CYCLING AND MOTORING NOTES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 12, 30 August 1911, Page 8

CYCLING AND MOTORING NOTES.

While ic has been claimed tiiat wire

wheels make for greater strength and safety, and at the same time secure a considerable reduction of dead-weight, their beneficial effect upon the Hie of tyres is not generally known. The results of cci tain experiments which have been carried out by a well-known English motor company in London are interesting. There, careful date has been kept of all tyre replacements and repairs, and the following figures show the mileage obtained on heavycovered cars from 100 non-skid 935 by 135 mm. covers, half of which were fitted to wire, and half to wooden wheels: Total mileage obtained from 50 non-skid 035 by 135 mm. covers taken from wire wheels, 172,731 miles; total mileage obtained from 50 non-

skid 935 by 135 mm. covers taken from wood wheels, 102,521 miles; average miles per cover: 3454 on wire wheels, the average miles per cover, 2050 on artillery wheels. As the cars employed were practically identical, and were run under exactly similar conditions, the results arc very instructive.

There is a probability of the Dunlop Rubber Company including a car section in their big relay despatch ride from Adelaide to Sydney (1119 miles) next Easter. Such an addition would add greatly to the interest of the despatch ride and could be included with very little extra expense or organisation. From a military standpoint, the addition of motor cars to the event would render the contest of even more importance than if the race is confined to cycles and motor cycles only. The route would only want to be divided into four sections, viz., from Adelaide to Mt. Gam bier (303'miles), Mt.i Gam bier to Melbourne (271 miles), Melbourne to Albury (201 miles), and Albury to Sydney (371 miles), and either one or two cars selected to negotiate each section. It is estimated that the car despatch would have to concede about six hours start to the motor cyclists, who in turn would have to allow the cycle brigade twenty-four hours’ start. What a stirring contest such a triangular match would produce! It is thought that there would he little difficulty in getting motorists to take the matter up, and the Dunlop Co. intend approaching Messrs G. G. White (holder of the Sydney-Mcl-bourno and Melbourne-Adelaido records), H. Dutton, and Murray hunger, to sec if they would take up the South Australian section of the course. Messrs R. S. Falkiuer, C. B. Kellow x T. Rand, and S. IT. Day will bo invited to look after the two Victorian relays, and Messrs “Tony” Hordern and O. Camphin the Albury to Sydney section. Such a team would probably carry the despatch from Adelaide to Sydney in 40 hours. H. Long, a well-known English cyclist and motor cyclist, has " just motor cycled round the coast of Great Britain in 32 days 5 hours. The full distance covered was 504 miles, the daily average being 157;! miles. The same trip was accomplished by Long on a push bicycle in 1909 in 50 days.

The annual Beverley to Perth road race (116 miles) is to be decided on Saturday, Septetmber 2nd. The rider establishing fastest time in this event will officially represent Western Australia in the forthcoming Dunlop road race from Warrnambool to Melbourne, which is set down for decision on October 14th. The Western Australian riders did well in last year’s Warrnambool, capturing the Australasian blue riband and road championship- for 1910, through the agency of J. Fianto, whilst J. McSweeney was just beaten in the sprint homo for first place, besides scoring second fastest time.

At the last meeting of the Sydney Bicycle and Motor Cycle Club, it was decided that a representative bo sent to England to compete in next year’s tourist trophy motor cycle race. A series of tests will be held in Now South Wales to decide who will represent the mother-State, and the representative will leave for England in March, so that he will have plenty of time to become acquainted with the tricky and mountainous Isle of Man course. The Collier-Hosier motor cycle match for the world’s championship was won by the American crack, Jake do Hosier. The event was decided on the lirooklands Automobile Racing Track (London), the winner receiving a purse of £l3O. The first event, which was over a distance of two laps of the track, or,, approximately, u.) miles, was well . contested from start to finish. Collier obtained the lead at the outset, and, travelling well, maintained it until within 100 yards of the finishing post. At this point, however, de Rosier, who had been lading throughout the race lose behind Ins opponent, dashed to the front and won by three lengths. His time for the 5) miles was 4min 2 4-5 sec., the average speed being •10.59 miles per hour. Interest in the second match, over five laps, or 13V miles, was somewhat reduced by the result of the first event, which had proved, conclusively that do Hosier's machine was faster than his rival’s, and that the American could, in all probability, leave his opponent whenever ho desired to lo so. As a matter of fact, however, Iho second match resulted in a surmise,- for, after half the course had >eon completed, do Rosier was seen to slow up suddenly, while Collier '.eat ahead and won as he liked, his ime for the 134 miles being lOmin. '2see., and his average speed 79.9 idles pci' hour, a very fine performmco in view of the fact that lie was ■mt travelling “all-out” during the hist lap. When the American reach'd the fork it was seen that he was without a front tyro, the cover having come off when lie was travelling :t ovci 39 miles per hour. With I he score “one all,” interest in the de-

riding match, over ten laps, or 2 1 mile'., v, as intense. For the first half of the course the men bung together, as in the first ra.ee, but, with live laps mill to go, Collier’s machine began to misfire. At the time of the mishap the Englishman was lending by a coui>lo of lengths, but Ids ti Guide, although eventually remedied without a dismount, caused him to fall back almost half a mile. He then discovered that his switch had worked loose, and, having succeeded

in adjusting it, he finished the remaining laps at great spaed. Do Rosier, however, had secured such a long load that he was able to win comfortably, bis time for the 27 miles being 20min. 44 2-5 sec., as against Collier’s time of 21min. 4 2-5 sec. The winner’s average speed was 78.01 miles per hour. The American rode a twin-cylinder “Indian” (824mm. bore and 93mm, , stroke), while the English champion used a twincylinder “Matchless” with a 90mm. boro and 774 mm. stroke. The event created great interest, and drew a big crowd to Brooklands.