Cycling and Motoring Notes.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 3 May 1913, Page 3

Cycling and Motoring Notes.

From the Duniop Rubber Co

Ch'ristchurch, for week ending April 26th, 1913. ■•♦* • # t

The principal cycling event at the next Olympic Games to be held in Germany in 1916 will*bo ft 150 miles race around Berlin. Considering the great interest aroused over tho event held around Lake Malar, Sweden, laet year, tho next Olympic road race will provide a groat contest of world-Tvide intorest. Neither Australia nor Now Zealand wore 'represented in tTie laet International road race, which was won by G. tR. Lewis, tho eolo South African representative, hut it is hoped thnt an - effort will be made by tho Australian amateur bodies to see that this country—tho home of tho speedy road men—is suitably represented nt the next Olympic contest. •

J. De Roeier, tho erstwhile champion motor cyclist of America, and one of the finest racing motorists in tho world, is dead. Do Rosior never properly rocovored from tho big Rmasb-up thet befel him on the Los Angelos track (California) in March Inst year, when ho sustained torriblo injuries, which practically kept him in the hospital ever since. No other motor cyclist hne ever Tieen so prominently before the public as De Rosior. In America he was idolised. Since taking up speed work, he practically swept the record shoet, putting up times that Tvero almost incredible. At one timo he held every world's record from one to one hundred miles, including the hour fn which ho covered 83 miles. In 1911 he visited England and raced C. R. Collier—England's premier rider—for tho world's championship and won. At the time of his death De Rosier was only 33 years of age. • • • i * Feu- motorists stop to think what an influence such performances as P. Lambert's recently established 103 miles in an hour has on the future motor car. TKey little think that months of hard work and experimenting, and the outlay of probably £2000 was represented in tho freak-looking cigar-shaped 25 h.p. Talbot that accomplished this foat. Such a remarkable pioeo of mechanism is the outcome of experimenting with different engines, transimseion geara, and cutting out weight in all the reciprocating parts. Step by step the efficiency of the engine is tuned up until the desired result is attained, end eventually tho knowlodge and experience gained is incorporated in the standard road models. The large sums of money epent in these speed trials is far from being wasted, and motorists generally gain the benefit in increased efficiency, which means lower oost of car running. These rac ing freaks never figure in the mnker'e catalogue and price list, but they undoubtedly improve the breed of those which are.

For some time paat all motor care jn nee in the Commonwealth and Now Zealand have been compelled % law to carry tail lights whilst tho slower moving vehicles, whioh nre in no danger of running into inotor cars, havo been allowed to go lightless in that respect. It now looks as if the matter is to be at last taken up in a common-sense manner, for the Melbourne authorities propose passing a by-law concerning the tail lights of all vehicles, whilst one or two Victorian shires hare already adopted the same regulation. No doubt' this is only a etert and it ehould not be long now before similar regulations are on forcod throughout the Oommonwaelth and the Dominion. Looked at from any point of view, it is only reasonable and right that all vehioles should carry a rear light to enable overtaking traffic to paas elower going vehicles with safety during night Eours. The by-lnw might go further, and compel cyclists and cyclists to affix reflex lights on the back of their machines, and thereby minimise road accidents during darkness.