CYCLING AND MOTOR NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XV, Issue 863, 20 September 1906, Page 11

CYCLING AND MOTOR NOTES.

The monthly run of the Auckland Automobile Association was held on Saturday, and was to St. Heliers. Among those present were Messrs. Leyland, White, Cleave, Moody, McCarthy, Smith, Dexter, Crozier. A good spin out to the seaside suburb was made, when Mr. and Mrs. Moody entertained their guests to afternoon tea. The weather was very suitable for motoring, and the run was much enjoyed. * * * * The Onehunga Touring Club held a ten-mile road race on Saturday, and gave rise to a capital finish. The following were the results: Norman Wadman (handicap 4m. 305.), 1; Henry Thmopson (5m.), 2; Albert Sayers (7 m). 3; C. Denize (9m. 30s), 4; F. Roget (3m. 455), 5; Charles Rushbrook (3m. 305.), 6. Also started: E. J. McKay (scratch), E. Spiers (min.), G. Galloway (2m. 155.), Cyril Rushbrook (2m. 30s), S. Hunt (3m.), H. Christini (3m.), R. Sutherland (4m.), T. H. Pardington (4m. 305.), J. Duthie (5m.), H. Campling (sm. 305.), W. Hill (sm. 305.), H. Sayers (6m.), W. Sayers (6m. 305.), W. Kelsall (7m.), E. V. Sutherland (m.), O. Casey (7m. 305.), S. Hayward (Bm.), J. Richardson (Bm. 305.). Mr. E. Sutherland acted as starter, and the Rev. J. M. Stoops and Messrs. Michaels and W. J. Sayers officiated as judges. The course was round South Mangere, finishing at Glasgow’s Corner. No less than six riders finshed within a minute of each other, a piece of clever handicapping. • • * * W. Sayers had the misfortune to break his collarbone in the Onehunga race on Saturday. Just as he and T, Pardington were finishing they collided, the result being a nasty fall for both riders. Pardington escaped with a shaking and some bruises. News is to hand of the world’s championship meeting at Geneva, Switzerland. In the sprint, Ellegaard defeated Poulain (France), last year’s holder. The Dane has now a wonderful record in connection with these events, having won four times and being placed twice in six years. There were nine left in the semi-final of the great race: Poulain (holder), Friol, Dupre, and Michaux (France), Ellegaard (Denmark), Van den Born (Belgium); Mayer ; (Germany), Gardellin (Italy), and Rettich (Switzerland). The final resulted: Ellegaard (Denmark), 1; Poulain (France), 2; Friol (France), 3. Won by half a length, after a fine struggle. The last 220 yards was timed 12 2-ssec. Other results were as follows: Amateur sprint championship: Veddi (Italy), 1; Delage (France), 2; Rondelli (Italy), 3. 100 kilometres amateur championship: Bardonneau (France, 1; Tublax (Belgium), 2; Eigeldinger (Holland), 3. Won by nine laps. Time, Ih. 52min. Bsec. 100 kilometres professional paced championship: L. Darragon (France), 1; Vanderstuyft (Belgium), 2; Schwithguebel (Switzerland), ’ 3. Won by 14 laps. Time, Ih. 50min. 34 2-ssecs. * * » • A terrible motor car accident occurred recently near Geneva. Two chauffeurs, employed by Mr. George Camp, an American millionaire, staying with his family at the Hotel Beau Rivage at that place, took a 40 h.p. Mercedes car out without permission. They were accompanied by two women. During the return journey to Geneva the car, while being driven at excessive speed, overturned at a curve in the road. One of the chauffeurs was instantly killed, and the other three occupants of the car were dying in the hospital when the mail left. « » * * The Scottish Automobile Club has issued a certificate as to the performance of the 16-20 h.p. Sunbeam car which ran from John O’Groat’s to Lands’ End and back recently, a distance of 1756%mi1e5. The engine was never stopped from the commencement to the end of the trial, and no repair or adjustment took place. The petrol consumption was 22.8 car miles per gallon, lubricating oil 5 gallons, and water 1 gallon 2 pints. The observers reported that the engine ran perfectly, and required no attention; that it was easily controlled, and that the change of gears was done without any noise. The performance certainly was a very remarkable one. * * * * No accidents have ever occurred (says Melbourne “ Punch”) in Australia owing to defects in steering gear of cars, but the importance of this part of the car demands every attention. It is not a heavy task to run the eye over the steering knuckle and connections before starting away on a trip, and no true motorist need be afraid of erring on the side of cau-

