps the water. The ensi re> carrier enough petroleum for a 40-mile jourrev.

Those motorists who journeyed north had far hotter roads than those who went south at Easter. Mes«rs Gordon and Boot had a fine iun to Clinton, bui owing to tho weather and state of the roads, had to take the train from Clinton to Invercargill. While at Invercargill the two motorists enjoyed a few spins with our two old friends, Mr V. Boot and Dr Sale, both of whom are ardent motorists, and ar<j now residents of Invercargill Mr A. Whimpeny spent the Easter with his motor at Palmerston. Mr J. F. M. Fraser and Mis^ Fraser went through to Chriptchurcb per motor, Mr D. Wall, with the Bell Brothers, pottered about the south roads, vl.ile Mr and -Mrs W. H. Grey went to Timaru in their Darracq car.

Now winter is- coming on and slipperyroads have often to be contended against.

the following experience of two motor cyclist may be intei-esting. Both were riding twincylinder machines of the same make, but! one was using Palmer tyros with rather large longitudinal ribs, while the other was using plain round tyres. Rain had come on, and the latter machine was slipping 1 about all over the place — so much so that the rider called out that ho had had enough of it, while tbe rider of the former maeh"no had not experienced the least side-slip. Mr Goodman was out on the south. road in his De Dion-Bouton car on Sunday, as also wore Messrs Strang. Boot, Gordon,

Jones. Wall, Thorn, Cooke, Gardale, Howlison Wether ilt. Bell, and Miles, on motor: cycles. Most of these motorists went to Henley. In these notes a fortnight ago I recommended exhaust valves to have "silver steel stems to stand the intense heat. This should have read "nickel" steel stems. Nifikel ste?l stands the heat better than anyother metal without burning away. A great many exhaust valves have been breaking lately. Mr Bockaert has been very busy in

Timaru, and has sold there, within the last ! fortnight five Darracq and two De Dion motor oars, with more likely to follow. I Messrs Adams, of Ohristchurch, are handling a big lot of motor stuff, from cars to accessories. They are just landing »

14-horse power four-cylinder Minerva car. Another Christchurch firm in Messrs Oates,

Lowry and Co. seem to be selling Singer motor cycles as quickly as they can land them.

Messrs Reid and Gray. I believe,. hai'e purchased a 7-horse power Oldsmobile ' cai foi their Invercargill branch.

Some hints in car-buyii.g: —

If you buy a foreign car, be sure you bu/ from a recognised firm who are capable "and ready to supply spare parts. Generally avoid freaks and untried makes. Buy from firms who have got a name. You niay pay more at first, but it is cheaper in the end. Do not buy a car because your wife finds the tonneau comfortable.

Do not buy a 6-horse power car, and have a body capable of carrying five people fitted to it.

Do not place your ordei for any car without taking care- that you are getting tyres of proper size. Manufacturers are now much more sensible with regard to tho strength of tyres they place on the vehicle, but the point is worth remembering.. When placing your order, endeavour as far as possible to include all the extras, such as lamps, horn, mats, complete set o£ tools, jack, repair outfits, petrol funnel, volt meter, spare inlet and exhaust valves, etc. You have got to have these things, and they may as well be included in your order. Avoid *he friend' «vho can get you a discount. He is usually trying to make something himself. Deal with the firm diieet, or their authorised agent in your district.

If you find yourself unable to afford a two or four-cylinder 1905 model, it is quite a eood plan to ask for a 1904 model at a reduced price. If you arc to drive the /Car yourself, take cars that there is ample leg room provided for the front seats. There is a tendency this year tc- fit a side entrance body to chassis which are barely long enough to talko tham. To get in this side entrance, the space for the driver is cut down 100 much.

If buying a small car capable of carrying four people, it is quite worth while to pay a few pounds extra, and have the tonneau detachable.

It has frequently come under my notice that motor cyclists using round belts invariably blame the belt or belt dressing when the engine begins to race, while all the time the main "fault lies in the engine pulley having worn from a "V" to a ''U" shape. Engine pulleys wear very rapidly, and should be frequently trimmect up in a lathe. If th eengine pulley is kept a very acute "V" shape it will save a lot of trouble through cleaning, and dressing belts.

1 have lately been examining most of the engine pulleys in which round belts are running on the local motor cycles, anc in nearly every case very decided shoulder* were worn on the belt, and these riders ask their belts to hold on steep hills, ana when the belt slips they keep on tightening it, all the time putting a very effective brake on the engine.

Mr Tom Fraser reports that the most popular sparking plug in Sydney was the E.1.C., and quite right too. This plug is absolutely the most certain and th© longest lived that has come on the market so far out here.

Motor cyclists in such a hilly district as Dunedin should not be frightened to keep mere than one sized engine pulley, as a lower gear can be used in cold and wintryweather, and riders may as well have tho advantages that a lower gear offer?.

Mr Arthur Cleave., tho leading Auckland automobilist, has already toured nearly th'i whole of the North Island, bad and all as a great many of the roads are, in his new 15-horse power four-cylinder Darracq. The Dion-Boutcn manufacturers haver been very slow in moving in this particular dh-pctien. but are at la=rt turning out a fourcylinder 15-horse power ear. These makers are one of the very few who retain th< automatic inlet valve.

