CYCLING AND MOTORING NOTES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 29, 19 September 1911, Page 6

CYCLING AND MOTORING NOTES.

Senator Pearce, Minister of Defence, 'has been pleased to grant patronage on behalf of the Commonwealth military authorities to the Dunlop Company’s big despatch relay race between cyclists, motor-cy-clists, and motor-cars, over a course from Adelaide to Sydney, a distance of 1149 miles. Senator Pearce was keenly interested in the cycle relay despatch ride that was organised by the Dunlop Company in 1909, so much so that he rode afcross to the hist changing station from the Nev.South Wales military encampment at Liverpool and congratulated Messrs. K. A. Pearson and T. Larcombe (who carried the military despatch over the last stage into Sydney), on behalf of all the cyclists who had so successfully carried the despatch—link by link—across' three States. The Minister of Defence has .always been keenly alive to the potentialities of the cycle for military purposes, and at the time he expressed his great appreciation of the value of the last relay ride. The forthcoming event—which will be the first of its kind yet hold in tiie world—should, owing to the competitive element introduced by pitting the cycle, motor-cycle, and motor-car against each other, produce one of the most remarkable, interesting and instructive contests held in'the world. It is proposed that the motor-car despatch bearers concede the motor-cycle section six hours’ start, whilst tiig motor-cyclists in turn will endeavour to give twenty I‘our hours’ start to the cyclists. The ride will bo hold next April. J. do Rosier, the crack American motor-cyclist, has succeeded in establishing two now world’s motor-cy-cle records on the Brooklands .track (Kngiand), he covering a mile from a living start in 40 4-ssoc., equal to ja speed of 88.2 miles an hour, and a. I hying start kilometre at even a faster rate of speed, th.> 1093 yards taking 25 l-ssec., equivalent to 88.7 miles an hour, De Rosier has justly earned his title of world’s champion. The United States military authorities, have adopted a sensible means of determining the value and possi- '

Dili ties of the. motor-car in warfare. The ever-alert Americans have long sought to find out tilings in their own practical way, and a good example of what is Doing done is cited by an American contemporary. Cadets from the North-Western Military Academy have left Chicago on a 3060 miles experimental trip with four motor-cars, two of which are used as gun carriages. This travelling battery will cany out experimental work as balloon destroyers, and as such are equipped with quick-firing, high-angle guns. But the principal work of the military cars lies in their use of wireless telegraphy. Each vehicle has its wireless outfit, and with the aid of telescopic masts the range of tho apparatus is about 50 miles. Small balloons can also bo sent up which will carry the wires to any de-, sired height anil thus further increase tho distance over which communication can lie made. The engines ol tho cars arc used to generate the necessary electric current for triis work. Each car has a complete equipment, including camping outfit, pioneer tools, searchlight, heliograph, and guns; and rations are carried for turec days. Usually the vehicles arc 30 to 10 miles apart, and they keep in touch with each other day and night, testing the various apparatus under field conditions. During tiio tour demonstrations will be made before military authorities to show the possibilities of tho now method. 'i lie 25 miles road championship of Western Australia was held last Saturday, and resulted in a win for tho Victorian rider, A. J. Davies, who won a great race by the small margin of half a wheel, from A. Kaiser, who last week established fastest time in the Beverley-Rerth road race. Western Australia has evidently unearthed a most promising road rider in Kaiser, who will ride in tho “Warrnambool” as their accredited representative. It was at first reported that Kaiser would be unable to get away for a trip to Victoria, but later advice states that he is now coming across.

Tho Tour de France—tho longest and most valuable road race of .burops—was won by Garrigou. The physical efforts pne forth by tiie riders in .this great road contest appear to be almost beyond human endurance, in fifteen stages, with only one clay’srest between each, the riders covered 3293 miles, crossing the Alps, the Pyrenees, and Jura Mountains—three_of the stillest climbs in France. 4he fastest rider covered the 3293 miles in 190 hr. 52min., riding time equal to an average speed of 17.4 miles an hour for the full distance. The contest was decided on points. Tho winner’s average was 16.8 miles an hour; out of 80 starters 28 finished the course.