CYCLING AND MOTORING NOTES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 65, 31 October 1911, Page 6

CYCLING AND MOTORING NOTES.

Ray Duer, the crack American pace follower, has succeeded in riding a flying mile behind motor cycle pace in 59 4-5 seconds—-world’s record. The previous best was 61 1-5 seconds by \V. T. Hall. Duer’s ride was accomplished in public at Salt Lake City. - It is often said with truth that a large number of owners take no interest nowadays„ in driving their or in the machinery which propels their cars, and that they are content to leave mechanical matters entirely to their drivers. Formerly this used not to be the case, for in the early days chauffeurs, -.efficient and knowledgeable, were rare, and among the pioneers of ’ automobilism enthusiasm for driving and knowing every part of the car was universal. It would, moreover, he a great pity if the ownerdriver, as a class, were to diminish. Among small cars the owner is generally the driver; I>ut with larger aiakes, while a chauffeur’s services arc desirable, and in some cases necessary, the more powerful the vehicle the stronger should be the owner’s sense of caution about his own property, and that his car is driven with duo respect to- safety and economy. The restraint of power, as contrasted with the use of power, should bo the mark of the owner-driver in the case of cars of high speed. There is every probability of an automobile -exhibition being held in Melbourne early' in. March next. The matter has been taken in hand by' the Automobile Club of toria, and a strong committee appointed to investigate the chances of success and the amount of trade support that would bo forthcoming in the event of the Automobile Club of Victoria holding such an event. The Melbourne Exhibition Building—which is splendidly adapted for the purpose—will be available for the first week in March; and as there is always a big influx of visitors to Melbourne for the Newmarket t and Australian Cup such a time should lie very opportune for Victoria’s first Motor Show. Most of the leading avenues and agencies and the allied trade have already promised support to the movement, and the A.C. V. should at an early date be in a position to make a definite announcement regarding the matter. The English motor cycle track record for the hour has been raised to 70 miles 1388 yards by Mr A. J. Moorehouse, -a well known English amateur racing motor cyclist. Whilst Moorhouse’s figures are remarkable, they are still a long way behind J. do 'Hosier's sensational record of S 3 miles 135 yards established in San Francisco (U.S.A.) in February last. Lord Montague, one of England’s most prominent motorists, has, with, tiie concurrence of the Royal Automobile Club of England and the Automobile Association and Motor Union, made an offer to the Government authorities to compile a register of all the .motorists in Great Britain who would be willing to place their cars and their services at the disposal of the British Government in times of stress or grave national emergencies, when the ordinary sources of transport are inadequate to deal with the needs of tiie public. The Automobile Association itself has a membership of over 35,000, owning over 50,000 cars, so that the value of the spirited offer can easily be gauged. It is estimated that there would also he close on 10,000 commercial vehicles available if the Government needed their services. Lord Montague suggests that tiie cars could be used for the following purposes: The carriage of all mails where railways are now used; the supply of milk, fish, and perishable produce to London and other large towns; the supply to country villages of stores not produced in or near their area, such as sugar, tea, etc.; the carriage of troops or police; the conveyance of passengers if on urgent business in connection with family matters or trade. The offer lias created a considerable stir in English motoring circles, and the answer of the British Government is awaited with interest. The wonderful advancement made in motor car efficiency has never been hotter demonstrated than by the recent wonderful performance madcs in England on a 30 h.p. 6-cylinder car. Maimed by different drivers this car was driven the phenomenal distance of 907 miles in .12 hours—from 7.16 in the morning to 7.16 at night. During the 12 hours, the engine (boro 90 millimetres by 160 millimetres) was kept running at a speed of 1800 revolutions a minute, and at the end of the run the part of the engine where one could .not,place one’s hand were the exhaust pipes. The performance was accomplished on Brooklands, and so evenly did the car run that fully 75 per cent of the laps were covered within three seconds difference of time—amazing regularity of running. The average speed was 75 miles an hour. Every two hours the car was stopped to replenish the petrol tanks and change the four wheels; this was done for safety, to prevent the Dunlop tyres from getting too hot. There was not the slightest tyre trouble throughout. The time taken to change wheels varied from Imin 23sec to 3 min. The previous record stood to the credit of S. F. Edge, w.ho in 1907, on the same track, drove 799 miles 1600 yards in 12 hours. E. Tyler, a member of the Victorian Motor ‘Cycle Club, put up a very fine performance last Saturday by winning the Club’s 50 mill's handicap road race in the Australian record time oi 57 min 7 3-5 see. Tyler, who was in receipt of Oinin start, also carried off fastest time; lie rode a 3) h.p. Dunlop-shod Triumph. The performance is a particularly fine one, as the course was over a 12.) mile stretch, which had to bo covered out and home twice. The previous record was 03 min 36 sec, held by C. R. Crook, a member of the same club.