— — Mr Frederick Tlioresby, the special lecturer of the Motor Union, lecturing at the London Institution on the "History and Development of the Motor," said: — ■ There are %t the present time 370 different makes of motors in the world, and! out of this number 34-7 ore petrol-drivem and only 13 are steam cars In ivery direction the netrol enacine '• ;d; d Mr Tkoresby),

was beating its competitor, steam, and if any further advance wae made in the future he anticipated that it would be in the direction of ohaaging the petrol engine for an electrical motor.

The cab-drivers of London are reported to be doing little business owing fco the steadily increasing number of motor ■buses ~and motor cabs which are being pub in use in London. The President of the liondon . Cabman's Union recently stated that a syndicate was being formed by the "cab proprietors^ wirli a capital of £20,000, jwath a view of -running motor cars in the city. A school for motor tuition has been established, co that the cabmen can learn Jiow .to -drive and adjust motors. Already 1000 "cabbies are going through the. course.

The president of ihe French Board of Trade of Automobile Transports recently made a stndy of the conditions in Franc© and England," more especially concerning commercial oars. . 'He* found that England easily leads France in the advance made Sn commercial automobiles. There are 33 firms in England which make this kind of .vehicle,- including trucks, delivery waggons, lorries. In France there are only two such concerns. - Nearly 20 English- municipalities use fro/n. one to six commercial cars, while jiot one uses any in France. In England there are .23 -automobile "passenger and "goocfe transportation service* lines, while there are"" only three suc*h;lines in France. The most' dr»«tiej automobile bill of Stbe session in America is proposed. It provides.- that ' the "operator -of an automobile yrho -kills a person while travelling at an excessive rate of speed -may ber-convicted of manslaugTrter^ second degree. Injuring "persons as the lesult' of dangerous speed -afcmade punishable by imprisonment' from •\xme-tfco two years^ and "by- a. fine of- £200 ito £400. Not less than 30 days' imprisonscent- and £20 fine is the penalty imposed ' for breaking the speed laws. - Notwithstanding that" all precautions ■.■were taken with the Delhi-Bombay trial, (there was much dissatisfaction at the announcement of the result. It is -understood that in the'Gaekwar Cup, instituted for the "furtherance of the motor cai> in India," the principal award, was decided in favour of a <De Dietrich"' ear> which lost 58 marks during 4he trial, two other care (a 12-h.p. Darracq and a frii.p. Wolseley) having done an absolute non-stop, not having lost a single srwrk. Unhappily, 4 he- impression prevails ~an India thatthe agent for the. Be Dietrich cars -not only authorised the trials, bu* exercised come control over ih& judges. • • A "French motorist whose tyre burst with ~~a great noise in ? St. Petersburg recently - was set upon' by Cossacks, roughly - Vtsed,- and accused of being a Socialist bombthrower. Only for the intervention of a police inspector who knew something ofbursE tyres, the unfortunate foreigner would have been sent to prison. , — - — The chief difficulties' which . must be >urmounted by the successful reliability mo-torist-are those- connected with the firing /pieohanism and water 'circulation. In the . former see to*v.the.~ accumulators, and have" them fully charged, as 'better sparking -will • result-. The eonaeetions must be kept clean and free from oil and -corrosion. It is' Jsardly necessary to advise a praotiealA motorist that Jiis -sparking 1 plugs^ must be -free from sooty deposit, so preventing; a possible short circuit "there. In regard to water ■ troubles, see that the' pump is free, and thatconnecting pipes are not, obstructed in any_ way. , The" cylinder waiter packets - ought to be cleaned 'of fur "anil scale, -icnd thoroughly Washed. The engine when working-will them Keep much -cooler, andr the radiators will, {CFork to" their beet capacities^— radiators mr jkhorough working order being a great advantage in" bill-climbing. The car should be oiled in all working parts, the Wear-box cleaned out and fresh "oil injected, while -the wheels must be -greased frequently it long r.um& are to be undertaken. It is a -noteworthy fact, while on. "mis %nbjeot, that jthe judges at the Delhi-Bombay trial based Itheir award! on the superior- condition of" the" j&ngine of' the Darracq car at the completion of the trials' over the- Wolseley, rf whieh- gained third jalace. M. Leon Serpollet, the French driver, Aas announced -his intention^ of building a ja-acing oar to attain 125 miles, an hour. Mb will have- a steam jnotor of 235 h.p., 'and M. Searpbllet proposes to> make his attempt at Royan in the gammer. It ie a 4ong way, however, from t 105£ miles an "fcour, and to .attain to it with a 1000 kilos "car, M. Serpollet will have .to secure not 'only extraordainary economies of weight in /building" so as to accommodate his big anotor, but -will -require very perfect adibesion of the driving wheels va the ground, sand a track on .which there will be^prac--ifcicaJly no bouncing— conditions which have jnot yet been approached. ■ The -technical committee of the English Automobile Club has expressed the "opinion that it woulaT be premature to atjfcempt to bring about any general standardisation of motor -vehicles. But a recornknendation was made to the club committee _ Sfcd invite- the principal makers of^ such Vehicles to supply a specification of such fc>arts of the vehicles constructed by them jas are interchangeable, with a view to initiating -a standardisation of parts which *are~ common to all. This would be a yery plan,, and the club committee should .take the matter in hpnd at once.

