Cycling and Motoring Notes.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 26 February 1913, Page 4

Cycling and Motoring Notes.

I From the Bunlop Rubber Tyre Co., Christchurch, for week ending February 15th, 1913. • • • • • With regard to space for stores I extra pails, etc., it lias beu suggest- | od that the spaco beneath the front soat of tho car should bo provided with a long drawer, to pull out end-ways through the side of the car. If this were done tho articles to be carried could be packed neatly and would bo easily got at. This idea could be adopted without spoiling v tho outward appearance of tho body of tho car, since tho drawer' could be made a neat fit, with moulding a roil ml tho opening. Another mattor that needs -attention is finding suitablo space for carrying tho sparo tyre or wheel. At present it is generally carried on the off-side running board, and is a disfigurement, to say nothing of the tyro being usually exposed to sun and light, greatly to the detriment of the rubber. Thero ■will eventually bo some spaco sot apart for hiding the spare tyre, ind why not now? It is another matter that body builders should study. An American motor car manufacturing firm annually awards a sot of cash prizes to tho chauffeurs having the best upkeep record at tho end of each year. This yoar's first prize of was won by a chauffeur who had driven 20,897 miles, with no re pair expense other than tyres. Tho second prize of £100 was won with a tally of 22,928 miles, without any expense. This is certain'y an «.<xcellont idea for keeping down cost of mechanical repairs, and to ensure careful handling of a motor manufacturers output. * •» * * * * A £20,000 FUEL PRIZE. d3y far the most important "business transacted at the recent meting of the International Association ot recognised Automobile Club, hold i*. Franco, was the decision to offor a cash prize of £20.000 for the best fuel, other than petrol, capablo of being used in existing internal-combiM-tion motors. The International Association represents practically ihe wholo of tho motor movement of Europe and America, tho nations repiesontod at tho Paris gathering boing Franco, Great Britain, America Germany, Belgium, Italy, Sweden. Denmark, Austria. Holland, Hungary. Russia. Switzerland. Ron mania and Egypt. It is evident, therefore, that tho petrol crisis is. not confined to any one country. The big prize -\vrTl bo obtained by international subscription, the national clubs represented at the conference undertaking to raise their respective proportions. Before the regulations of tho competition are made public an assurance will bo obtained from the various governments that the new fuel will lie free from taxation, or at any rate, will not have applied to il more than a moderate tax. It is evident, too. that the fuel must bo of such a nature that it cannot be cornered by national or international trusts. The ninth attempt on ,T. Gunn's Sydnoy-ttolbourno motorcycle record of 25 hrs ooinin was nincTo last week end by M r J. fi o l CP7i n inom j )p ,. , f tho Now South Wales Motor Cycle Club, and failed. Bolger left Melbourne at 5 minutes past 2 on Saturday morning and put up a good nin through to Goulburn. -143 mibs from Melbourne. His ridiug time to Goulburn was 18 hours 57 minutes, leaving him 5 hours 3 minutes to cover tho 129 miles to Sydney to break 2-1 hours and G hours 58 minutes, to equal Gunn's record. The former ho had no chance of doing in the dark over- a mountainous road, but everything going right lie looked like bettering Gunn's figures for it only meant averaging about 18i miles an hour to Sydney, but although a band of enthusiasts waited some time at tho Sydney G.P.O , Bolger failod to put in an appearance. It is extremely probablo that Bolger ran into heavy rain and muddy roads after leaving Goulburn, . for rain fell over a considerable po rtion of the southern part of Nat South Wales on Saturday. Bolger's equipment was a 6 h.p. twin cylinder U.S.U.. shod with Dunlop Tvres.

This was Bolger's tliird attempt to annex the record, and it was extremely bad luck to lose the coveted honour—after putting up such a good performance to Goulburn. There are likely to be two attempts to negotiate the overland journey in a day during the present week. E. Tyler intends making his third attempt, whilst J. Gunn, the holder of the record, accompanied by J. Booth, will endeavour to secure* the Bnnlop Company's trophy by riding tho 572 miles in 24 hours. ' With the oxperience gained in his first I'll ho anticipates getting through -Riven decent weather—in 23} hours. -mot