CYCLING AND MOTORING NOTES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 143, 9 August 1911, Page 3

CYCLING AND MOTORING NOTES.

One of tho few sections of the Commonwealth military forces to receive a word of praise in the raking criticism contained in Major-General Kirkpatrick’s report on the Australian military forces is the -Motor Corps, established in Sydney and Melbourne. There is no doubt that these volunteer bodies have . done good work, but nothing in comparison to what could be done if the movement was taken up in a more enthusiastic manner by Australian motorists, Where there aro now aii told only two or three doxeu members of the Motor Corps, there should be imnarodr. enrolled, and if the matter was only taken up in a real live manner in each of the Commonwealth States there is little doubt that one of tho most valuable and most mobile adjuncts to the Army of Australia would result. The inspoctor-Genqral in Ids report also suggests tho advisability of forming a -Motor Cycle Corps in the Commonwealth. Tins is i matter we have from time to time advocated. As a lighting or scouting unit motor cycle corps would prove an extremely valuable addition to the Australian military forces; and only those who are aware how these nevertiring handy little machines can get through tho country can really appreciate what such a corps could accomplish in time of warfare. A hum drccl trained motor cyclists, equipped' with a few light machine guns, mounted on side carriages, could travel hundreds of miles a day and ho .n action miles away, from any railway station before a foot regiment was half way to ltd destination by vail. There are hundreds of •motor cyclists in the Commonwealth ready lo lie moulded into tjie most .valuable lighting unit of the Australian forces, yet nothing has really yet been done towards enlisting their services. Tho forthcoming Dunlop Military Relay Dispatch Race from Adelaide to Sydney, in which motor cyclists will bo pitted against cyclists, will no doubt afford tno military authorities and the general public a splendid object’.ossou as to what the motor cyclists ire capable of accomplishing when put :o tho tost, and it is to be hoped in at ■ bo value of tiiis Tindertaking from a ailitary point of view will not bo lost sight of by tho Commonwealth military forces.

Maurice Fournier, the well-known French racing motorist, who was killed in the French Grand Prix Motor Race held over the Sarthe Circuit last week, must not bo confounded with Henri Fournier, who made such i name for himself as a fearless driver in the early days of motor-racing n Europe by winning the first Pnrisdordeaux Race in 1901, and later in die same year carried off the great Faris-Berlin Race. At his best Henri Fournier was one of the most daring irivers that Europe lias soon. The Maurice Fournier who mot His death ,u last week’s event through the front ;xlc of Ids car snapping, when away n the lead, is probably a younger nember of the same family. The date of the Victorian Cycle I'raders’ 100 Miles Road Race lias icon fixed for Saturday, October 7th, die week before the “Vvarmamhool.” Toad ' riders from New Zealand and tVestern Australia who conic across for 'the Dunlop Company’s big event will' fiow be able to compete in the dirce races—Goulburn-Sydney (Sep.em.bor 23rd), Victorian Cycle Ti adms’ 100 Miles (October 7th), and Warriiambcol’’ (October 11th).. England has again carried off the iVorhl’s Amateur Track Champion.Hi]),, ddiis being the third successive .hue that die Blue Riband double has wen won by tho same ■■'English rid<is, W. J. Hailey and it. Meredith, the classic events were this year deided at Rome. The success of the ,'higlishmen is no ordinary triumph, for in tho whole history of these clas„i(s events lias such continuity .of success been registered by the same rid■rs. W. J. Bailey’s performance in winning the Spring Championship three times running is remarkable, nit’when it is stated'that this tho ixth occasion on w hich Leon Merenth has carried off tho Long-distance Faced Amateur World’s Ciiampionmip, then it will be scon w hat a wonlerful achievement Meredith has re-

gistered. A Six Hours’ Tandem-paced Bicycle dace was Hold on Horne Hill Track ■.London) last month, and resulted in i great struggle, the winner eventual;y°tnriiiiig up in an outsider named rt. H. Loo, wlio covered 148 miles 850 yards in the six hours. The favourite, J. 11. Bishop, finished second with a score of 115 miles 1270 yards. Tho distance recorded in the first .ion; - was 20 miles 1500 yards, at the end of the second hour 52 miles 720 yards had been covered, the eventual winner at. tiiis stage being nearly a .idle and a half behind. At half-time the leader had ridden 75 miles 1000 yards, Lee being over 21 miles to the ahd. When four hours had elapsed Bishop was in the van with a score of J 9 miles 1250 yards, Leo having improved his position and now being less than a mile behind. At 109 miles Leo caught .Bishop after a tremendous struggle, and going on, had gained nearly a mile at tho end of. tho filth uotir, when tho scoring board showed 124 miles 120 yards. From this out Leo gradually gained ground, and eventually won one of the best longdistance races held in England for many years past. From New Vork comes the curious information that Mr. Mark Anthony, the well-known electrical engineer, claims to have invented a device to control aeroplanes from the ground, rfo says that he can stop the motor if any aeroplane not more than five miles "high. His offer to soli tho device to clie American .Government lor .125,000 was declined, and lie has now offered it to the French Government. A particularly line record was recently established from Land’s End to John o’ Groats‘(from one end of England to the other) by a motor cyTist named i. B. ! lai t-Davies, who, mounted on a 34 horse-power .motor cycle, covered the 7874 miles in the wonderful time of 29 hours 12min., some 3 hours 3min. hotter than the previous record. Another good record lias also been established in England, where W. J. Clarke rode 2557 miles in six days, mounted on a 3) iiorso-powcr motor cycle. .’The longest rim was accomplished on tho first day, the mileage being 192 miles. 'I lie .French Light Oar Race, held over a course of 385 miles, was won by Babbit on a Delarge, be covering i fie course in 7bmirs 2min 52 i-sscc, and winning by the small margin ol 71 sec. file winner's average speed was 51.9 miles per hour, wonderful travelling for a 15 horse-power car. TV Briiisti car, a Caltliorpe, finished seventh in 7 hours 39min 29scc.