The Sirdar has been carrying out Eome experiments with motor oars in the {Egyptian. Desert, and to him has been - Inscribed the credit of being the first to (make this use of automobiles. This, how,'ever, is erroneous, for more than 12 months -iago a French motorist penetrated some- dis- - Stance into the Sahara with a car, and his 'example was followed by Baron Henri Jde Rothschild last November or December. £k> far, indeed, has the desert use of motor ,tars been, carried that the Automobile Club of Algiers has -accepted from M. Pierre de 'Malglaive the Malglaive Challenge Cup, to he held3or a year by the motorist who in. -Jthe preceding twelvemonth has succeeded in (penetrating farthest from Algie-rs. If the cup is gained: twice it will become the projperty of the winner. The impenetrable Sahara- promises to be vanquished by the fbroad-tyred- motor oar. _' _— — A novel motor contest is to be pro.nnoted in the United States in June. A -5000 miles' motor race is to be held from .{New York to Portland, the contestants "-jbeing allowed to select their own route. Contestants will be despatched from New York, . and the first car reaching Portland will be '■declared -the. winner. The well-known English motorist, "S. F. Edge, who, by t"lie way, haila from -JSydney, has succeeded in, winning the big Annual petrol motor launch, race at Monaco (Monte Carlo). The 1 race is over a course tof 62£ miles on the Mediterranean. Last shear's, race was won by the Princess fUizabetbj in. 3hr 14-min. 52seo, with the

Tregle-a-Quatre second. Edge, the winner of this year's contest, has been very successful at petrol motor launch racing, having last year won the Kaiser's Cup at Kiel, the International Trophy at Ryde, the Challenge Cup at Souths«a, and second to a more powerful launch in last year's big international e«>ss channel race, won by Mercedes IV. Edge would probably be at the helm of the Napier Minor, an Englishmade boat. His time for the 62 miles is not stated. The fastest record over the Monaco course to date is 2hr 37min, by the Tregle-a-Quatre, equal to an average of 2A miles an hour.

The interest and attention now being centred in the motor vehicle as a transport for passengers is the beginning of a new era of locomotion, the possibilities of which cannot yet be foretold. The motor omnibxis has made a great name for itself in Tasmania, where several lines are in operation, and has demonstrated its utility in an unmistakable way. In the old countries just now there is a fight going on ; between the motor omnibus and the electrio tramway, and in the large cities there is a growing feeling that the streets should not be given over to a railway, nor should they be disfigured with the overhead gear generally used with-electrie cars. It ie claimed that the motor omnibus will do all that an electrio tramway can, and, moreover, the system, being as mobile aa the car itself, can be used to better advantage, and much more cheaply. There certainly ,is~ a -big future for the automobile, and a-part from the suburban and intersuburban traffic, its best results will be obtained in linking together outlying towns and hamlets, and even homesteads and farms, for it . may and . will pick up and set down passengers at any pomt — a great desideratum in a sparsely-settled country. As a matter, of fact, its capabilities in affording communication for scattered communities has 'not yet Been studied. All that i 9 required is a fairly good road, and the rest is easy. There will then be no necessity for building an expensive railway, for the motor omnibus and motor lorry, together with the ordinary traffic, will be adequate to meet all the requirements for years; but should this means of transit prove inefficient, then it is evident that a railway is required, when it will pay from the outset. In connection with the foregoing, there is a wide field in Otago for the introduction of the motor omnibus and th« motor lorry, and the advantages to be ,derived' fronx.euch^ a service seem only to be recognised- to ensure the widespread use of such means of locomotion.

! It has been decided by the Races Committee of the Automobile Club to hold ; the eliminating race for the Gordon Bennett Cup on May 23, as this date is most convenient to the authorities and people of the Isle of Man. The House of Keys has parsed a- bill to empower them to permit and make arrangements for the .trials in " May and the tourist trophy contest in September. Presumably, as the Gordon Bennett trials are on May 23, the eliminating trials for the International Motor Cup and the race .for the motor Cup will be held on the following day. The date of the Gordon Bennett Cup is not fixed, but will probably be between July 4- and 7. The entries for the French eliminating trials are- at present a C.G.V. (Giradot), three v Panhards (Heath, Teste, and Henri Farman), a Gobron (Rigollv), three Richard--Brasiers (Thery, -Caillois, and Stead), three Bayards (A. Clement, Henriot, and -Villemain), three Darracqs (Wagner, Hemery, and De la Touloubre). and three Renaults (Bernin, Edmond. and Size). A question has been raised whether the distance of the race shall be 550 kilometres or 525, because if the former distance be insisted on it will necessitate putting the finishing point 18 miles away from the start, which would be highly inconvenient, or alternatively taking in another stretch of road which is not very satisfactory. The decision rests with the clubs, they will probably consent to the shorter "distance.