CYCLING AND MOTOR NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 932, 16 January 1908, Page 12

CYCLING AND MOTOR NOTES.

The annual six days’ race at Boston, in which two men constituted a team, one -only of each team to be on the track at a time, was won by Hugh McLean (a well-known pace-follower) -and Floyd Krebs, who- between them, covered 1147 miles in the 60 hours — 10 hours per day. A similar contest was to have been decided in New York early in December, for which 12 teams had nominated.

The next great test for the automobile in Europe i-s one of 2000 miles in length, including timed hill-climbs, aggregating 20 miles, -speed test on the Brooklands track, petrol-consump-tion test, and general reliability. The Royal Automobile Club of Great Britain has the affair in hand, which will take place some time in June next. Loss of points will be the penalty for time lost in the road during the contest, the time occupied in hill-climbs the time in the speed test, -and time lost in refilling petrol tanks, one point to be deducted for every gallon of fuel used, and upon the results of these trials the cars will be judged. Delays on both road and track, through tyre troubles, will also carry a penalty in loss of points, as all cars will be awarded a maximum number at the commencement of -the contest, and the one retaining the highest will secure the place of honour. One of the conditions is that no -spare parts are to -be carried by the competing cars, whilst only the driver and his. mechanician will be permitted to adjust or otherwise handle the car during the currency of .the contest. This trial it is understood, will be the ■only official -reliability competition held in England by the R.A.C. during 1908.

A new use has been -discovered for old covers which are not to be trusted any longer under pressure (writes “ Auto.”) They can be used as “ protectors,” with results- as surprising as they are satisfactory. This is of interest to all motorists, but many have not tried the experiment, as it has been supposed that it was impossible to make a neat job unless old covers of a larger size were obtained, so that the old covers would go over the new ones without having to slit the sides.. However, in practice it will be found that an old, and therefore stretched, cover of the same re-

gular size as the cover fitted may be used by cutting off the edges and simply placing it over the latter when that is deflated, and then blowing up hard. The natural extension of the idea is to sew straps to the old covers, and secure these to alternate spokes of the wheels. Any saddler will put on the straps required for a few -shillings, and the old covers so secured stay perfectly firm and fast. Even if the old cover gets cut, the cuts do not gape. Owing to the -break of continuity between the ••■protector” cover and the ordinary type, puncturing objects which pierce the former are turned at the surface of the latter. Instances have been known of a sharp nail as long as three inches being picked up, which had pierced the outside cover and then simply passed between the two covers for a couple of inches, where it was held firmly. This method of using up old covers hitherto cast to one side as worthies wills be more than a boon to every owner who sees that his chauffeur makes use of it. The appearance of the wheels is not spoilt by the old covers.

Some interesting particulars of Messrs. Dutton and Aunger’s motor trip across the Australian continent have been telegraphed from Alice Springs, which is situated practically in the centre of Australia. Mr. H. Dutton wires that he is perfectly satisfied that the notorious depot sandhills, which extend for 25 miles between Hos-eshoe Bend and Alice Well, and of which overlanding cyclists have -always given such a lurid report, are too much for any car without outside -assistance. An idea of the difficulties to be overcome can be gathered from the fact that in one stretch of four miles there were thirteen sandhills to be crossed some of which were 60 feet, with a grade of one in three. The country was practically a billowy sea of soft sand. When the 20 h.p. Talbot was set at the stiff inclines the loose drift sand offered no resistance to the tyres, which simply spun round at terrific speed, and tore great, gaping holes into the ground. Block and tackle were tried without success, and even when the car had the assistance of a team of donkeys to haul it over the stiffest pinches there was considerable difficulty in steering the car, for the front wheels sank so deeply into the .soft sand that it banked up in front of the front axle, and had to be shovelled away. With a temperature of 114 in the -shade, it can -easily be imagined what Messrs. Dutton and Aunger went through out on the barren sandhills. All told, in one stretch of 70 miles only 13 miles were found to afford firm going. One day the car only travelled 15 miles. Anyone who has motored down to Waiwera and knows that bit of soft sand by the Orewa bridge will appreciate the difficulty in the way of the Australians. The attempt to get through was abandoned.

Splendid progress is being made with the wooden ‘“saucer” cycle racing track that is being erected at Prince’s Court Melbourne. The contractor has over 100 workmen engaged rushing the work along, and there is no doubt that it will be finished in good time for the opening meeting on January 11 (says Melbourne “Punch.”) A recent inspection of the new track amazed the writer, >who had no idea that the “ saucer” track, as they are termed in America, was to be such a gigantic affair. A glance at the batten track conveys a good idea of its speed possibilities, and one can easily realise that 60 miles an hour can be attained on a track of this -description by fast motor cycles. The surface is constructed of two-inch Oregon battens, running with the track, which is 18 feet wide, banked up to 12 feet on the turns, and tapering off to 4 feet in the two straights. At the turn the banking is so steep that it would be almost impossible to crawl up on one’s hands and knees but it is “ just the thing” for exciting and speedy racing. Around the inside edge of the wooden track a twofoot strip of flat cement has been laid down, from which contestants start preparatory to sweeping up on to the banked track. Brilliant lighting is to be installed, and every provision made for the comfort of spectators and racing cyclists. The track is to be oblong-shaped, eight laps to -the mile the measurements being about 150 feet wide from outside edges of ■track, and about 306 feet long. Massive structures are now being erected around the arena, which will provide comfortable seating accommodation for over 5000 spectators, every one of whom will be able to see the racing, which should prove to be a big factor

in popularising the sport. All told, the cost of the track, which will be open for training purposes the first week in January, will be about £2500. It is proposed to hold frequent meetings on the “ saucer,” and the promoters intend making a big effort to bring back the old-time interest in cycle racing, and, judging from the programmes they intend putting forward, comprising cycle, tandem and motor cycle racing, they have every chance of success.