Cycling and Motors Notes

Otago Witness, Issue 2785, 31 July 1907, Page 59

Cycling and Motors Notes

BY DEHOir. Mr W. R. Frosfc has -disposed of his 6 h.p. J.A.P. to Mr M'Kenzio, of Dunrobin, and has gone in for a 3a h.p. singlcoylinder Triumph. Mr 9. R. Stedman has shown me a very neat expanding motor cycle pulley which he has manufactured. The pulley is ! a fine piece of workmanship, and the gear is varied from 1 in 4- to 1 in 7. After uninterruptedly and successfully organising and running the Timaru to Christehnrch Road Race, for the past few years, and also in 1899, the Dunlop Company has been advised that in view of the active steps recently taken by the polle* in. the North Island to suppress road-racing similar action would be adopted in the event of the Timaru-to-Ohristchurch, or any other road races being again promoted. Such intimation has, of course-, left the Dunlop Company no other alternative but to abandon their race for this year. Although it had for some time past teen feared that euch a course would be- adopted, the promoters 'had lioued that ia view of the objects for.

whioh this event has from year to year been promoted — viz., to allow of an >pportunity to 'select the most capable rider in the colony to uphold its prestige in the big Warrnamboo] to Melbourne race (165 miles), and in which in past years New Zealand 1 riders have invariably covered themselves with glory, no objection would be held to the race. Naturally very keen disappointment has been felt by the numerous riders who have for months past been in active training 1 for the race. The first time that New Zealand was represented in the Warrnambool-to-Mel-bourne race was in 1901, when A. Ralston gained the coveted title of "Australasian champion," on which occasion he established the fastest time, whilst the following year Galder and Ralston scored second and third fastest times. All will readily remember the world's record established in 1903 by that peer of xoad riders Jack Arnst, who won from, scratch in the record time of 7hr 43min* 'his. brother Dick in the same event gaining second fastest place, whilst another brother, W. Artist, when occupying first position to within 50 miles of the finishing post, had the misfortune to break his machine, and was disqualified. Jack Arnst that year, it will also be remembered, competed with conspicuous success in the Sydney-to-Golbourn Road Race {132 miles), in whioh he gained fastest time, and established a record- for that course, whilst last year the fine performances of the New Zealand contingent <are etill green in our minds, when the coveted 'title of champion of Australasia was again brought ' to our shores; this time by H. E. Mehrtens ; •also the creditable performances of A. Birch and Humm in securing second and third positions in such a strong field. With tta^eae- fine performances by "our boys" in the past, we can only hope that this year's championship will not be allowed to go by default. As showing that the authorities in New Zealand are not singular in their intention to put the veto on road-racing, ah Australian exchange states that the roadracing section of the League ,of "Victorian Wheelmen are having some trouble with the council of Broadmeadows Shire, who nave prohibited cycle road-racing on -account of the supposed danger to users of , the King's highway. A couple of weeks 1 ago several clubs gathered at Oampbelli field, the usual starting-place for their' road" | race, but had to move on and abandon the race, as the local police had been instructed to prohibit road-racing in the district, and to summon all those who persisted in doing so in defiance of their orders. "Elastes," the puncture-proof device for filling tyres, has reached' Sydney on one or two cars, but has so far scarcely proved a success (says Sydney Referee). The substance is said to be expensive to be fitted to cars. It completely fills the tubes, giving the same effect as a solid tyre, and, if special springs are not fitted, causes far too much vibration on our jrough roads.* With suitable springs it would no doubt be a great boon, but solid tyres would fulfil the same purpose. * The first great racing event which wa3 run off in Russia was from Moscow to v St. Petersburg, there being 25 competitors — 1+ cars, and fcHe. remainder- motor cyoles. Accidents were numerous, the only car get* ting through without -trouble of any kind being the 70 h.p. De Dietrich driven by Duray, which covered the 401 miles to St. Petersburg in 9hr 22min. Thus one of the most prominent manufacturers in America: — "Instead of road races, endurance runs and tours are what we want. They are the kind of contest that demonstrate the points the public and the hones manufacturer are interested in — whether a car of this make or that will finish a gruelling run over all sorts of roads in sound and stable condition, whether it is a 'quitter," or whether it will finish with bent knuckles, wobbly wheels, and transmission dropped out. So, I say, lot's hold our patriotism in abeyance for a while, so far as it pertains to automobile road-raoing-, and put our money and time into these tests that are going to bring tbe industry the most good." A correspondent sends "Fortis." of the Australasian, quite a new view of the hor3e and motor traffic, and which is at the present time rather interesting. He bays: — "What would have boon the condition of affairs had the motor car rome before the horse? It is not too much io say that a big outcry would have been raised against the country being turned into one vast menagerie. People of the anti-motoring type — anti-horse in this case — would have been righteously indignant at a huge animal, which with one blow from his hoof could kill a man, being brought on the public roads, and causing the streets to become unsanitary ; a beast that can, and doe 6 when so disposed, dash down the street to the destruction of property and the danger of inhabitants.' 1 It has been rcporte-d that substantial guarantees are promised Major Taylor and Frank Kramer (who, with Iver Lawsojtt, constitute America's fastest sprinters), if they will undertake a ra-eing trip to Australia during the coming season, and invitations under the same conditions will probably be extended to MacFarland, Ellegaard, and Rutt. The comparative kpk of interest in the sport in Australia last season was generally ascribed to the absence of any foreign riders, and, in view of this, those bodies interested and affected by the popularity or otherwise of cycLa-saning axe

