MOTOR RELIABILITY CONTEST.

Otago Witness, Issue 2808, 8 January 1908, Page 60

MOTOR RELIABILITY CONTEST.

cmusTCHuncog: to dunedin AND BACK. - - The reliability triads conducted' by the Qhristehureh Automobile Association during Christmas week jijroved most successful, and have added one more -proof as to the usefulness of the petrol-driven machine. The trials were arranged for four classes of machine — an open class for cars of 12 horsepower and over and one for cars under 12 horse-power ; and also • classes for pri-Vately-owlied cars of these two different -powers. .^Th.irty-«jght cars left- Ohristohureh on iViday, Dgoembir 27, for Timaru; thence on to Dunedin on the Saforday, returning to Timaru pnMonday,- and home tQ Chris fcchuroh again, via Mount Somers,- on Tues^ day. The distance traversed was 505 niiles, made up as follows: —^Christchurc^ to Timaru, 117 miles; Timaru to Punedin, 129 miles; Dunedin tg Timaru, 128 miles; Timaru to ' Christchuroh, 128 miles. The system 'of marking for reliability was based On a maximum number of marks for ; the - run, fixed at 1000, and' from this number marts were deducted for every minute or part of a minute during which j a oar wae at rest from the time of* starting to the conclusion of the run, except for tyre troubles (for which a. maximum of one hour was allowed on the whole run) and for some special circumstances for which provision, was made. I Thirty-five out of the 38 cars whioh left Christchurch reached Dunedin, and '32 of thei machines returned to Christchurch within the schedule time. The streets of the couth end of Dunedin on Saturday night and again on Monday morning doiv quite aa animated appearance, and a large number turned out to witness the arrival and departure of the cars. Ihinedin only had one representative in the _ contest;, Messrs Cooke-Sowlison's 7-9 Stuart oar, driven by Mr G.- Clark. To the -fact thai Dunedin was not oiore largely represented in the trials may be attributed the somewhat small amount of interest taken locally in the run, — and which circumstance was freely remarked on by our northern visitors. It must be "remembered, however, that the trials did not excite the same amount of interest locally as in the city of their origin, and the first intimation " plenty ■ of Dunedin people had of the run was seeing the cars careering through our streets, when inqpiiry as to the cause of tkeir number elicited the fact of the contest. . The advent in Dunedin of such a large number of cars and the excellent performance whioh they have put vp — tyre troubles being most in evidence,— phould have the effect of bringing the utility of the motor more under -£he notice ,of our Otago business- men; many of whom at the present time seem somewhat dubious as to the thorough reliability of the petrol-driven car. It- is rather a reflection on the enterprise and foresight of our Otago people that at the present time^ this province takes about the rearmost position in the number of cars owned*— in proportion of size and population — of any .province in New Zealand. ' The aggregate value of the oars which took part in the contest is 'estimated at £21,000, and no contest on co extensive a scale has heretofore taken place in Australasia. A year ago a similar trial took place in the North Island, between Wellington and Auckland, but on that occasion only 12 cars took part, ac against 38 on the present occasion. Mrs Bockaert, of Timaru, was the only lady- competitor included in the entrants, and finished among the prize-winners. The run has provided those who were in charge with several suggestions for the carrying-out of future contests. A most important official is the "observer;." On hie discretion and judgment a great deal depends. However, all "observers" are not built alike, and what one "observer" would allow Another- would not, this difference of opinion having, perhaps, a very ~ - i<

