MOTORING.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 1760, 27 May 1913, Page 7

MOTORING.

' MELBOURNE-SYDNEY RECORD REDUCED. A cablegram has been received by the Continental C. and G. Rubber Company Proprietary, Ltd., to the effect that A. V. Turner established a new record between Melbourne and Sydney, his timo being 19hr. 2min., or 45min. better than the previous record. Messrs. A. Turner and L. Ruston, two Sydney motorists, left tho General Post Office, Melbourne, at 2.30 a.m. last Saturday week, their object being to reduce the record of lDhr. 47min. established by C. Whito c-n a Continental-tyred "Talbot," as for back as March, 1010. Several attempts to lower the record havo been made since that date, but without success, and it was generally predicted that this attempt would also prove unsuccessful, owing to the bad stato of tho roads, which are for hundreds of milea nothinsc

but bush tracks, and tho long nights during this period of the year. Throughout tho ride, howovtr, an average of thirty miles an hour, including all stops, was maintained, which emphasises tho necessity of having a car and tyres which can withstand tho gre>t strain that is placed upon them. Tho first troublo experienced was at Wangaratta, when a nail entered a tube, which had to bo replaced. Further troublo was experienced when passing through Guudagai, a glass bottlo cutting ono of the front tyres so badly that a new cover had to be fitted. The Inst of the motorist's misfortunes took placo at Piicton, 50 miles from Sidney, tho car skidding badly and running into a fence, tearing olf tho front tyre. Nothing daunted, tho motorists again refitted the tyro and proceeded on their way, reaching tho Sydney G.P.O. at i). 32 p.m., or 45 minutes ahead of tho previous record. The performance was n most meritorious one, considering tho fact that it was practically unorganised regarding railway gates, of which there are thirteen on the route, which had to bo opened, and the plucky drivers received many congratulations on their arrival. The car driven was a 50 horsepower American, fitted with Continental tyres.