PROFESSOR HERKOMER MOTOR TRIALS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2690, 4 October 1905, Page 60

PROFESSOR HERKOMER MOTOR TRIALS.

Wednesday evening (August 16) finished the contest for the Herkomer trophy, awarded by Professor Hubert yon Herkomer. R.A., for an international competition of -privately-owned touring motor cars. The trophy is designed by Professor Herkomer, and in addition to holding it for a year the winner receives- a portrait of himself painted by the great artist. The prize is, therefore, well -worth winning, and is one. moreover, calculated to appeal most strongly to amateur drivers. As a matter of fact, every effort was made to keep the element of professionalism out of the affair. The official observers were all officers on the nctive list of the army. British interest in the event was stimulated by the circumstance that a team of five English Daimlers was competing, driven by and Mrs Edward Manville, and Messrs Philip Dawson, Harman Ash, and Frank Rendle. It is very gratifying to note that the performance of the team was most flattering to the British industry, while Mrs Manville, the only lady driver in the competition, particularly distinguished herself and did full justice to her "car. No fewer than 105 cats were: entered, and 82 of them started on Monday for the' reliability -torn-, which was the chief part of the contest. But previously to this other tests had been made. In the examination for design on Friday at Munich, the British cars were at Imcc awarded maximum marks for accessibility and simplicity of all mechanical features, while for general excellence, including accommodation, they received thirty-two marks out of a possible of thirty-six. On Saturday was held a hill climb on the Kesselberg. over a distance of seven kilometres, rising as a maximum about one in fifteen. Best time was made by Mr C. Gray Dinsmore's 70-h.p. Mercedes, 7min 29sec. Other times in order were : — Mr Edgar Ladenberg's 40-h.p. Mercedes, 7min 59Jsec: Mr Hermann Wcingaud's 40-h.p. Mercedes, Bmin 11 l-ssec; Mr Manville's 35-h.p. Daimler, Bmin 11 3-ssec ; Mr F. Rendle's 35-h.p. Daimler, Bmin 15 2-ssec; Mr F. Veifch's 40-h.p. Benz. Bmin 24sec; Mrs Manville's 35-h.p. Daimler, Bmm 30 4-ssec. On Sunday a speed trial on the fiat over six kilometres in the Forstenreider Park proved a great success for the. Daimlers. The results wore : —

Mm. Sec. 1. Mrs Manville, 35 h.p. Daimler .. 4 9 1-5 2. Edwd. Manville, 35 h.p. Daimler 4 10 3-5 3. W. Peogge, 60 h.p. Mercedes .. 4 12 3-5 4. Frank Rendle, 35 h.p. Daimler .. 4 18 3-5 5. Philip Dawson. 35 h.p. Daimler.. 4 19 1-5 6. Max de Martini, 30 h.p. Martini .. 4 25 4-5 7. W. Tischbein, 60 h.p. Mercedes .. 4 34 3-5 8. Harman Ash, 20 h.p. Daimler .. 4 45 4-5 9. Werner, 70 h.p. Mercedes . . . . 5 0 2-5 The touring competition, for reliability and not for speed, consisted of three days' journeying, the first from Munich to BadenBaden, 222 i miles ; the second from BadenEaden to Nuremberg, 204 miles; and the third returning to Munich, 147^ miles, making a total of 573£ miles. The roads were terribly dusty, and, in consequence, on the second, day a most lamentable accident occurred. One of the cars, in rounding a corner, ran into two children and killed them both. On the whole, the cars made a very good showing, troubles, except from

tyres, being' few. The British team had no mechanical failures whatever. . The Bavarian Automobile Club presented Mrs Manville with a large laurel wreath on her entry into Munich. Awards had not been made known in time for Jate English exchanges, but it was thought the British team, would occupy a distinguished place.