Cycling and Motoring Notes.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 30 January 1913, Page 4 (Supplement)

Cycling and Motoring Notes.

—• — From tho Dunlop Rubber Tyre Co. 1 Christchurch, for week endinj January 25, 1913. * * * * * SVDXEY TO MELBOURNE. £ MOTOR CYCLE RECORD. GREAT RIDE BY J. Gt)NN. The recently-established motor cy cle record of i!9J hours for the overIlaiul route between Sydney and Melbourne did not stand long, 'and wa« badly beaten on Saturday by J. Gunn. a Melbourne motorist. Starting from Sydney at 2 o'clock on Saturdiay morning, lie arrived at the Melbourne G.P.O. at 2 o'clock on Sunday morning, the total time for the 572 miles being 25hrs 55inin. The actual time spent in the saddle was about 23 hours. Gunn left Sydney accompanied by J. Booth, another Melbourne rider, but owing to a mishap between Yass and Gunclagai, Gunn had to come on alone. Booth evidently fixed up his machine and was Later on checked at Albury over an hour later than Gunn. He subsequently gave up his attempt on the record. Tho times of arrival by ( unit at the intermediate to'vns wereGotilburu (129 miles) at 7 .2t) j a.m.; Yass (185 miles) at 9 a.hi.; Gundagai (250 miles) at 11.10 a.m. (10 minutes ahead of schedule); Gcrmanton (333 miles), 3.5 p.m.; Albury (371 miles), 1.40 p.m.; Benalla (444 miles), 8.11 p.m. ; Seymour (509J miles), 12.20 a.m. finishing j tat Melbouino at 3.55 a.m. The fastest average speed including stops to pick up petrol, refreshments, etc.. was-32 milcK per hour for the 121 miles run from Goulburn to Gunflagai. ***** The mounts used by both riders, are what is known as the "Tourist Trophy." model J3.S.A. machines, each shod with Dunlop tyres, and it is worth noting here that Gunn had no occasion whatever to use tho pump on tho pneumatics. The Dunlop Company and the Vacuum Oil | Company lent all the aid they could, even to sending representatives by motor car to "Winton. 135 milc« -]isiant, where he was met shortly he fore 8 o'clock in tho evening, and accompanied all through the night hours to Melbourne. Schedule time was held to remarkably by Gunn up to Benalla (444 miles), which he readied 9min inside time, notwithstanding the remarkably bad condition of the roads north of Benalla, in Victoria. * * # * * With the advent of tho cycle cur into this country, it will be necessary for some provision to be made by the authorities whereby this type of vehicle can be registered. The motor car Acts in Australasia have been based on the English Act. which originally stipulated that all motor vehicles weighing over fcivt had to be fitted with a reverse gear When the cycle car bounded into popularity in England, tho English Act was amended to read "over 7 cwt.", thus legalising the use of "reverseIres" cycle cars on English roads. ***** In Melbourne one unfortunate purchaser of a cycle car has already been refused because his vehicle weighs slightly over, ami had no reverse. The matter is an important one. and should be taken up by the Automobile Club, with a< view of having the local Act amended. The day is not far ahead when hundreds ol cycle cars will be landed in this country; hence the immediate need for following the example set by the English authorities. Many of the ninety odd English makers of these natty little vehicles claim that n reverse gear is unnecessary, for the cycle car is so light that it can easily bo moved by hand, and no trouble has been experienced in the thick London traffic by either the driver or regulators of traffic. '