TREND IN AUSTRALIA

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 16 September 1924, Page 7

TREND IN AUSTRALIA

OPINIONS OF A VISITOR

A very interesting account of the trend of things in the motor world in Australia was given an Otago Daily Times representative by Mr. F. L. Yott, of Melbourne, who is one of the leading lights in the victorian Motor-cycle Club, and is naturally keen to know how things are going on in that branch of motoring in this country. The membership of the Victorian M.C.C., of which Mr Yott is president, is some 500, and an effort is being made to extend the number further. According to Mr. Yott, it is a very live body, the V.M.C.C., and holds all sorts of sporting and social functions reminiscent of the palmy days of the old Wellington M.C.C. before the war.

An asset to motor-cycle racing is the new concrete track at Aspendale, 42 feet wide, and running two chains short of a mile to the lap. Attendances up to 20,000 are recorded at these motorcycle race meetings and the prize money is good, as much as £3OO a meeting. The track .will be reopened for the season on 27th September. Within half a mile of the heart of Melbourne is another track, a third of a mile to the lap, banked up for high-speed purposes. Here it is proposed to hold motor-cycle races every Saturday night, and there is a scheme for a big meeting just before Christmas, to be known as the Melbourne Thousand, with £6OO as first prize money. Racing riders from America are expected to compete, and the pick of New Zealand’s riders may be represented. Mr. Yott mentioned in passing that push-cycle racing was once more in its zenith, and drew crow r ds of from 15,000 to 20,000 every week. All of which is again reminiscent of the time when the “Coloured Major” (Taylor) made special trips over from America to Sydney to compete in the Sydney Thousand twenty odd years ago.

Of the success of the much-boomed proposal for a race between Darwin and \delaide Mr. Yott was rather sceptical. He was rather inclined to believe that since public opinion had come to discountenance the casual road races for record-breaking purposes between Sydney and Melbourne promoters of sporting events were seeking another field in a north-south transcontinental run over a route with which they were not personally familiar. Dr. Stefansson’s reasoned arguments against such a project ought to weigh with the authori-

ties, as the visitor knew the country. On these points the latest bulletin may lie quoted.

The Royal Automobile Club of Victoria has decided to support the project and will endeavour to raise £IOOO from amongst its 5000 members with a view to financing the undertaking. If sufficient funds are available, a reliability contest will be held coincidentally with the race, and will more than likely embrace a truck section, and should the dual event take place a further £250 will be donated by the club as a reliability prize. The extension of the scope of the transcontinental test is desired by all interested, and it is only i question of finance for the double event to be carried through. If a reliability trial he decided upon, it is proposed that the route for same be extended right through Adelaide to Melbourne—a distance of about 2580 miles. It is hoped by those interested in the project that a definite announcement will he possible in the course of tlie next two or three weeks. In the event of the scheme being financiable, and should it obtain the approval of the Federal Government, the first movement will be the appointment of a strong organising committee representing various interests, with a, view of carrying the enterprise to a successful issue.

Mr. Yott confirmed the reports of the great success of the All-British Motor Exhibition. The exhibition was a most representative one, including cars, lorries, motor-cycles, and aeroplanes, and exceedingly good business was done all round —so much so that the exhibitors ;his year have hooked space for next, nd all the* fixtures and gear have been stowed away for next year’s show, for which the promoters have again secured the Exhibition Building. No doubt the possibility of some measure of extension of the scheme to New Zealand will he considered.

During his tour through New Zea-

land Mr. Yott will make a point of

visiting the headquarters of motorcycling clubs in each centre, and giving them the benefit of his wide experi. ence in Victoria. One of the essential factors in the success of motor-cycling clubs is to prevent the trade exercising iny undue predominance in club management, and this has been achieved with good results in Victoria.