MOTOR CYCLING RECORD

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14324, 14 October 1910, Page 3

MOTOR CYCLING RECORD

INVERCARGILL TO CELRISTCHUItCH. There has been quite a renaissance lately of the establishing and breaking of long-distance road records, both by cyclists and by motorists, and yesterday another record was established as standard for motor-cyclists, over i.he course from Invercargiil to Christchurch, by, Mr \Y. G. (Jompton, of Timaru, who made the journey as oart of liis business routine as an inspector to an insurance company. His time, 20hr. Smiu. works out at an average of nineteen miles per hour over the shortest road distance between the two towns, which is officially set down as 3SI miles. Mr Compton, however, got off the light road between Invercargiil •uid I'unedin, adding quite ten miles to bis journey, while in order to avoid the Sclwyu ford lie made a detour through Irwell, adding another eight or nine miles to liis ]0 urney, so that the actual distance covered was not less than 400 miles.

■Mr Compton left t.Tie Tnvercargill P.O. at 3.10 a.m. on Wednesday, in thick fog, which necessitated the of his acetylene lami> till 7 a ,711., and made fast travelling dangerous. Bad roads were met with. between lnvevcarpill and Clinton, the way being ,s:i rough that one .stretch of five 11: iK:; *' took ail hour and a half to yet over. From Clinton to Duucdiu the roads were fairly good, the Otago capital 1 icing reached at 11.15 a.m. A stay of ! half an hour was made lor breakfast, and then the ride to Timaru was begun. There was iitic-k fog on the hills (r.'.tsido Xhutediu. anu Kilmog and Mount. Curgill had to be negotiated at I ii mere crawl. One of the tyres picked up a largo nail on tihe Kilmog hill, repairs occupying some time, A ' quarter of an hour's stop was "made : at Oamaru, and Timatu was readied

at 0.40 P ; ut.. thi' ;iouniev being eoniiiitiod at (> p.tn., when heavy rain I commenced to fall, . the rider being soaked to the skin. At Cooper's Crock j the rain lifted, and Aslibuitun ivas peached at 8 15 s,*«,, luiother quarterlion! 1 spell heing taken there. The journey from Aslihurton to C'hristchureh was taken at a comparatively slew pace, as the young moon ;;ave lint liitie light and Mr Com U (on did not like to take chances. Christ-church Post OFhee was reached at 11,18 p.m.. and the record of j&lht". fmin was established. Interviewed after Ill's arduous ride, Mr Conipton said that he felt fairly fresh, but very sleepy. He wa.s enthusiastic over the way in which his motor-cycle, a 3-A-h.n. Triumph, had carried liini through. lie said he. had been riding a motor cye.h. onty for tile past niiifa iiionths, and had had the same, machine all the time, covering ali.'mi. "10.01 Ml miles in that period. 11 is long ride that day had not been delayed for an instant by mechanical troubles of any description, tyro j.iinetnres heinc the only oavtics of stoppage, tie had undertaken the ride by way of ] combining business and sport,"and hud enjoyed himself thoroughly. !