A RECORD DRIVE.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15870, 9 April 1917, Page 5

A RECORD DRIVE.

TO DUNEDIN" AND BACK. On Saturday Mr H. J. Hanger put up a. record for a motor oar trip to Dunedin. and back which, will take a lot of beating. The double trip has not been attempted before. He did the journey from Christcliurch to Duncdin in 8 houre 3-1 minutes, and the home run in 8 hours 20 minutes, or a. total time of 16 hours 51 minutes. From this has to to doducted on estimated time of % hour and 45 minutes for sundry stops at different places, eo the actual running tinro oi the car on the journey was 15 hours 9 minutes, which means that an average epoed of about 33 miles per hour was kept up—a remarkable performance on a long trip over roads ■which were indifferent in parts, md whioh had to be negotiated for some hours in fog and darkness. Tho Chevrolet had its gear lever sealed in top, and also ite tool box and tyre repair outfit sealed by Messrs J". Vincent and R. H. Mohrtens, representatives of the two Christcburcir morning papers, before it started on ite journey and Mr Ranger, who drove, had with him on© mechanic as passenger. A start was made at 2 a.m. on Saturday morning, and directly the travellers got out .into the country a fairly dense log was encountered, which, made driving at a fast pace exceedingly difficult, especially when the waterrace country was mot. Through Kolloston and Sclwyn the roads were very rough, but about Bakaia they were good. Ashburton was reached at 3.50 a.m. At Windermere,, owing to the fog, a waiter race bridge was nearly missed, and to avert an accident Mr Hanger slewed the car round, hitting a wire fence and carrying away part-of the wire and standards. The .car, however did not suffer any worse damage than a few and after some hard work it was got back on to' the road Bgain. and driven off, none the worse. Prom the Hinds to the Rangitaita bridge the going was fair, though the travellers had ono or "two narrow squeaks on the awkward little bridges over various water-races. From Rangitata to T.imaru the going was good, and at Pareora the record-breakers had breakfast. Timaru, it may bo mentioned, was passed &i 5.45 a.m. (117 mile 3). To G-lenavy fast .time was made, and tlio only untoward incident happened at Otaio, where the car skidded on a bond in some loose stuff, and hit a bridge, damaging the rear-mud guard, and knocking the hind hub cap off. Oamaru was reached (171 miles) at 7.40 ajn., and after a little delay to send a telegram, tho travellers pushed on.' From Trere down to Kartigi the road wa<s excellent, and tho bad bend under tho viaduoi was negotiated -.rit-H----out difficulty. At the foot of Kilmog Hiil a mob of sheen was met with, whidi baulked the cor at its first attempt. This meant running down to the foot and pushing back io get a run, but on tho second try Kilmog w.ej conquered on top, and eo Mt. Cargill with its pothodey road, though this was supposed to be tho worst part of the trip. At Normanbv, Mr Ba.nger was met by press representatives, and by Mr R. L. Jcnae, of tho Otago Automobile Association, who signed the certißcatc, reporting all seals intact, and engine running quietly, tyres good. The Chevrolet was piloted to a gs.ragc, and after a reception a photograph was taken. Dunedin was reached at 10.34 (24 G miles), or 2G minutes earlier than was antics'Tiated. The return journey wea started at 11.40 a.ni., and on reaching Mt. Cargifl. it \ra® found necessary—after tliree attempts to climb it on top —to cut the wire sealing the gear lever with a_ pocket knife, and use the gears to get up. Kilmog was climbed easily on top, and at Palmerston a nail penetrated the back tyre, the replacement taking about 5 minutes! From Palmerston to Oamaru there was more fog, and at times several • mobs- of sheep were encormiered At Otaio a short stop was made for tea, but from there right on Timaru to Aehburton a fast pace was maintained, the car being slowed down, of course, to comply with the speed regulations in towns. A' 1 utop wa3 made at Ashburton (G. 15 p.m.) to send a telegram, and another stop at the Bakaia. bridge to eeo if all v«6 clear. Prom hero there was a i-'mi l run home at a fast pace, Chriatchurch being reached at 8 p.m. The main difficulties faced were the fog, the darkness, the awkwardly placed waterrace bridges, and bad roads, which gave the springs _of the car a tremendous test, which they withstood triumphantly. The whole journey was done on a trifle under 17 gallons of benzine, or at 29 miles per gallon, and about half a gallon of water was put into the radiator.