CYCLING AND MOTOR NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1036, 13 January 1910, Page 12

CYCLING AND MOTOR NOTES.

A very fine tyre record has just been accomplished by a well-known Melbourne Medico, who, driving a 16-20 h.p. car, got 11,700 miles out of one set of Grooved Dunlop motor 1 tyres fitted to the driving wheels and 18,000 miles out of one set on the front wheels, size of tyres 880 x 120. Considering that the car weighs 30 cwt, and has been used over all classes of roads during the past 19 months, stopping and starting 30 to 40 times a day, it is no wonder that the D'unlop Co., are proud of this fine demonstration of what their tyres are capable of when properly handled. Considering the fine wearing results that are now being got from the world famed “ Dunlop ” it is little wonder that these hard wearing tyres are becoming so popular amongst Australasian motorists. Another feature in their favour is that they are British made.

Some interesting particulars are to hand of Latham’s hair raising feat at the recent Aviation Carnival held at Blackpool, England, when he flew at the amazing speed of 7 5 miles an hour. Hubert Latham was undoubtedly the hero of the carnival. “ Perhaps my readers would like to know what kind of a man this young French flier really is,” writes a well-known English motoring journalist. “I had the pleasure of an interview at Blackpool, and can only say that, judged by personal appearance, he is just about as unlike a hero as anyone could possibly be. He is of medium height, with the learned stoop of a college don, a sallow complexion, which makes him look far from robust. Taken altogether, he looks the last man on earth to perform feats that have aroused the admiration of the world; And yet this young aviator —I think he is only 24, has twice been picked up out of the Channel in his attempts to '• cross from Calais to Dover. I think I am right in saying that he has had more narrow escapes than any other man. He was born under 1 an unlucky 1 star’ is a sentiment I heard expressed when he started off on Tuesday,' and although his propeller blade caught the top of a bunker and put him out of the racing for 24 hours, still, I think Hubert Latham’s luck'is exceptionally good, else he would have been killed long ago. He certainly tempted Pro-’ vidence when he started put. on Friday in the teeth of a gale that must have been blowing at, the rate, of 40 miles per hour.. What (a marvellous display that was, and. how the crowd was thrilled with excitement history

alone will tell, for Latham made history on Friday. So magnificent was his display and so dangerous the ascent in a high wind that even the boldest held their breath for a time. There were moments when a deathly silence, I was going to say could be heard, came over the crowd, and some of the fair sex had to turn their heads away for fear the worst would happen. The moments referred to were those when Latham turned in the full force of the gale of wind, and it was a toss up as to whether Aeolus or the plucky young pilot would win. At one time he was blown hundreds of yards out of his course towards the sea, but in the end the man triumphed over the elements, and great was the relief when he steered for earth again. If there had only been one event at Blackpool and that one item Latham’s marvellous fly, it would have been well worth going all the way to see, for had not the young aviator proved by his magnificent skill that the high winds of heaven had been almost as completely mastered as the mighty ocean waves. I heard a very well-known aviator say that up to Friday last an aeroplane was useless in a wind blowing, at more than fifteen miles per hour. Latham has demonstrated that there is safety even in a storm blowing at twice this velocity. He has done more, as he gave the spectators touches of speed, with the wind at his back, which worked out at over 75 miles per hour. When he descended I venture to say he was the coolest man in the whole enclosure, as he quickly took out a cigarette and got it alight before he shook hands will one of the thousands of people i ho were clamouring to congratulate the hero of the Blackpool week.”

Indications are not lacking that there is a general all-round improvement in cycling, from several points of view. First of all the gentle sex are again taking to the wheel, and are greatly increasing in numbers. The trade in cheap and trashy machines is falling off in favour of a better class of mount, and . gauged through the Melbourne Bicycle Club’s Austral meeting, renewed interest is again being taken in cycling racing by the public;'and it would only require some new blood and interesting programmes embracing tandem racing, multicycle paced, races,, interspersed with motor cycle races of low power to again draw the public; and make the game popular.

Mr. E. A. Pearson the well-known N.S.W. long distance amateur road rider is now undergoing a steady preparation with a view of endeavouring to recapture his Sydney-Melbourne cycle record, which was recently reduced by J. Salvana. The probable date of the attempt will be the next

Easter holidays which will fall in March. As in all his great races, Pearson will again ride a Dunlop-shod Speedwell. The existing figures are 55hrs. 56mins.