MOTOR-CAR RELIABILITY.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17471, 3 June 1922, Page 11

MOTOR-CAR RELIABILITY.

A SUCCESSFUL TRIAL. •The motor-car reliability trial to Akaroa and back, organised'by the Canterbury Automobile Association, and the Motor Traders' ■ Association,- was held yesterday. Thirty-seven cars assembled at Latimer square at 7 a.m. for the journey of 143.2 miles to Akaroa and back by a circuitous route, the first car leaving at 7.20 a.m. The time for the outward journey was, minimum S,V hours, maximum 3J- hours,-and for the return route minimum*, 5£ hours and

maximum 5J hours. The trial was originally fixed for last Saturday, but was postponed at' the last minute oh account of rain. The competitors again turned out cheerfully in the early hours yesterday, and their punctuality at the mark, and their largo numbers were sufficient guarantee of their enthusiasm. The results of the trial will not bo availuhlo until Mondav. as the working out

of the formula for each competitor will take some time. The organisers of the trial are deserving of the highest credit lor the efficient manner in which the whole competition was managed. Jt is true that the present is nbt a iavourable time of the year for such a long run, from the point' of view of passenger and driver at least, but probably another time the officers of the O.A.A. and the Molor Traders' Association will endeavour to fix this interesting and popular trial for earlier.in the year. The principal officials were:—Judge, Mr 11. English; trial superintendent and starter, Air J. It'. Brown; deputysuperintendent and starter, Mr J.-b. Hawkes: committee, Messrs R. W. Lochheaa, J: B. Merrett, I). Crozier, \V. Huyward, W. H v J. Wood. J. O. Coop, N M. Orbell and I>r Foster. Secretary, Mr C. T». Her-

\Vhen 'lira start from Latimer square was made the sky was overcast but rain did nob seem imminent, and tide was an absence of frost, I'he first stage 0 e the journey was to Sumner, via Canal Reserve, and from there the cats commenced their first climb. Ihe road mp to Evans's Pass was m good condition, but on the ether side it was rmr--1 "'reasy for the most part or the distance to Lyttelton. The run to Governor's Bav and Teddingtou gave no trouble, "but between Gobbles Va ley „nd the llabbit gate.the clay surface was in very bad condition, particular lj at the brow of the hill, where the cla> cut vu badly and presented a nasty Sch for the cars in the rear Iroiu

Motukurara to K ? ituM y au tie Uiver ttw road was damp, but ottered ccocl going- The climb then started fu larnest. and the hairpin bends testJ i X. skill of the drivers thoroughly. The afher continued fine, and though Eewas a thick nns tin the gUejs, it did not reach the road, lne descent ■ uto \karw was made through Duvanchtlle Bay, and upon arrival a stop ot tbreetuarters of an hour was made for lunch at the Bruce Hotel. . 3 Z r nifo weatht was not going to last much longer. Heavy mists were coinEg do m from the hill-top, and many of the drivers took the opportunity of

the luncheon interval to put on enams. The'first stage- on the return trip was to the ton of the Long Bay road, and this stretch was generally, anticipated to be the most formidable m the whole of the trial. This prognostication was fairly accurate, for, in addition to being a steep pull, continuously to the top. the road was rough, and very wet. In places it was badly cut up, but there was plenty of loose metal in the ruts, and the climb was not nearly so bad as it would have been had the surface been clay ofthe kind experienced on the Gebbie's Valley road. The run down to Okain : s Bay presented no difficulty—though it called" for skilful driving, .as do all the road* on the Peninsula. Going through the bay end climbing out on the way to Stony Bay, the roads were drier than any others on the whole route, and it was apparent that there had !;een little or no rain in that locality for some days. The long, steep climb

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out of Little Akaloa presented another stiff test, and was made worse by the rain which the car 3 commenced to run into at about this stage. The Summit road was followed past Pigeon Bay into Barry's Bav, and from about this point the rain, which-had been falling intermittently, set in with a fine drizzle. By the time the cars came out on to the flat at Litt.e ltiver, darkness was falling and the ram increasing in thickness and the final run through Kaituna, Motukarara, Tai Tapu (skirting the r.ius?T, Halswell, and into town was made under extremely bad conditions, , the thick, driving rain making it impossible to see far ahead in the darkness. Several of the drivers, in their desire to keep petrol consumption down to u minimum, did not put their hoods up, aiid as some of them had to reduce speed to 'about IS, miles an hour for several miles, to avoid arriving home under the minimum time, they had a verv uncomfortable experience.

'The finishing point was .the garage of David Crozier, Ltd., in Worcester street, and a number of people were assembled in the street to witness the arrival of the mud-bespattered cars. Though some of the - competitors got considerably out of their reckoning-as regards their time allowance, they adjusted the discrepancy in the last stretch by running at reduced speed, and reached home at their various correct times. Only one car failed to complete the journey owing to trouble developing on the homeward run. On the outward trip one car was forced into the bank by a privately-owned Peninsula car, but no damage was done and the competitor finished m good order. The following were the competitors. -Open Class.

Joseph Hamlet-Three light £tflk** °, v ?f lauda, one Wiiiys Kmght Overland'; dnv- ' er3, 11. Kotungnani, A. Jionand, J. Cade, 'X. Stock'er. Rink laxis, Ltd.-Une Hudson, two Essex; J. Harrington, W. Price, L. W. Hay"Wright Bro3.—One Chandler; C. E..Wright. S.Z. Farmers- 00-op-'iw<> Hupmobjea, one Citroen; C. Butcher, J. C. Mercer, J. Vales—One 4-cj-linder Buick, one 6cylinder Buick, oca Itala.. Storey's oarage—Bianchi; N. Share. - • Dominion Moturs— 1-tylinder Oldsmobi-ei'-i. A. Blackmore. Boon and Co.—Essex; A. Boon. D Crozier, Ltd.—Ono Austin; one Britcoe; S. Marshall, H. Lane.. W. B Scott and Co.—Fiat; E. Stoere. Tench Bros.—Stevens Salient Six; 'J. E. Tench. K. England—ChandlM. F. "W. Johnston— ©cylinder Buick. Avatkinßon and Kennettr—One Fiats one Hupmobile; H. E. Kennett, C. R. "Watkrnson. Southern Motor Trading. Co.—ilarhohnv Private Owners. "Wright, Stephenson end Co.—Renault; F. O. Schmidt. W. Busaell (Weikari)— Buiok. Boon and Co.—Essex; A. Boon. F. E. Hvman-—Cadillac: C Croziar, jun. D. Craw "(Chorlton)— Austin A E. Baxter—Fiat TV. R. Carey—Hudson, Andrews —Essex. F. W. Johnston—Bulok, C. F. A-, B. Brbwn—Maxwedl.