tion. There have been accidents in Europe recently set down to defective steering gear, but it is usually sideslip that is to blame for the erratic steering. There are very few joints in the steering gear, and only a few minutes are required to inspect them. Particular attention should be given to the split pins and locking nuts. Castellated nuts and split pins make a tight lock so long as there is no adjustment needed to take up wear, which causes the nut to screw closer in, when the hole in the rod will not tally with the groove in the nut. The nut must be packed out to the next groove to make a tight lock and a good job of it. Sheet tin makes good washers for this kind of adjustment, which should be made if there is any “ lash” at all in the steering gear. The consequences of a split pin jumping out might be awkward at a given moment. The chance is a remote one, but the possibility of its happening should be prevented.

Szisz, the winner of the recent Grand Prix Contest, has for several years held the position of chief tester of cars for the Renault firm. It is a curious coincidence that Thery, the hero of four great races —a record that will require some beating—oc-

cupied the same position with the Brasier firm at the time of his series of victories. He was an interested spectator of the Grand Prix race. Few people have any idea of the expense attached to a racing event of this importance. The figures may seem incredible, but are not anything out of the ordinary. To begin with the course, the cost to the Automobile Club of France is preparing and barricading the course, making new roads, grandstands, etc., was £14,000, the dust-laying treatment costing £2200 alone. Income from entry fees was £BOOO, grant from the district was £ 4000, leaving a loss on the contest. But that is trivial by comparison with the cost to the makers of the cars. Three cars were entered by each maker, and what with parts rejected after testing and those kept as spares, the small army of men employed, fed and housed on the course, carriage backwards and forwards, and the tyre bills, the cost easily reaches £6OOO per car, or a total of £200,000 for the contest. It speaks for the magnitude of the mo tor industry of the Continent. * * * * The Victorian wheelman E. A. Pye appears to be riding well at Salt Lake City, and, seemingly, is also fortu-

nate. In a pursuit race against Macfarland he gave the American a chase of almost ten miles before he was caught, and as Macfarland ran up alongside, he gave Pye a friendly tap on the back, and then retired. Pye, having read the rules more closely, kept on, and, overtaking his opponent before he left the track, passed him, and claimed the racel Macfarland thought that all he had to do was to catch Pye; the rule reads that he must go “round,” i.e., pass him. Pye was awarded the race. At the same meeting, in a three miles’ lap (scratch) race, Lawson, Macfarland, and Pye kept the pace so merry that the record went. The time announced was smin 35 3-ssec, which breaks the previous best by 20sec. easily. W. E. Samuelson attempted to lower the track record for a mile behind a motor cycle, the figures being lmin 24 l-ssec, but he failed by Isec. Latest reports contain the news that E. A. Pye has joined the ranks of the benedicts, the lady being Miss Grayce M. Newborn, of Salt Lake.

A 30-h.p. Wolseley-Siddeley omnibus, which has recently completed over 10,000 miles running, with the London General Omnibus Company, has proved itself to be one of the most reliable vehicles on the road. The brake power is . said to be particularly good, and the means for adjustment of the footbrake are so simple that the driver can make an alteration in a very short time, this part being easily accessible from -the outside of the vehicle. The whole cost of repairs during this 10,000 miles has been something under £5. The ’bus has been in constant service on the Cricklewood-Elephant and Castle route, which is said to be not a very easy one to negotiate.

: The ninth international exhibition of motor vehicles, motor boats, and cycles, under the auspices of the Automobile Club of France, will take place on December 7, and will be continued until December 23. The exhibition will be held in the Grand Palais, in the Champs Elysees, Paris.