Cycling and Motoring Notes.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 12 July 1911, Page 4

Cycling and Motoring Notes.

(From the Dunlop Rubber Co.) The chief topic in cycling circles during t'he past week has been the two six-days' cycle races that are to bo held -one in Sydney, aiiid the other in .Melbourne—early next year. The two eve-nts are being promoted by tho J. D. Williams Cinematograph Co., a wealthy concern with plenty of enterprise and capital. The races \rill be organised on tho same lines as the big contest held annually at .Madison Square- Gardens, \e\v York, t ! ho event being a team race-two riders a team~iieither of whom is allowed ed on the track more than 12 hours out of every twenty-four. Big prizes are to be given, the tir.st being £750, the second .C2OO, and the third .£SO, besides a number of valuable special prizes, including £200 to any Australian team that breaks tho six-days' world's record figures of 27ii7 miles 1.75 yards, put up by McFarlaiul and Moran, in the- New York race. The Sydney race will, it is estimated, cost £3,000 to organise, £1,(550 being lodged as a guarantee for prize money, whilst ClOOi) is to be spent on advertising. With such valuable prizes most of t'ho crack American and European lon.g distance riders are practically sure to visit Australia to take part in the forthcoming two events. Sprint races will also- be held during the running of the six-days' uaees, thus affording a varied programme. Tremendous crowds attend the New York and Berlin six days' contests a big profit- being annually made, and tho same result can—Mr Williams is confident-—be attained in Sydney and Melbourne if tho events are properly handled and tho world's riders compete; at all events, the Company of which lie is the head is prepared to invest £('5,000 on tbo two ventures. The promoters deserve ovevy praise for their enterprise, and pluck, and everyone who has Hie interest of cycle racing at heart will wish the venturo everv success.

Whilst admiring the enterprise of the Williams Co.—in promoting two such big events as two six-days' races—the writer is of the opinion that the programme is not the best that could be selected, either as a means of uplifting the sport of cycle racing to its old popular place in public favour or as a financial proposition. Fii the first place, Sydney and Melbourne are not New York or Berlin, where there are millions of populations to draw upon, includ- j ing a ! big leisure class that can supply a constant payable attendance. In Sydney and Melbourne there will proibably be big crowds attending to- j war.!* the end of each event, but J where arc t'he crowds to come from during the week days to ke.cn a week's cycling carnival going. If I the same- amount of prize money was I distributed over, say, Iwo Saturdays and the rntcrinediate Wednesday, ending up with' ;>. 24-hoiirs' team race for big money, more good would accrue to the sport and proJits to the promoters than if a six days' event is held. A well diversified programme could be arranged, including, say, a. 50-mile motor cycle invitation paced race, tandem races, scratch events, championships, some half-mile and mile handicaps, a few motor cycle events (including an inter-Stato motor cycle team race), finishing up wiMi a 25-lionrs' teams race. Such a programme- would, be more likely to draw big crowds than tho two events proposed. Again, another factor is the want of suitable racing tracks, both in Sydney and Melbourne, for six days' race*. Comparatively small int'onr tracks are necessary to make events like the Xew York an-1 Berlin races a success, and they want to bc k "in control positions. In Sydney the venue is to bo the Sydney Cricket Ground—with it< big track—-a tedious place to "v L '.'.'> at any time, and certainly not a ground likely to draw a. crowd for y,\\ consecutive l days and nights. In the 5-lap track at tiv Rxli'bi'imi Building offers bet'or (':., -ji-!'. ,, of success, but in the epinir-n of the writer a good 24 lioui -.' i.fniii.-s race, is quite-a long enough event '"o-r either track, considcdiii •■ tlu>. ljn't°d population to draw !!■!>(;'!! in cither city. These sugges'ior.s aro not p n ed with a. view of endeavouring t.i throw cold water on the big and plucky undertaking of tbo Williams Co.—far from it--but ratlrr .if it is aiot too late, with the idea nf diverting their energies and cip : tal into channels that are more lilcolv to lead to success. The spnrt is badly in meed; of enterprising p.omoters at the present juncture, and they deserve every encouragement for coining in at the present low ebb of the snort; but if more good to the sport and to themselves can be assured by adopting a different programme, then the matter is worth reconsideration by the Williams Co.