RECORD MOTOR TRIP

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3052, 13 April 1917, Page 4

RECORD MOTOR TRIP

CHRISTCHURCH TO DUNEDIN MR. H. J. RANGER COVERS DISTANCE IN 15HRS. 4MIN. On Saturday Mr. H. J. Ranger, of Christchurch, driving a Chevrolet car, Bet out to establish a speed record for the journey from Christchurch to Dunedin and back. Tlio road distance from Christchurch to Dunedin is about 246 miles, by the route most usually used on such occasions, and the total distance of Mr. Ranger's trip was, therefore, about 492 miles. The journey was accomplished in 16 hours 54 minutes, but the actual running time was 15 hours 4 minutes, an average of 32 J miles an hour. The journey was commenced from the Ranger garage. The time-tablo is as follows: — Outward Trip. Christchurch depart 2.0 a.m. Ashburton arrive 3.50 a.m. Timaru arrive 5.45 a.m. Oamaru arrive 7.40 a.m. Dunedin arrive 10.34 p.m. Return Trip. Dunedin depart 11.41 a.m. Oamaru arrive 2.'25 p.m. Timaru arrive 4.15 p.m. Christchurch arrive b'.O p.m. Tha Run Described. Mr. Ranger, sueakhut No a reporter, said that the ran was not for the purpose of breaking a record,. as no trip had ever been attempted before under such circumstances as he did it. ■ The tool and repair bags were 6ealed 3 and the top gear was bound around with copper wire aiid string. Mr. John Vincent sealed the bags at Christchurch, and Mr. Longton Jones, of the Otago Motor Association, certified to theia being sealed at Dunedin. I was dispatcned from Christchurch at 2 a.m., said Mr. Ranger, "and experienced an unpleasant thick fog from the Riccarton Road to Ashburton. From the latter place I ran through patchy weather to below Timaru. The fog made the going difficult,. owing to it clouding my glasses. The moonlight was not available, and 1 thinly the conditions would have been much better if I had undertaken the jom-jiey a day earlier.' I reached Ashburton at 3.5 U. The waterraces gave me a lot of trouble, and I had considerable difficulty in picking up the side bridges. In most cases the ■surface was very bad, which made the going positively dangerous.

A Harrow Escape. "1 was unable to see the side bridge at Windermere." continued Mr. Ranger, "and had to swini; over suddenly, the result being that two wheels wont over <1 barbed wire fence. About a chain of the fence was broken-down before I stopped. Ifc took quite a little while to get on to the road again. On inspection ifc was found that the steering gear, was sound. The lamp bracket was bent, and some of the paint on.one side of the car was knocked off. This was .the only damage visible. We were under way again in ten minutes. Tlmaru at Daybreak. "The road from Hinds to Rangitata," continued Mr. Ranger, "was not so bad. On.nearing Rangitata I came to a sudden bend in the road where another road branches off. Being unable to pick up; the water-race at the -bond, I had to swing into the branch road at a difficult angle. This incident was soon over,'and I was away again. The matter of picking -up the side bridges became extremely difficult owing to the fog. From Rangitata bridgo to Timaru day was breaking, and the going was considerably better. I reached Timaru at 5.45 a.m.

Over Forty Miles an Hour. "Continuing south,., the. roads were in capital order. I was' delayed at Pareroa for ten minutes in filling up m.v petrol , tank and. having my breakfast. Hot coffee was very acceptable, because the trip down from Christchurch was very cold indeed. 'At this stage the fog ileared, and the strain oil my eyesight was not so much. The journey was without incidentr until I reached Otaio, where the rear mud-" guard, and axle cap. were found to be damaged. From there on to Glenavy. the road was very good, and I-was able to travel from forty to forty-five miles an hour. At oamaru. "From Glenavy to Oamaru the road was Tough. "I arrived at the latter' place at 7.40 a.m. Here Iwas delayed for fivo minutes owing to the telegraph office not being open. As I had promised to send progress reports to various people, I waited until the office opened so that . I could, send the telegrams. , * ■ " ; '-7 :

"From Oamaru to Karfcigi the road' Iwas good,' 1 and excellent time was. made. . "There-was a most'difficulfc.beiid in . fc " e . road ; under the viaducVat. .Killmog.'bufc £ was ; .able, to negotiate itsafely. At the foot of .Killmog I met' a mob. of. sheep which! considerably: hampered me. I manipulated the, hill' safely, and when I arrived on Dunearn side of the hill I filled the petroltank.. Here. I, Tnefc Wo motor-cyclists, • who;, certified that .my • top . gear ,was- ; sealed ,1 filled'.my petrol, tank and oiled the engine and had some refreshment. , '' T Sot over Mount Cargill all right, but the surface. was very lough*. Reception at Dunedin. "I arrived at the foot of the hill at '0.30, and here -Mr. 'Jones certified as to my bags being sealed. An examination was made of the car, and the engine was- foiind to bo in good condition. f l ho tires were also good. .1 arrived'at Dunedin'at 10.34 a.m"., and was piloted to M'Cullough's garage, where a large crowd awaited me. The car had consumed 8J gallons of petrol on the run'down, which worked out at twenty-nine miles to the gallon. • ■ The Return Journey, I was dispatched on. the return 30urney at 11.41, and failed at the Cargill lull. This was hard luck, as I had hoped to do the journey "without i breaking the seals. : I had to cut the, I top- gear seals with my pocket knife. The Killmog'was easily negotiated. I had a puncture at Palmerston, but it only took five minutes to put on a now tube. The'going was good -until I reached Kartigi, where I -was again enveloped in fog. This followed in patches until I reached Oamaru. The fog became so. thick that 1 had to take off my spectacles,- with the result that my eyes suffered considerably. From Oamaru to Otaiko I mado the fastest run, where I averaged fifty-one miles an hour. 1 reached Timaru at 4.15 p.m. "From Timaru to Rakaia 1 had a good run. At the latter place I was held lip for fivo minutes before 1 could get across the bridge, owing to the train being late. "From Holies ton to Christchurch 1 made a very fast run. as 1 desired to arrive here at the schedule tlmo. "I arrived at the garage jiisfc as (he clock struck eight." , Asked if the car was ill good condition, Mr. Ranger said that it was marvellous that the car was intact when it arrived, as the jolting it received was very great. There was a largo crowd at the garage to greet Mr. I Ranger, and three cheers were given i for him. .