ON THE WHEEL

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 690, 28 May 1903, Page 5

ON THE WHEEL

Mr F. G .C. Hanslow has resigned the secretaryship of the Nev; South Wales Cyclists' Union, a position he has held for some considerable time past. o • • ® Major Taylor is reported to have made a profit of £lOOO out of his Australian trip, at least that is what he told an interviewer. # * * * “ Tangent,” of the Melbourne “ Leader,” is rather caustic at the expense of George Sutherland, the New Zealand champion. In discussing this rider’s recent challenge, he 'finishes up by saying that a perusal of the statements attributed to George tends to the opinion that about the only thing moderate as regards Sutherland is his riding. * « •. The new rule that riders in this year’s Dunlop Road Race from Warrnambool to Melbourne must ride the machine they start on throughout the race seems to have given satisfaction amongst intending riders, and also the cycle trade. There is no getting away from the fact that the new rule will put all competitors on a more equal footing. The country rider, with no trade support or spare machines, now has equal chances with more favoured riders, who could command spare machines all along the route. The new condition will be better for all concerned* as suitable machines and tyres will now be ridden, in place of feather-weight machines, fit only for the racing track. It is the intention of the Dunlop Company to seal all machines when they leave Warrnambool, so that it will be impossible for any changing of machines t© occur without detection. ®

The League of New South Wales Wheelmen is gaining a rather unenviable reputation (says a Sydney writer). There were several blunders at the recent carnivals, and now they have fined Hopper, after he had left for America, £5 for taking part in the inter-state home trainer competition promoted by Messrs Mas-sey-Harris. They have gone further. They have disqualified him until the amount be paid. He will have poor chance of appealing, and if he does it only means a further disqualification until the amount be paid or the disqualification lifted this end. To do this will occupy at least two months during which time he would lose his racing. It might perhaps be easily argued that riding a home trainer was not competing irt a race. ♦ * ♦ *®

Our representative, W. T. Hall (says an English paper), though defeated in the first paced race of the season in France, was not disgraced. It was a series of ten kilometre heats, paced, of course, and the little man managed to get into the final, in which he was opposed by Contenet. The race was a fiasco as far as a contest was concerned. The Frenchman was paced by one who is acknowledged to be the best at the game in France. M. The, on an infinitely superior motor cycle, which was only 14 h.p., and re-

puted to be the fastest ever built. Poof little. Tommy stood no earthly chauce against such a combination, and to matai matters worse his own motor jibbed so badly at the corners that it was with difficulty he could keep on end. Do we want a better proof that it is the motor and not the men who win paced races ? Yeils the N.C.U., in their wisdom, have prostituted amateur racing by allowing it. I say nothing against the use of motors for professional events. The lads are out io get a living, and must do so somehow, but one would have thought that those who claim to race for the love of th® sport would have been above making us® of such a meretricious aid to the winning post. Among the other competitors were' Michael, Bouhours, and Gorugoltz.

From Adelaide to Melbourne aboard a motor car was the other day successfully accomplished for the first time by th® well-known Adelaide motorist, Mr B. Thomson, who left the South Australian capital on Thursday afternoon, and arrived in Melbourne (some 550 miles) on. Monday. The difficulties of •this ride include crossing the dreaded Coorong, a sand desert of some eighty miles, which is in places practically impassable. The car used was a 6 h.p. De Dion voiturette, fitted with Dunlop motor tyres.

The League of New South Wales Wheelmen made a charge of £lO 10s for officiating at Beauchamp’s time trials. This the Dunlop Company, against whom the account was rendered, refused to pay. When sanction was applied for for the big Goulbum to Sydney road race it was granted conditionally on the above amount being, paid. The Dunlop Company state that they will not pay it. It is probable the road race for which £l5O has been offered as prize money and trophies will be abandoned. The company are prepared to pay £3 3s as hontorarium to the timekeepers.

The Buffalo Velodrom# (Paris) was crowded on a recent Sunday, the occasion being the first meeting between “ Jimmy’’ Michael and Joe Nelson, the young American. Michael’s machine went wrong in the 10 hilom. match, and in the 20 kiloms. race the same rider fell. At the same meeting Ellegaard showed top form by winning the Prix du Printemps.

Figures have been prepared showing that over £7OOO was given in prize-money in Sydney, Victoria, and Adelaide 'during the season just ended. -That, as indicated, does not include country meetings in this State or South Australia. The syndicate. in Sydney put up £'2500, there was £lOOO provided by the League in Adelaide, and Victorian sports promoters found the balance.

According to the “ Otago Witness,” the Dunedin Cycling Club have been requested to consider the advisability of joining in with the Dunedin Amateur Athletic Athletic Club, with the idea of running an art union and carnival some time next year, the proceeds of the same to be devoted to the building of club rooms for the combined clubs. The committee of the club are practically of one mind regarding the proposal, but the idea is to get the consent of the members as a whole, and to create a personal interest in the movement. which is one that should commend 1 itself to all. It is to be hoped as a result of the meeting now called, the members will at once settle down to work and do what they individually can to make the carnival a success.