CYCLING AND MOTOR NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 948, 7 May 1908, Page 13

CYCLING AND MOTOR NOTES.

The Humber Cycle and Motor Co has just completed a new factory at Coventry, covering an area of 1314 acres, and giving employment to 5000 hands. Out of 28 cars engaged 'n a four days’ trial, under the auspices of the West India Motor Union, 21 were fitted with Dunlop tyres, and among them annexed five of the six place prizes. There was concluded in London, on April 4, an exhibition of commercial motor-vehicles and motor-boats, together with their accessor’es, which is altogether significant of the trend of automobilism to-day. The show was organised by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, and lasted a fortnight. As far as can be judged by the number of firms applying for space (as per the current numbers of the motor papers), the exhir bition far eclipsed, last year’s . (and the initial) show. Great attention is now being paid to all classes of commercial motors, and those adapted to fire escapes and ambulance purposes. A sensational occurrence took place last month in the Velodrome d Hiver, Paris where, owingyto the decis.on of the judges in the semi-final of the Grand Prix of the French Union Jacauelin, who lost first place to Henri Mayor on protest, attacked Mons.

Leon Breton, a judge, shaking him roughly, besides rating him in unbridled terms. The spectators, whose sympathies were with Jacquelin (Mayer is a German), also hissed the judges, and invaded the arena, breaking up barriers and chairs, and making a bonfire of them. Jacquelin succeeded in quieting the crowd, and the final was won by Van der Boon. Further disturbances took place, however, and a force of 300 gendarmes was required to restore order:

After his defeat by Ivor Lawson, Major Taylor, on February 29, in a match race with J. Fogler, of Brooklyn, at the Park Square Track, Boston, beat him in two straight heats, i.e., one mile and half-mile. In the mi.e Taylor won by a length in 3min 3 4-ssec. In the half-mile Taylor had the inside, and without giving time for Fogler to come around him, jumped again, and won by nearly a length in Imin. 11 2-ssec. Fog'.er is no mean opponent. He defeated Lawson early in the season, and Taylor’s recent defeat by Lawson added zest to the match. It will be remembered that Fogler was just beaten by Walter Rutt in the final sprint in the last New York six-days’ race. « ♦ •

The English-built Napier holds, a unique position ’n the motoring world, for it practically holds more speed records than all the other cars put together. The following list conveys a good idea of the wonderful set of performances standing to the credit of the Napier cars: —World’s records: One kilometre, standing st'irt, 27 2-ssec; one mile, standing start, 37 2-ssec; 10 miles, standing start, 6min 15sec; 50 mi es, flying start, 35min 7-36 sec; 100 miles, flying start, lh lOmin 31sec; 150 miles, flying start, lh 46min 6-17 sec; 1000 miles, stand’ng start, 14h 54min 15 2-ssec; one hour, 85 miles 555yds; two hours, 169 miles 615.6yd5; 12 hours, 799 miles 1600yds; 24 hours, 1531 miles 1310yds. British and European record: One mile, flying start, 37 2-ssec.

It would seem that the crack racing cyclist in Europe can command a better return as a sprinter than as a pace follower, for the latter, in addic on to providing a pacing motor, has ■-Iso to share his winnings, a percentage of them, with the driver. He is also more likely to sustain accidents and be laid up for weeks, whi'e paced races are not so numerous as sprint contests. The sprinter has comparatively very little expense or risk, and if in the first class can demand from £2O to £5O appearance money. One of the best of these cracks holds a contract for sixteen races or matches at £4O per event. Very few of the racers are good at both sprinting and paced work, that is, over long distances.