material bearing on the .mmber of jointsscored by bsfferent «ars. In. future, "o^r > servers " will be instructed to" mark down, every incident bearing on the. running of the oar. Another minor 1 grievance with drivers v?&s that ihe'maxi- ' Cnuin rate of speed at which the oars could 1 I travel was thought by lome to be fixed too low, the majority of the' cars beingj able to put up muoh faster times, necessitating them to occasionally slow down tc< i a crawl, so as not to reach their destination [ before schedule time. '' The following awards in connection witK ' the trials have been announced: — Class A. — Open "Class for Gars over 12 h.p. " ' Marks. ■ C. Atkinson's 16 h.p. Darracq (Qv Wood, II • driver) >.. .. 1000 1 Jones -and Son's 18-24 h.p. Siddeley (J. _, 1 | 3?., Harnnxersley) . „ .v .. -.. .. '1000U ■ Adams's fLta.) 15 h.p. Talbot (R. M. Maodonsld) ....... 1008 r- Adams's (Ltd.) 12-15 h.p. Talbot (F/N. [ Adsins) , .. 999 ■ Glass B. — Open Glass for Cars under » ■ - - 12h.p. ■ Dexter and Crozier's 10 h.p. Cadillac > ("W. Pui-ton.) 1000 J. C. Hawkes and Co.'s^lO h.p. AlElays ; (Mitchell) . „ . 959 Class C. — Private Owners' Class lor Cars" ' / over 12 h.p. ' ' ' W. E. MtUs's 12-1S h.p. Clem«nt-T*lbot (Owner) 1000 D. Matson's 15 h.p. Talbot (Owner) . . lOOtt i Dr Thacker's 16-20 h.p. Argyll (Jj- R. j Young) ; -■.. ' .. „ -.. IT. Y. Wardrop's 14-16 h.p. Argyll >' (Owner) .. :.. ....... . 994 [ Class D. —^Private Owners' Class for Cars 1 . . under 12 h.pt " Mark Steed's 8 h.p. Bao <own«r) .. :. 995 > Mrs E." Bockaerfs 8-10 h.p. Darracq c (Owner) .> . 993 ■ " Special Prizes. -Most meritorious performances in whole - {rial (special prize presented: by Dunlop t Rubber Company)— Dexter and Crozier's 10 i h.p. Cadillac (W. Fulton). . Best performance of any car selling in Eng- , land at less than -£350 (special prise presented ' by Motor Import Company] — Dexter and s- Crozier's 10 h.p. Cadillac. Lady driver retaining most marks (special > prize presented by Messrs Stewart Dawsom ' • and Co.) — Mrs E^ Bodkaert** 8-10 h.p. Darraoq. Lowest petrol consuxaptioi) per ton mil* (special prize presenteft by Humbers, Ltd.)^ W. E. DonnAn's 30 h.p. Rover. ; Car putting up best Berformvnoe, exclusiva of stops i for tyre troubles only, not finishing , first ox second in their olfcss or first, second; 1 or third in private owners' class (special prize presented by Messrs Inglis Bros.] — E. P. J f Grieg's 20-22 h.p. Denms.' • ' TJK beet results in -the consumption. ' trial held on the aeeojKt day ef the run : w«re: — E. Dormtua's M h.p. Rover, 38.84 ton milge to the gallon; Sbeats antf Bookaerfa > 10-13 Darracq, 34.42; Adams's CLtA.) IS h.p-.-Talbot, 34.34 ton miles; 3. M. Peacock's 16 h.p. Enfield, 30.99; Adams's (Ltd.l 15 h.p-. ' • Talbot, 30.69. Mr A. ' Cleave, of Auckland!* one of the judges, speafcipg to a Press reporter, said that in his opinion the competing oars had put up An excellent performance, although the road conditions for the Irierl were, q£ course, not bo severe as those met with on the route from Auckland to Wellington. He thought that more cars would have scored full points if the drivers had hatt more experisnee in changing gears on--jho hills. The drivers here were not so ao customed to hill work aa they were in the North Island, and they . had a habit of slowing down too much before making tha change. The trial just completed was the ' biggest of its kind yet held in the Dominion-, and without doubt' was oie moei successful. Good feeling prevailed throughout, *nd the competitors regarded .the trial -more as a. picnic than as a competition. To give •my - readers an idea of tha etc., I append a list of the, carp which arrived in Dunedin from Timaru on the second day of the trials: — * ■ Suall Cabs. ; Left Arrived: > Timaru. Dunedin. a.m. .. p.m.. ; A, J. Toxward's 6 h.p. Beddeley (Owner, driverj . 8.20 6.1 3. A.. Macdonald's 8 h.p. Tj Dion (Owner, driver).. 8.22 6.11 Deocter and Crozier's 10 h.p. Cndillao (Fulton, driver) B^4 6.4 J. S. Hawkes and Co.'s la h.p. Alldays (Mitchell, drivor) .. " 8.26 6.3 : M. Steeds's 8 h.p. Eeo ! (Owner, driver) .. .. 8.28 7.5 Cooke> Howlison, and Co.'s ~ ' • • • 7.9 Stuart (Cljurk, driver) 8.30 6.lft > Mrs E. Bookaert's 8-10 Darmcq (Owner, driver) 8.32 6.1! | Labgx Cabs. D. Wbods's 14 h.p. Dwnnia ' , (Owner, driver) ' . . . 8.32 ' 4.50 W. E. Mill's 12-16 Clemeri% , ' \ Talbot (Owner, driver)- .. -8.54 - 4-.5S - 5 Dr Finch's 15 h.p.* Humber j (Owner, driver) 8.58- 5.5 "W. 333. Thompson's 15 h.p. Ford (Owner, driver) .. 9.0 5.12 - Skeatos and Bocksfltt'S 3,0-12 > - Darracq. QS. B*w'linion, driver) , - » 9.'» 5.1^ Jones and Son's 18-24 Sed Ideley (J. F. Hammersfey, t driver) .. .- 9.4 S.af D. Matson's 15 h.p^, Talbot (Owner, driver) .. «. 9.4 5.19

