Motoring and Cycling Notes.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 21 November 1911, Page 4

Motoring and Cycling Notes.

(From the Dunlop Rubber Company).

RELAY DESPATCH TEST

Arrangements are now being pushed, forward by the Dunlop Rubber Company for the big relay test that they intend carrying through next April. In this despatch ride from Adelaide to Sydney—a distance of 1149 miles— tliere will be throe sections, each carrying a military despatch, and the object of the test will ho to see which division will arrive in Sydney first with its despatch. Tho bicycles will start uway first, followed >by tho motor cycles twenty-four hours later, and six hours .later again the cars will leave. In every instance tho despatch hearers will travel in pairs to ensure the links of communication being kept unbroken in case of accident or delay.

Ono hundred and twenty-eight cyclists will assist over the 64 relays, tho first pair of despatch hearers will probably leavo the Adela.rJe post office at f> o'clock on Good Friday morning (April sth) and the message will bo scheduled to reach Sydney some 69tt hours later.

The motor cycle despatch will probably loavo Adelaide at 5 o'clock on Easier Saturday morning.

The motor car rolavs will leave Adelaide at 11 a.m. Easter Saturday morning;. Tho average schedule pace for tho full distance for the respective places will ho IRJ miles per hour, or ia. total of fiJH- hours for tbo cyclists. 25 miles nor hour, or n. total of 4fi hours for tho motor pvpihts. and 28 Smiles per hour or 40 liners for tlho rnis. If t'h<w. avrn-ow n.ro maintained, all thrno despatches should I>o very plo«« I>ptwoon Picton and SvrWv in the early hours of "Raster Mondnv morning. Applications from volunteers to take part m the tes+ are roaoiinjr the Dnnlon nil parts of Now South Wai or. VJcto'-Ja -..ml South Australia. mvi +3i« rliflipi| 4 v will bp to Sfjoof, +lio liost j-iVTors from amongst the hundreds of Tt is tho intention of tlm Dim op Com pan v to award a ™Mm I 1 inn to all who r>nv+ir>inr>to in tho rido. which, given dw>nt wrviMior cniiditio'iß, should proviso ono r>l the most intfi'osting nn ,1 instructive sporting events yet held in iho world.

It has been practically deoidoa that an automobile show will beheld in Melbourne next March by the Automobile Club of Victoria. The movement lias boon well supported by tho motor and allied trades, nnd sufficient guarantees are forthcoming to ensure that tho promoting body will probably be March 2nd to 9th, inclusive—a week that covers the " Newmarket" _ and "Australian Cup"— two big race attractions that always fill Melbourne. The show will be held at the Melbourne Exhibition, a building splendidly adapted for the purpose.

An entirely new type of motor car chassis will be landed in 'Melbourne at an early date, and' one that promises a radical departure in chassis suspension and springing, if it docs all that is claimed for it. The invention is a Victorian ono that has been taken up by a strong financial syndicate. The original model was well tested, and gave astonishing results over the roughest of roads on solid tyres. The chassis was suspended on a, compound cantilever system, entirely new to any existinfi modes of springing, and from trials given, thoroughly convinced those who have bought interests in tho patent. The original model ,was forwarded Homo to a well known French firm of car manufacturers, who are said to be much impressed with tho idea—so much so that they aro adopting the idoa ana now making models for the Australian market.

The attempt by the Sydney motor cyclist, J. Fair, to better his recent record run of 48hr. 40min., from 'Sydney to Melbourne (575 miles) failed, Fair being so distressed by the shaking up on the bad roads that he abandoned the ride at Gtindagai. _ On this occasion tho starting point was Melbourne. Albury ! (201 miles) took llhr. 55min to reach , , and it was evident when Fair reached here that physically the strain was too much. The rider who tackles this run wants to be in tho pink of condition, and as hara as nails, for the ride from Seymour to Albury and Germanton to Adelong Crossing is a- particularly severe . one. Again, the roads" and tracks have not recovered from the winter yet, and will not be at their best until later in the year.