MOTORS AND PETROL CONSUMPTION

Southland Times, Issue 17025, 25 April 1912, Page 6

MOTORS AND PETROL CONSUMPTION

YESTERDAY'S TEST* The petrol consumption test for motor cars and motor cycles li old under the auspices of the Southland Motor Association was duly held yesterday, and the number of entries of both cars and cycles must have boon gratifying to the members of the Association. Tho cars first proceeded to Messrs A\ aterston s weighbridge, where cars with their passengers were weighed, they then proceeded to Messrs AVoods and Co’s garage, where the tanks were filled and then sealed by the officials,% as eacli car was ready it set off on its journey to Riverton, where an official duly noted itsi arrival and number of passengers. There were some cloven cars entered for the contest, being six Dc Dions, one Overland. one Hapmobilo, two F.M.F.’s, and one Fiander. The cars which were in full touring trim with hoods, screens, etc., left for Riverton shortly after two o’clock. The road in places was somewhat heavy, owing to a very heavy rain storm, otlicrwi.se an even more meritorious performance would have to lie recorded. The cars on returning again proceeded to Alessrs AVoods garage, where tho seals on tlie tanks wore broken. and the tanks again filled up. the amount of petrol- required being carefully measured. The official figures are not vet available, but a feature of the contest was that tho Dc Dion cars "scooped tlie pool.” All these cars put up a most remarkable performance, as may bo seen from the figures below. Tlnit an eight horse-power car with full equipment.- carrying two passengers, could make the journey to Riverton and return a distance of 52 miles on a very little* over half a gallon of petrol is indeed a remarkable performance. There are 160 ounces of petrol to the gallon. Tlie best performances were:—

12 h.p. Dc Dion, owner and driver, A. Clark, 4 passengers. AVeight, 24Vicwt; petrol consumed, 130cz- - . 12 h.p. Do Dion, owner, G. Tulloch; driver, T. Stone; 4 passengers;. 2-nicwt; 1 gallon 55ozs. 12 h.p. De Dion, Owners, A. Russell and Co.; driver, A. Russell; 3 passengers; 21 cwD; 1 gallon 16ozs. S H.p. De Dion (A. Russell and Co.), driven by A. Stone; 2 passengers; IScwt Iqr, loGozs. 8 h.p. Dc Dion, owner and driver, E. A. Moore; 2 passengers; IScwt; SGozs.

Full official figures will be published as- soon as they are available. No reliable information as to the results of tho motor - cycle test could be obtained last night.