ON TWO WHEELS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 746, 20 August 1929, Page 6

ON TWO WHEELS

PILLION TRIAL The North Shore Motor-Cycle and Sports Club are holding a pillion trial on Sunday, September S. This trial has been decided on to demonstrate the safety of pillion riding, and the club hopes to secure the whole-hearted support of all motorcyclists. Regulation pillion footrests and pillion seats will be insisted upon. The competitors will leave the Burns Statue. Domain, at 10 a.m. and cover the following route:—Auckland to Helensville, via Henderson, Waitakere, Kumeu. Return to Devonport, via Kumeu, Riverhead, Alban}', Birkenhead and Takapuna. The trial will include brake test, acceleration test and balance test. “WORLD’S MOST GRUELLING RACE” “A ride of spills and thrills and the best man won”-—This is how the motor-cycling fraternity of South Africa gave its verdict in the great struggle. The riders called it ' The world’s most gruelling road race.” The new motor-cycle record was created during the great 400 mile road race from Durban to Johannesburg held recently. This event, which is probably the longest road race of its kind in the world, was won by J. C. Lind—who broke all previous records for the course—riding a 348 o.h.c. A.J.S. machine, the time being Shrs, Smin. 19sec. and 3S minutes less than the previous record —an average of 49.54 m.p.h. Standing on his footrests and cheering wildly with excitement, J. C. Lind flashed past the winning post, at City Deep Mine, in a cloud of dust and the race was won. More than 13,000 people witnessed the finish of this classic event. The winner used the new Mobiloil exclusively for the lubrication of his mount._ The second place was filled by J. J. Uys, riding a 349 o.h.c. A.J.S. machine, his time was Shrs. 44mius. 19secs., and averaged 46.14 miles an hour. Fourth man place was C. V. Coetzee on a 349 o.h.v. A.J.S. cycle, with Alf Long coming fifth on a 39S o.h.v. Indian motor cycle. In addition to the winner all the above used the new Mobiloil during this event which tested both rider and machine to the utmost. The total value of the machines ; engaged in the race was estimated to : he about £12,500. WORLD’S SPEED RECORD > KAYE DON. THE NEXT HOLDER? It was announced by cablegram a week or two ago that Kaye Don has been chosen to drive the £25,800 car which Louis Coatalen, of the Sunbeam Company has designed to compete against any American challengers to Sir Henry Segrave’s record of 231 miles an hour.

The new car is expected to be capable of nearly 300 miles an hour, and research work has already commenced at the Sunbeam works. It is already practically certain that there will be one American challenger, a Packard design with an aero engine. Tommy Milton, the famous Indianopolis driver, is expected to take the wheel. Don has been very conspicuous in European racing during the last two years, although he has uot had experience of the class of car with which Segrave and Campbell are familiar, Don has, however, had extensive experience with the type of racing machine capable of speeds up to 150 miles an hour, and his acceptance of an opportunity to try out a vehicle capable of nearly .double this speed is characteristic of his daring. Only last month news arrived by cablegram of another signal performance by Don. On Brooklands track he raised the record for the mile from a standing start to 1002 m.p.h. The previous record of 982 m.p.h. was created' in 1926 by the late Parry Thomas, who was killed speeding on Pendine Sands. Last August Don won the Ulster T.T. 410-mile event at 61 m.p.h. He drove a supercharged Lea Francis on that occasion. Don will drive the same car in the Ulster T.T. this month. He has been using a Sunbeam lately for Brooklands work, and in March he raised the lap record to 1312 m.p.h. in the same car in which he has just made the new standing start mile record.

This Sunbeam is a six cylinder 19SS c.c. model with two overhead camshafts and sheet metal water-jackets. Dry sump lubrication is employed, and the supercharger is driven direct from the crankshaft. The petrol tank holds 29 gallons and the wheelbase is S feet 62 inches. OFFSIDE RULE AND TRAMS The motor organisations do not approve of the exemption of tramcars from the requirements of the off-side rule. The A.A.A. recently communicated with the Ministry of Transport on the point, and a reply has been received indicating that trams are specifically excluded by the definition of a motor vehicle under the Motor Vehicles Act. The commissioner also states that reasons for special treatment for trams are that they are limited to their tracks and carry probably twelve times as many peaple as a motor-car. The right-of-way is accordingly given to the tram. At the meeting ol' the council of the A.A.A. this week, it was stated that some Auckland tram driver;: adopted a very helpful attitude, giving clear signals to motorists before making a move. It was resolved to refer the exemption of tramcars to the annual meeting of the North Island Motor Union to be held in Auckland next Friday. WANTED—A BARGAIN The following letter was recently received by a New Zealand garage proprietor: Dear Friend.— Please can you get me a cheap good I car like what advertised in Wanganui j such as a fine car that Mitchell 1915 j model seven-seater in good order for | £ls. I seen the car, its worth 3 times j as much this. Now I ask you to pick me one Hudson super or a nice Cole j 8, two-seater, or what ever you can 1 find not light Ford. Please awaiting your reply with low j deposit and easy time payment to suit cripple fellow.