CYCLING AND MOTOR NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1044, 10 March 1910, Page 11

CYCLING AND MOTOR NOTES.

TOURING THE WORLD ON A BICYCLE. ANOTHER GLOBE-CIRCLER VISITS THE DOMINION. Mr. Dranoel Trawets, a young American journalist, of Spokane, Washington, who is on a cycling tour round the world, is at present in Auckland. His object in attempting this feat is to win a prize of £3,000, offered by the Mayor of Turin, Italy, to the person who could complete the journey within five years, the conditions being that he was to leave home without money and neither beg nor borrow by the way. Mr. started from Turin on December 27th, 1908. His first ride was to Naples, from where he took boat to Bombay, India. He met a reverse at Darjeeling, where his bicycle was broken, but a tea planter came to his rescue by exchanging a machine with him. He made his way to Ceylon, whence he sailed for Australia. He landed at Fremantle, Western Australia. The journey from Fremantle to Adelaide was a trying one, and in crossing the desert he was lost for two days. In direct contrast was his ride from Adelaide eastward, which generally was very pleasant. He took the boat from Tasmania to Bluff, where he arrived on January 10th. The ride from Bluff to Nelson, with detours to special places, Mr. Trawets found full of interest. The glacier country, he says, is equal to anything he has yet seen. From Nelson he took the boat to Wellington, and cycled from there to Napier, and after remaining overnight he left for Auckland, by way of Taupo, and Rotorua. From Auckland he will take the boat to Sydney, travelling thence to Cooktown (North Queensland), China, Japan, North and South America, South Africa and Europe. Mr. Trawets expects to complete his journey in another two years three months, in which case he will be well within his allotted time. He is selling postcards of himself en route, which is one means that he-

has of raising funds to meet his expenses. Besides the Darjeeling accident (where, owing to faulty brakes, he was wrecked on a steep hiil), another mishap befell him in South Australia, where, owing to the forks breaking, precipitated him into a wa;er hole and necessitated considerable deiay, but eventually a “road train” overtook him, and, through the kindness of the driver, conveyed him 50 miles to Silverton, where he took train to Broken Hill. At the latter town a Mr. Fox, mine assayer, presented Trawets with a fresh mount. He continued on as far as Mount Gambia (South Australia), when the fork again broke, also the fork stem collapsed at Dimboola, Victoria. Evidently these breaks were caused by the additional weight of “grips” (baggage) carried with the rider. Here Trawets’ bicycle came into collision w r ith one of Messrs. Murdoch Bros’, teams, and was completely wrecked. Messrs Murdoch Bros, were good enough to repair the bicycle, and away Traw*ets steered for New Zealand. The only serious mishap that Mr. Trawets has experienced in the Dominion was at Milton, when, coming round a corner, he met a motor car, and, as he was travelling about 20 miles per hour, unfortunately took too wide a sweep, with the result that the car ran him down quite accidentally. This cause a medical attendance and paying up for three weeks, and it really appeared as ’though Trawets would have to abandon his tour, but by careful nursing and rest, he was ultimate y enabled to continue his task, and, with a new bicycle, a gift from the car owner

subsequently rode to Neljson, via Christchurch and West Coast. Mr. Trawets is more than pleased with the hospitality he has received eh route, especially the interest taken in him while in Christchurch. He rode overland from Wellington to Napier, and appears to enjoy the long, lonely spins.' After a brief stay in Napier Mr. Trawets continued on for Auckland, via Taupo, and arrived safely in the Northern capital after a rough trip, very unfavourable weather conditions prevailing during the journey. When in Rotorua Dran Trawets discovered "a cyclist ih the person of Ray Astley, who was willing to share the adventures and hardships of a bicycle tour round the world with him, so that he will now have companionship over a considerable part of the journey as the young New Zealander is displaying great enthusiasm in the coming trip.

In reply to many inquiries from cyclists in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales, the Dunlop Rubber Co., beg to state that it is not their intention to hold another Adelaide-Sydney Relay Cycle Despatch Ride at Easter time. It will be remembered that wonderful times were recorded last Easter by volunteer cyclists, who carried a military despatch from Adelaide to Sydney (via Melbourne), a distance of 1,149 miles, in 69hrs. 35mins. From the applications received by the Dunlop Co., it is very evident that last year’s event was a popular one with those cyclists who took part in it, and little difficulty, would be faced in the repeating of the Relay Ride. At some later period the Dunlop Co., state they may hold..a similar . event on different lines.

According to he London “ Daily Mail,” A. J. Clark and W. Rutt, winners of the recent six days’ cycle race at Berlin, pocketed nearly £5,000 between them. The Australian champion, who intends remaining on the Continent for the European season (including the World’s Championship meeting) shou.d have a big balance before he returns to America.

The Collier Bros., two of the fastest motor cyclists in England, will shortly make an effort to capture all moior cycle records from 1 mile to 24 hours’. It is interesting to note that the American hour record is 71 miles 620 yards by F. Huyck; the English, 68mls. 1380yds. by H. Collier; and the French, 63mls. 1078 yds. by J. Guippons. At the present time all records, from the mile to 2 4-hours’, stand to the credit of American riders, who have the big advantage of having faster tracks than their English or French confreres. The mile record stands at 42 3-5 seconds, held by HuycK, and the 24 hours’, at 1,093m15. 190yds. by C. Spencer.