Cycling and Motoring Notes.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 17 March 1913, Page 4

Cycling and Motoring Notes.

I From the Dunlop Rubber Tyre Co., Christchurch, for week ending March 18th, 1913. * » * * * * New Australian figures were established last week for ian all-day ride on a motor cycle, the successful rider being P. J. O'Brien, of Melbourne, who put up a fine record of 079 miles in 2-1 hours. The previous record was 029 miles, standing to the credit of P. Yeend on the same courso The route selected was a triangular one of 83;{ miles from Camperdown to Mortlake, thence to Lismore and back to Camperdown, a circuit comprising the finest road in the Western District of Victoria. O'Brien rode a 3£ h.p. Rover, shod with Dunlop tyros and despite stops for petrol, oil. food, etc., totalling lhr. 53min be succeeded in maintaining the splendid average of 28 miles per I hour for the full day's run, and 31 miles per hour for his actual riding time. All told over circuits were made. O'Brien started away on his journey at 0.18 p.m. just after dusk. His times for the respective laps wore: First circuit. 2hrs. 30min; second circuit 2brs. oomins.; third. 31irs oinins; fourth, 2hrs 45mins; fifth, 3hrs lmin. ; sixth, 2hrs 35mins; seventh, 2hrs. -tOinins; eighth, 2hrs 32 mills. At the conclusion of the last circuit O'Brien had still 21 Infinites to go, and in this period lie covered a further 12 miles, bringing the total distance covered up to G7fJ miles. The furtherest distance yet recorded in a day on the road in Australasia in fact in tho world is 77*7 miles, standing to the credit of Messrs H. B. James and H. Stevens, who. as far back as November. 1907. put up the mileage mentioned on Victorian roads. * * * * * * Particulars are to hand from Los Angelos, California, of a wonderful motor cycle performance by L. Humiston, who succeeded in cramming 88miles 350 yards into one hour. The previous best was J. de Rosier* 83 miles 135 yards. Humiston covered covered the 100 miles in 08mins. H l-o sees, establishing all new world's records from 13 miles up-

wards. * * » » • A properly organised attempt on Mr G. G. White's Sydney-Melbourne motor ear record of lDhrs <17mins is to be made at an early date by Messrs 1). Campbell and G. Ross Boden. The car being used for the drive is a specially imported 10 h.p. Tinot, shod with detachable wiro wheels and .Dmilop tyres. The proposed schedule is 18hrs 20mins., leaving Sydney at 3.30 a.m.. and attempting to'reach Melbourne the samo night by 9.50. Given decent weather conditions and ordinary luck, it is confidently expected that new figures will bo recorded.

****** The second Victorian six days' cycle teams race terminated at the -Melbourne 'Exhibition last night, and resulted in a popular win for J.?. Spears and Don Jvirkhiam. Twenty thousand spectators watched the. final sprint. The duration of the race \v;ifc Ml hours, and in that timo 2028 jniles were covered—2 miles further than the di.star.crc la.st yeai-. .Fourteen teams startcu and ten finished. With fifteen minutes to go the following riders were left on iho track to take part in ho linal sprint:— l{. J. M'Xamana, JR.. Spears. I-'. Wells, A. V. Brown. F. D. AValcott. L Oifford, T. R. Kinieyside. L. Hammond. A. L. Crook and J. Campbell. They kept to »Uier until the hell, when M'Xamara went to the front with Spears trailing his wheel. .Spears finished up with a brilliant .sprint, winning by about a wheel, with M'Xainara second. The I winning team rode Dunlop tyres. That the riders were not very much distressed by their long ride was evidenced hy the timo that the last mile was covered in. viz.. 2inin. 5 3-5 sec The first lour teams were: R.Spears .and 1). Kirkham 1. JR. J. JtfcXamara and E. P. Corry 2, E. I). Wak-ott and A. C. Wallcott 3. 1. Clifford and V. J Shaw. 11. Spears, who hails from Bathurst (N.S.W.) is only W years of age and gives promise oi developing into a champion. During the .race ho lost 71bs in weight. Kirkham, his team mate, is the crack road rider of Australia. -This team finished second in the recent six days' race decided in Sydney. On that occasion M'Namara and Corry won. The. Austral wheel race, the principal handicap event decided at the meeting resulted in a splendid contest, the winner being P. ». Henry (lOOyds) ,with A. V. Wooten (IGOyds) second and P. Jenkins (lfJOyds) ,1 Time 4iuiu 16 4-5 seconds.