CYCLING AND MOTOR NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1054, 19 May 1910, Page 11

CYCLING AND MOTOR NOTES.

The Dunlop Rubber Co. expect to be in a position in a week or so to announce full particulars for this year’s “Warrnambool to Melbourne,” the premier road event of Australasia; and, as new conditions will probably apply to the forthcoming event, road riders will await with interest the programme for this year’s great contest. Extra prizes will be awarded, they will probably be set apart for the riders establishing the first, second and third fastest times. » » » » The winter sprint championship of Paris was decided at the Winter Track (Paris) just before the last mail left. The event was run off in twelve heats, and the championship being awarded on points. Friol was the winner, though A. J. Clark, the Australian Champion, would have undoubtedly been the victor but for suffering disqualification in a heat in which he arrived home first. * « « « A most interesting and successful Reliability Motor contest was held recently by the Automobile Club of Victoria for a valuable trophy presented by Count Von Horn, one of the Club’s members. The route was from Melbourne to Warragul and back, a distance of 124 miles. A splendid field of 2 6 cars took part in the run, which was one of reliability and petrol consumption, each contestant on starting being credited with 200 points for reliability subject to deductions for exceeding minimum or maximum allowance for time or carrying out any repairs or adjustments whatever. The reliability section of the run resulted in seventeen out of twenty-six cars retaining full points, a very satisfactory result under the very severe conditions imposed, for points were deducted for even touching a spanner or re-filling oil tanks. The contest, therefore, practically resolved itself into a petrol consumption test, based on ton mileage, and resulted in a particularly fine performance by Mr. A. O. Barrett, who drove a 15 h.p. Talbot (weighing 32 cwts. 2qrs. 2libs.), 124 miles on 4 galls. 7 pints of petrol, equivalent to 41.5 ton miles per gallon, equal 4o about one-third of a

•penny per ton mile, remarkably economical running for this type of car. Having gained full, points in reliability, Mr. Barrett therefore carried of£. the first prize. The second award was won by Mr. W. A. Lowe, on an 8 h.p. De Dion, with Mr. W. F. Lally (15 h.p. Talbot) third. * * -- * * i Because the motor by-laws now require motorists to ease up or stop when signalled to do so by drivers of fractious horses, it does not follow that people can maliciously stop motorists for the “fun of the thing” or without just cause. Few people know that the Motor Act provides for a penalty up to £lO for the first offence and £2O for the second for maliciously stopping a motor. A Ballarat (Vic.) resident found this out to his cost last week, when he was fined for stopping * local motorist without sufficient cause. Defendant admitted the offence, but said “ he did not mean any harm.”