MOTOR-CYCLING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18338, 15 December 1927, Page 7

MOTOR-CYCLING.

By MAGNETO. Christchurch. Motor Club’s Gymkhana. The Christchurch Motor Club will hold a gymkhana at English Park on Monday night. This will be the first time that an event of this nature has been staged on so large a scale in Christchurch. The Christchurch Club’s action in putting on a motor-cycling entertainment at night is also an innovation, and marks a progressive step which should lead to further events being held under electric light. Arrangements are well in hand, and a fine programme of events will be offered among which are the following: Motor-cycle football (Christchurch v. Pioneer Clubs) ; surf-board riding, steeplechase, obstacle race, balloon bursting, and tilting the bucket. ££ 3 M Ashburton Motor-cycle dub. * The committee of the Ashburton Motor-cycle Club met this week. The club lias arranged to hold a Christmas trip to Mount Cook, statring on Christmas Day, and returning on Tuesday, December 27. Mr A. E. Harvey, assistant secretary, tendered his resignation, and Mr J. Farr was elected to fill the position. It was decided to write to the Christchurch Motor Club, asking why the offer to play motor-cycle football was declined. The half-year programme is as follows: January B—Run to Sharplins Falls. January 22—Combined rally to Mr Brown’s, Seaview. February 4 and s—Week-end run to Akaroa. February IS—Flexibility trial. February 19—Rakaia Gorge and Ilororata (circular tour). February 25—Pioneer Sports Gymkhana. March 4 —Hill Climb, Springburn. March 24—Half-day reliability trial. April G—Easter West Coast tour. The Motor-cycle in France. According to reports, a * revival in motor-cycle popularity has taken place in France. An exhibition has been held in Paris, and judging from the illustrations in the “Motor Cycle,” the machines compare very favourably with their English competitors. Commenting on the exhibition, the “Motor Cycle” says:—“ln the early days of

1 the motor-cycle movement manufacI turers in this country acknowledged j the motor-cycle engineers as sujperiors; in fact. Britain’s early motorj cycles were fitted with Continental enj gines, and the Tourist Trophy was pre- | seated with the object of encouraging | British effort. At that time the Paris Salon was of vital importance to the British motor-cycle movement, but it had long been recognised that the French people were better as pioneers i than as commercial producers, and that, having conceived new ideas, thev allowed others to develop them. For a decade France’s interest in motor-cycles gradually waned; for another decade France appeared to be apathetic. A year ago there were approximately 100,000 motor-cycles registered in France, and to-day there are over 135000 riders;” Notes. The Pioneer Motor-cycle Club will hold a social reliability trial on Saturday next. The route will be over the Cashmere Hills to Governor’s Bay, through to Lyttelton, thence to Sumner and back to town. Competitions will be held en route and prizes will be presented to both solo and sidecar classes. The Inangahua Agricultural and Pastoral Association will hold a race meeting at Reefton on December 28. It is probable that a few Christchurch riders will compete. An attractive pro promme has been arranged and a large entry is expected. A sum of £IOO has been allotted for stakes. The Christchurch Motor Club will hold a twenty-four hours motor-cycle , reliability trial in March. The course will be arranged later. The conditions will be similar to those used by the South Canterbury Club for their trial recently. Three notables were racing at the Auckland meeting last week, P. Coleman, Spencer Stratton and Tui Morgan. Stratton, fresh from the dirt tracks of Australia, had difficulty with Auckland’s grass track and only sej cured third place. Coleman secured a i similar position, Morgan was more fortunate in winning the first race. The l attendance of 8000 demonstrates the . growing popularity of motor-cycling . events and, as the proceeds were in aid i J of the unemployment fund, it was very gratifying.

| Another triumph for a lightweight

is reported from Australia. A 21 h.p. Veloeette, competing in the Brisbane Motor-cycle Club's meeting a fortnight ago, finished first in an acceleration test over a quarter of a mile. The time was 18.8 secs. The heavier cycles lost a lot of time through wheelspin while accelerating on the light and rubbly road surface.

Mounted on an Indian Super-Scout motor-cycle with sidecar. Vic Barclay and Gordon Dutton, of Melbourne, have established a new record from Melbourne to Adelaide and back. They left Melbourne at 1.45 p.m. on Wednesday, November 16, and arrived back at 7.5 G a.m., Friday, 18. covering the 1172 miles in 42 hours 11 minutes.

Brisbane has added another motorcycling thrill to its already long list. A rider parted company with his machine which “ jumped on its wheels and made for the safety fence. At the point of impact there .were rows-of densely packed spectators who were terror-stricken. As the machine rose and cleared the fence it struck another fence striking off some palings.” Seven persons were injured.

A non-stop motor-cycle test was held in Canada recently. The winning machine was a 2:j h.p. Harley Davidscn standard solo; running for 12 days it covered 7344 miles at 102 miles to the gallon of petrol. An enthusiast worked out the engine revolutions at 46,675,54-1.

Sparks. The popularity of British proprietary engines on the Continent is growing, if the Paris Show can be taken as a criterion. No fewer than 18 French machines are fitted with J.A.P. engines while other British units are also well represented. The machines to be shown at Olympia which are not manufactured in. England are as follows: Indian, Henderson, Super X, Gil-let, F.N., and D.KAY. E. Brooks and \V. Donaghy, who won prizes in a recent Irish road race, are both members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. Policemen have competed in every Ulster Grand Prix since the race was inaugurated, and Civic Guards are not unknown at events in the Irish Free State.