CYCLING AND MOTOR NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 853, 12 July 1906, Page 11

CYCLING AND MOTOR NOTES.

(By

“Petrol.”)

An invention for perfuming the exhaust of a motor has attracted attention on the Continent; it takes the shape of a small cone, which is dropped into the petrol tank. The one charge will serve to leave behind the car a perfumed trail for 100 miles, when another cone may be used. The cones are composed of certain acids, mixed in certain quantities, the chief ingredient being a new and extrapowerful carburite, discovered by the inventor, and a secret with him. It is also claimed that the preparation will materially increase the drivingpower of the fuel. * * * * In a petrol-consumption test, conducted by the Automobile Club of America, so remarkable a performance was recorded that it fairly staggered belief; even the committee shared the doubts that arose. The test was the distance that could be covered with two gallons of petrol, and the winning car, of 12 h.p., covered 87 miles. To still the doubts the committee called upon the prizewinners to undergo a private test over the same route, and under the strictest supervision. This private trial more than corroborated the car’s first test, for it ran no less than 95 miles! * * * * As was noted last week, the French Grand Prix was won by a Renault car. It is a French production well known in European circles. This is its first great victory in speed contests. Sisz, the driver, is little known out here. The Fiat car, which secured second place, is of Italian manufacture, and has of late years attained a prominence in speed and reliability contests which has placed it on a footing with the world’s best cars. The driver, Nazzaro, is a prominent motorist whose name is familiar to all automobilists. The third car, the Bayard-Clement, like the winning vehicle, is of French construction. Hitherto it has not attained any great prominence as a speed motor. The driver, Clement, is a son of the builder of the vehicle, and is regarded as a daring exponent of motor driving. Most of the cars were four-cylindered, although a few had six and one car at least eight, and the horse-power ranged from 80 to 200.

The great race was held over a triangular course, starting seven miles from Le Mans, thence to La Ferte Bernard and St. Calais and back to the starting point. The distance of this course was 62% miles, and had to be covered six times on each of the two days in order to complete the full course of 750 miles. The event was inaugurated during the present year by the French Automobile Club, under pressure from the French manufacturers, who, dissatisfied with the conditions attached to the annual Gordon-Bennett Cup race, decided to abandon the latter, and hold a speed event which would enable each maker to be represented by as many cars as he chose to enter. Great Britain, Austria, Switzerland, and America objected to these regulations, holding that a representation of three cars for each nation, as in the Gordon-Bennett, was the only way to decide the contest on an international basis. As the French makers, however, held that France, as the hub of motor industry, was entitled to a preponderating representation, all countries that usually sent cars to compete in the Gordon-Bennett, excepting France, Italy, and Germany, held aloof. That the race was almost entirely confined to French productions is evidenced by the fact that out of 34 entries, 25 were French, six Italian, and three Gorman. Ten individual French makers, two Italian manufacturers, and one German firm, entered cars for the contest. The entrance fee for the race was £2OO per car, and £4OO for late nominations. As it is probable that all the cars entered early the promoters would have had at least £6BOO in fees. This sum and £4OOO voted to them by the town of Le Mans, would have enabled them to pay the £5OOO to the winner as well as other prizes and expenses. * * * * Some speedy motoring should be witnessed at Mr. J. R. Crook’s motor racing track at Aspendale (Vic.) during the course of the next few months, for some big-powered cars are now on order by Victorian motorists. G. H. Hobbs, who carried off the Blue Riband in the last Dunlop Reliability Motor Contest, has, it is reported, ordered a 40 h.p. Mercedes, whilst Mr. C. B. Kellow has arriving in the course of a few weeks an 80 h.p. Napier racing car, capable of travelling over 70 miles an hour. Several other powerful and speedy cars are on order, so that things look promising for the big automobile race meeting to be held at Aspendale during Melbourne Cup week.