impelled to make some effort to revive the sport this year. The possibilities of the motor road train in sparsely-settled country . should be quickly recognised. The saving to the country^ by the institution of this method of carriage (instead of an expensive railway) would be very large. The great advantage of road carriage is that the goods are taken from the place of origin to the place where they are wanted, which means a great saving in the handling. The "train" as now used largely in France consists of a motor proper, and two or more cars, each haying six wheels, and the purposes to which this system of carriage is specially adapted are for road transport of goods, passengers, minerals, and market produce, and in this capacity it acts as » feeder to the railways. Colonials just arriving' in the Old Country, and taking unto themselves a car. should not be put off with the story of "inability to effect immediate delivery, owing to the really wonderful clamouring of clients," which some minor makers put forward in order to disguise their own chronic shortage of stock (says the BritishAustralasian). As a matter of fact, the supply of motor cars is now more than keeping pace with the demand, and it is Umost as easy to walk into one of the larger emporia and buy a motor car as it is to purchase a new hat. In fact, such firms as Daimlers and Argylls have found it necessary to carry a heavy stock, co that new clients should be provided with a wide range of choice. There have recently been several bad smashes on English- roads,' and more than one fatality has caused the more sensational papers to resume their anti-motor 6creech> ings. One particularly bad accident -took place on Sunrising Hill, on the borders of Oxfordshire. This has a viciooa gradient, which is pnnotuated by two particularly acute curves, *tnd. the hill has already claimed many victims from the ranks both of motoring and cycling tourists. Last month a Philadelphia . gentleman and his wife were dashed to the ground at the foot of this hill, the former dying within a tew minutes of the "accident, and the latter being removed to the hospital in a precarious condition. The Vanderbilt race annually contested in America may this year be conducted under different conditions from those in the past, and which do uot altogether meet with the approval of the donor. In giving the massive silver cup and in promoting the race Mr Vanderbilt specified that the event shall be contested by teams of not more than five cars, representing the different countries respectively, by which it would have an international character. But the committee has proposed certain changes, the main one being that the race be thrown open to any manufacturer who may wish to enter two cars, which would result in the event being dominated by Americans, and made to the industry of the United States what the Grand Prix is to France. This, it is understood, is what tbe American manufacturers desire, uid, because of the decline of foreign interest in the race, is what seems necessary to keep tbe race alive and interesting ; but it does not match with the Jeslr« of • the cup donor, who wishes to advance certain cherished social ambitions of his in European circles. It is thought, however, that he may yield at the next speciar tneeting, which has besn called to smooth over the difficulties. Last year, it may-bo remembered, the crowd at the finish got quite beyond the control of the police, Jtnd there were one or two fatalities and many <*rious accidents. This year it is suggested that the course be lined with militia, as has been done on the Continent. • .At the beginning of June, when the Brooklands motor track had just been completed, regulations were issued regarding the use of the speedway, and with the exception of days upon which racing was in progress, the course was to be open on week days for motor cars of a maximum axlo wefpht of 27001b. The admission of cars entitled them to drive at any speed on the track, and the time of any :ar for any distance not exceeding five miles was recorded by official timekeepers, and certificates given for such performances. Many motor manufacturers expressed their intention of availing themselves of the opportunity thus presented of gauging the speed of their vehicles under xmditions that could not cause any risk to the public. It is further stated that it the time (June 8) great numbers of the public were nockin°> daily to see the speed trials, which afforded them a new sporting interest. Actual racing on the new track is only permitted after all the necessity arrangenienis have been made, and very stringent conditions were then being formulated governing the practice to be followed by the drivers. The great pace attained renders this compulsory. While passing a level crossing at Miramas, in France, a motor car containing five persons was run into and smashed to pieces by an express train. M. Jules Pernod, a merchant of Avignon, was driving four friends in his 50 horse-power car. The barriers were open at Miramas, and the oaf was driven slowly across tne rails. A Paris express, travelling at great speed, caught the hinder part of the car and flung the whole vehicle forty yards from the rails. The occupants were hurled out ia. all directions. The train was stocced

and heip given. M. Pernod and one o» his guests named Terron were found to be dead from terrible injuries, while the other; occupants of the car were severely hurt. The barriers at the crossing appear to have been left open by a careless gatekeeper. More than 5000 bicycles were pur-* chased in a fortnight- in Johannesburg because of a breakdown in the electric tramway system. A 150 h.p. steam oar holds the record for the one mile, accomplishing the distance in 28 seconds, or at the rate of oven 120 miles an hour, last year in Florida.