DESERT TRAVEL

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18536, 5 April 1930, Page 15 (Supplement)

DESERT TRAVEL

SIX-WHEELER VERSUS FOUR. A FILM-MAKING EXPEDITION. Major C. Court Treatt, whose name is always associated with the Cape to Cairo expedition of a few years ago, has recently returned from the Sudan, where he has been making the film “Stampede,” for British Instructional Films, Ltd. During the expedition, Major Court Treatt relied entirely upon a six-wheeler for the conveyance beyond the El Obeid railhead, of cinematograph kit, and boys, in addition to which three boats were carried. Although the maximum load, as laid down by the manufacturers of this particular vehicle, for cross-country work is 2 tons, the vehicle worked consistently with a load of 5 tons, and Major Court Treatt states that on every occasion when he gave a thought to the excessive load he blushed to the colour of the plate on the dashboard on which was a notice to the effect that overloading would invalidate the manufacturers’ guarantee. On occasions when travelling through the bush the springs were on the buffers. Negotiating Obstacles. In view of his considerable previous experience in touring Africa, Major Court Treatt’s opinion of six-wheelers is of some consequence, as he is in a position to compare the performances of this with its four-wheel prototype, or, as some Arabs said, a car with six, instead of only four, legs. The performance of the six-wheeler was such that at times it appeared to be almost uncanny. Fitted with tracks on the back wheels and using the double-re-duction gears, no obstacle proved insurmountable. Rivers, which had almost dried up and which had vertical banks were negotiated after cutting away the banks to an angle of 45 degrees, and then leaving a rough earth surface. This, of course, would be impossible with a four-wheeler. In the swamps, too, the vehicle came through with mud up to the axles, and through it all remained sufficiently rigid to enable photographing to proceed. Incidents ally, moving shots required for the film can only be secured in a satisfactory manner when the camera is rigid and does not sway unduly with its base or stand.

Makeshift Repairs. Acting against general advice of everybody in the district, Major Court Treatt set off for parts of the River Shaleika, which had never before been visited by a white man. On this part of the expedition trouble was encountered. Numerous holes, caused by elephants walking over the ground when wet, were during this drier season covered with grass, and therefore were invisible. Proceeding in normal manner one day one of the front wheels dropped suddenly into an elephant hole and everybody on board, except the driver, was thrown off. The accident pushed back the front axle and bent one of the dumb-irons. After dismantling, the front axle was placed in the fork of a large tree and, while cold, straightened by brute force. After reassembling the front axle, the bent dumb-iron was chained to another firmly-rooted tree and, after loading the car with stone, mud, and any other ballast available, the member was pulled into its original shape by reversing the car under its own power.

On another occasion the lack of a comprehensive stock of spares and tools caused a considerable delay. The car ran into the stump of a tree and a hole in the radiator was the result. Cutting the hole square and closing the ragged edges of the honeycomb walls with pliers, the Job was complete except for soldering, which had to be accomplished with the aid of an ordinary charcoal fire. Some five days were occupied in executing this repair, but it is satisfactory to note that beyond fitting a new front spring, no replace-

ments of any description were required or used during the expedition and although the total mileage amounted to over 10,000, the engine was decarbonised and the valves ground only once.