CYCLE AND MOTOR NOTES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 81, 28 November 1912, Page 2

CYCLE AND MOTOR NOTES.

An ocean to ocean motor, cycle relay ride across the American continent was held last, mouth. The 4000 odd miles of dounlry between Now York and San Diego (California) divided , into section of about 100 miles each, over wliit'h three motor cyclists bad to lace with a leather wallet containing a message from the American War Department. Day and night, wet or line, the chain of motor cyclists had to proceed across the United States. The event attracted considerable interest in America, special permits being granted along the route to enable fast times to lie negotiated. There is little doubt that the idea of this lug relay ride, emanated from , the Successful event organised on similar lines by the Dunlop Rubber Company from Adelaide to Sydney Inst April. At the time the,American press gave considerable publicity to the Australian event. The average speeds recorded by the three divisions in this ride—cyclists, motor cyclists, • and carists being pitted against each other over the 1149 miles’ course—wore; Cyclists 1(11 miles 'per hour, motor cyclists 22 1-6 miles per hour, and carists 24 miles per hour. .The weather conditions for fho Adohvide-Sydney event could hardly have been worse, heavy ra’n falling along most of the route. It will be interesting to see how the average speed of the American motor cyclists will compare with that- established in Australia. The result of the American Transcontinental relay ride should he to hand by the next, mail.

The holding of the Olympian Games at Stockholm .this year cost Sweden closg upon £50,000, for according to the final auditing of accounts the loss over the classic, 'meeting will almost reach the amount stated. _ During the carnival the, total receipts from the Stadium were £54,000. Sweden is not. disheartened by thq deficit, as it was expected from tjie start, and the country feels .well repaid in having shown the world the high degree of 'her sportsmanship and management. She was successful in both of these endeavours, and it is considered certain that, the Swedish Government, recognising these facts, will not hesitate to place at the disposal ‘of the committee the funds necessary to pay all of its debts. *

Frank Kramer, the world’s champion racing cyclist, has finally signed to fide in Paris during the winter months. Kramer will make his first appearance at the indoor track, Paris, on January |2th, and will ride his last race March 31st, returning for the American season, which opens in April,

It is also announced that the Australians, A. Greada, E. Pye, P. Hehir, G. Walker, have “signed on” to compete in the annual New York six-days’ bicycle race' to he held from December Oth to 11th; so that it is hardly likely that these riders will be seen in Australia this season. Particulars are to hand from America of the two big annual long distance motor car events, the Vanderbilt Cup and the American Grand Prix, both of which were this year held at Milwaukee. The former event, over a course of 2994 miles, was won by Ralph Dc Palma on a Mercedes car, his time being 4lirs 20min 31. sec. l)e Palma, who is one qf ! the most popular drivers in America, won by thd/small margin of 43 seconds. The Grand Prix would also have probably fallen to De Palma, only, for a smash-tip in the last lap, when he had overtaken the leader. The event was won by C. Bragg on a Fiat. ~ The course of 409.9 rnilesny^p,,i|jsgpti 3,t ed, ip lime of 309 minutes, ’ or, olifs 59min 22hsoc. A novel feature of the 8 miles road circuit, over which both these contests were held, was the “breastworks” of baled'"hay, which were stacked on the outside- of all the bad corners, and they proved effective, too, for in sever a I cases drivers taking turns “all out” crashed into the hay, without sustaining any serious damage to limb or machine. Tremendous crowds witnessed both races. _ The crack American racing motorist, Mr David Bruce Brown, who bad twice previously won the Grand Prix, met his death in October whilst training for this year’s event. He was travelling n't 90 miles an hour on the Milwaukee track, whop his car left the track and overturned, through a tyre bursting. Brown was a very popular driver, both in Europe and America.

A well known South Australian motorist, Mr F. C. Custance, intends at an 'oai;4V date making an attempt to establish new figures for the Australian 24 hours’ motor record. A course has been selected on the York Peninsular, and the ride will he checked by officials of the South Australian Motor Cycle Club. Mr Custance who was associated with Mr G. G. ’White’s Mel bourne-Adelaide and Sydhey-Mel-hourne motor car records, will drive a Dunlop-shod 3.J h.p. Lewis. Messrs W. Storey and C. S. Clencey, two American motor cyclists, have set out from Philadelphia with the aim of making a complete round of the world in a year. Their route will include fourteen European countries, one African and four Asiatic, besides including the Philippines,.Hawaii, and a new .route back across the United States. Their mileage will be 5500 miles in Europe, 400 in Africa, 5000 in Asia, and 3500 in America, making a total of nearly 14,000 miles, by land besides 15,000 by water, all to he covered in one year.

A. T. Goullett, the Australian rider, finished up the season at Salt Lake City in fine style. With Clark, Holier and Walker, lie finished first in the team race, Australia v. America, and then won the one and three miles handicaps from scratch. In the first event Goullett set up a world’s competition mile record of 1 min 47§scc. He is due-to race in Paris very shortly*