CYCLING AND MOTORING NOTES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 71, 7 November 1911, Page 3

CYCLING AND MOTORING NOTES.

Now that tho Australasian .road racing season has terminated, riders are turning their attention to trade racing, tor which big money is promised this year. More money will lie forthcoming for truck riders this summer than for many a year past, and if valuable prizes will resuscitate the sport, then it Inis every chance of regaining its one time popularity. Tho lirst big meeting will be hold in Sydney on 20th and 27th November, when a £SOO programme will be run off in connection with tiie Sydney Hospital Centenary Carnival. The programme, comprising as it does, tandem scratch races, international paced championships and several handicaps, should produce splendid racing. The events are attracting entries from the best riders in Australasia.

J. A. Fair, the Sydney motor cyclist, who recently rode from Sydney to Melbourne (575 miles) in 48 hours 10 minutes, is not satisfied with his record, and on his return trip to Sydney this week intends making a further attempt to get near his original schedule time of 30 hours.

The annual “Century” ride organised by the Victorian Inter-Club Cycling Association was held last week end, and was a groat success. All told, 350 clubmen —representing 33 cycling clubs—took part in the 100 miles’ uin from Melbourne to Geelong and back. Most of those who started completed tho “Century” under schedule time, and will receive their medallions.

For tho first time since the inception of the Olympic Games Carnival, bicycle road racing is to be introduced into tho programme of this classic gathering. Oho of the principal attractions at this year’s gathering, which is to be held at Stockholm (Sweden) next July, is to be a 200 miles’ road race around Lake Malar. Most of the loading representative road riders of Europe and America will compote in tins event. It is a pity that Australasia cannot be represented in tiie event, for this country prides itself on the speed and stamina of its road cracks, but the probabilities arc that the event will i>6 for amateurs, is so, such riders ns P. O’Shea (N.Z.), T . Larcombo (N.S.W.), and 1). Kirkham (Vic.) would be precluded from competing. The date of the English Motor Show at Olympic (London) is an early one this year, the opening being fixed for November 3rd, and the show will remain open until November 11th. It is certain, says the “Motor,” to be one of the most interesting exhibitions ever held. Even the export engineer will find much to interest him, and tho mechanism in question will not l»b merely' novel, but in most cases it will have been thoroughly tested before being offered to the public. Some firms with a world-wide reputation will have new engines, sin bodying tho principle of a sliding (sleevevalve type) of -motion instead of the poppet' valve. Some have a plain up-and-down motion, some a rotary, and others a part rotary, whilst a particularly neat design of engine will ue seen (in all probability) embodying a combination of tiie two hitter movements. For a long time past attention will have new engines, embodyiu regard to the silence (or lack of it) in connection with tiie indirect gears. At last it appears that tiie subject is to receive more attention, and some now gear-boxes are to be introduced, aiming to achieve the desideratum of silence on all gears by moans of employing a silent chain transmission. ■ Rather a surprise is in store for the worm-drive enthusiasts, as one firm of great repute is reverting to the bevel drive. The present time is hardly a suitable one for going into the pros and cons of this unexpected decision, and it is balanced by fresh champions, who are, now going to use worm drive. Then, again, large firms who have had one, two, or more models fitted with worm drive arc extending its use to other models, so that the, question is obviously an open one. Not very many firm's have done much to solve the problem of successfully adapting the system of front-wheel brakes, and of those few who have tried them, one firm at least will not continue using liiom; at any rate, for the present. On the other hand, another linn, possibly two, will have a system of combined braking (in which tho front wheels do not get locked against rotation), but still do a large amount of work in a combined braking effort with the rear wheels. This, to the writer’s mind, is the ideal solution. Perhaps, however, the most interesting exhibits at the show will be some of the new British small Qars, which are to bo marketed to act as a coum tci blast to the cheap American car. They will be offered at a price which will bo very low indeed, when the excellence of the work and material arc taken into consideration. The forthcoming Olympia motor exhibition gives every promise of being even a bigger success than last year’s great show. As the outcome of the re'cent French tests of heavy motor-vehicles carried out by the French military authorities, it has been notified that subsidies will bo granted by the war department to eleven different makes of French 3-ton and 5-ton motor vehicles. This subsidy is a grant, on certain conditions, of 2000 franks (about £80) to the owner or purchaser of any vehicle of the selected types. After the first year, half the m ount (about £10) will he paid yearly for three years if the upkeep and running conditions have been satisfactorily maintained, so that at the and of four years tho sum of £2OO will have been received in subsidies, inspection takes place at intervals. Wuon any national emergency arises, tho subsidised vehicles may he commandeered or hired by the war department. The trials lasted a mouth , and altogether forty-eight vehicles took part. The French scheme liais so im resemblance to that adopted by the military authorities in Germany. During the recent German manoeuvres a 1 irgo number of 5-ton motor lotrii s were used, and the reports of experts have been, according to tiie German newspapers, very gratifying to those who have advocated the introduction of this mode of t 'ausport. Tne Motor Cycle Record two weeks ba k from Ballarat to Melbourne (70 miles) by J. Gorman was not allowed to stand* long, for E. Tyler, who tied for first place in tho last Motor Cycle li. liability Contest from Melbnirno In Sydney last Monday reduced Gorin.in’s Ihr. 50 min. to Ihr. 52 min. Tyl-n- who rode a 3f h.p. Triumph, shod with “Dunlops”, averaged 371 Hi’! ’f> an hour for the run, which is a perl iccdarly hue performance. The ride, which was properly checked, was accomplished in the early morning when the road was clear of traffic.