*-

Large Cabs. Left Arrived Timaru. lJunedin. W. M'Rae Peacock's 18 h.p. Stuart (P. W. Sampson, driver) 9.8 5.25 D. Crozier's 30 h.p. Cadillac (Owner, driver) . . . . 9.10 5.1S Skeates and Bockaert's 30-40 Darracq (Bookaert, driver) 9 13 5.51 C. Atkinson's 15 h.p. Darracq (G. "Wood, driver) . 9.14 5.22 Adams's (Lta.) 12-16 Talbot (H. T. Adams, driver) 9.16 5.20 J. M'Eae Peacock's 15 h.p Enfield (J. F. Best, driver) 9.18 6.12 A. G. Nalder^s JLO-12 Stuart (Owner, driver) . 9.20 ' 5.29 P. L. Hallenstein's 20-28 Darracq (Owner, driver). 9.22 5.57 Inglis Bros.' 10-12 Stuart (P. Soanes, driver) . 9.24 3.35 Dr Neeley's 16. h.p. Reo (Owner, driver) .. . 9.26 6.21 R. .English's 10-12 Stuart (Owner, driver) . . . 9.28 54i Dr T'hacker's 16-20 Argyll (L. B. Young, driver) . 9.30 5.34 A. Morten's 15 h.p. Humber (Owner, driver) .. .. 9.32 5.42 J. S. Kauker and Co.'s 20 h.p. Alidays (A. F. Collins, driver) ~ . . 9.3 i "47 E. Dorman's 20 h.p. Eover (Owner, driver) .. 9.36 6.48 Adams's (Ltd.) 22 h.p. Minerva (A. - Kerr. driver) 9.38 5.55 E. F. J. G-rigg's 20-22 Dennis (Owner, driver) . . 9.40 » 48 T. i.. Waadrop's 14-16 Argyll (Owner, driver) . .. 9.42 5.56 Adams's (Ltd.) 12-16 Talbot " (F. N. Adams, driver) . 9.44 5.56 "W. K. Macdonald's 15 h.p. Darracq (Owner, driver) . . 9.46 6.4 Adams's (Ltd.) 15 i.p. Talbot * (R. M -Macdonald, driver) . 9.48 5.58

INCIDENTS IN T^T? RECENT TRIAL

The deep ford at Mayfield caused a good deal of fun on the last day of the reliability tun, when a -warm rain and north-east wind 'had caused a fresh on the stream. Most of the cars forded Winchester Creek and the unbridged branch of the Rangitata> safely, but the Mayfield Stream stogped about half a dozen cars. This ford is about 2ft deep. A smart bit of towing was performed here by Mr and Mrs Bockaert. Mrs Bookaert (8-10 Darracq) was stopped in mid-stream, when Mr Bockaert, with his big car, rushed past, threw her a towline, and towed the car out. The engine was started up again, and the car was on the road in 50 seconds.

The set of Dunlop bar-tread fcyres on the 7-9 Stuart were, in the general opinion, the best set to finish the run, which is a good recommendation for both tyres and car. There were some strange stoppages in the reliability trial. The Enfield- lost 13 minutes through a flying stone catching -in the gate .change, and the 'driver,' not seeing it, examined, his gear-box, and a stop that should have been half a. minute tpoTc 13 minutes.

r <**irs Cboke, Howlison, and Co.'s 7-9 t i> put up a fine performance in 'xhinection with this trial. When"a small car can do over 100 miles on very rough toads on 11 -consecutive' days, including Dunedin, to Christchurch and back twice, with only two short' involuntary stops, there oan be no fault found .with the reliability of die modern motor car. % - The drivers generally were very pleased! ■with the Otago roads, and recommend sending -the roadmakers from, the north into Oiago to learn road-making. • A good _haul could have been made by following up the cars on the run. Every couple of miles there was a hat or a pair of goggles, veil, and even tyres, which were left rather than spoil a non-stop run,