Cycling and Motoring Notes.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 27 May 1913, Page 4

Cycling and Motoring Notes.

From tho Dunlop Rubber Tyro Co

Christchurch, for week ending May 17th, 1913.

At last Mr G. G. Whito's motor car rccord of 19hra <17imus (established as far back as 1910), for tho run between Melbourne and Sydney has boon lowered, the successful motorist being Mr A. V. Turner, a -Sydney motorist. Leaving 'Melbourne nt 2.30 a.m. Saturday, ll)th May, on n 50 h.p. American underslung car, he arrived at tho Sydney G.P.O. at 9.32 p.m. the same night. His full timo from capital to capital was l'Jhrs 2mins, a wonderful drive for this timo of tho year, when the

. overland route is in had order, and j tho hours of daylight are very limi- : tod. Turner's average, including ; all stops, waa 30 miles an hour, and ! only those motorists who have n knowledge of the overland journey j can fully appreciate the merit of this performance. On four occasions it was found necessary to change tyres, this accounting for considerably more than an hour's delay. Deducting timo lost on route, the actual average spoed for the 572 miles wan ovor 31' miles an hour. Mr Turner drove tho car throughout the tirinji journey was natiimll.v. very tired aftor such a strenuous effort. • • * * »

Mr S. A. Cheney, of Adelaide, put up a now motor record on /Saturday. May 10th, covering tho distance between Adelaide nnd Broken HiTl (335 miles) in lJJhrs 55mins. He left Adelaide nt 3.30 a.m. and roaclfod tlio torminal point at Broken Hill at 0.20 oil the same day. Olieney drovo a Ford, and was accompanied by Mr fi. Ralph. He passed through 98 gates, 88 of which his companion had to open and shut. The provious record was 16 hours standing to tho credit of Mr Allen Doone. The route taken was via Burra Mootooroo Station and Cockburn.

The important rolo now played b\ motor vehicles in the French Army is piobahly not realised hv civilians of other nations. As each typo of vehicle has become perfected, it has been adopted for military purposes in T'ranee, until at the last manoeuvres, the wbole of the water, meatbread and other provisions, as well as the ammunition and fodder, were carried by motor, a full army corps depending exclusively on motor vehicle* for its supplies. Tt has been decided to abolish the use of horses for the artillery, some of tbe heavy guns at tho present time being drawn by motor tractors. At the oppositr end of the scale motor cycles have been used for carrying urgent messages for a long time, and in the annual manoeuvres have given every satisfaction. The latest development is the adoption of the cycle ear for military purposes. The French military authorities are oi' I the opinion that its most useful rob is the carrying of wounded soldiers fiom the fighting line to tbe field ambulance. The chief advantage of the cycle, car is that owing to its narrow width and low weight, it can travel through lanes, thus picking up men where it would be impossible for the motor ambulance vans to travel. Its speeji, too, is about triplo that of the horse ambulance, a matter which is of immense importance whore wounded men have tr, he dealt with. I

Despite the undoniablo advantages that uccrue from using a variable gear attachment on a bicycle, theso [labour saving devices arc making little headway in this country. In England many linns now lit them as standard, consequently, it is strange that cyclists do not take theui up out here. The object of the variable is not to enable the rider to go faster, as the common expression "speed gear" might lead one to oxpect, but to enable him to maintain a steady comfortable rato <if pedalling under varing conditions of wind, gradient, and road surface. Having attained this increased speed will come itself. Many splcndi<

two and throe speed devices aro nov available to cyclist# at a moderate cost, and m these prosperous timet the wonder is that tlio variable gum docs not become as popular as tin, free wheol. A touch of tho lever and you cau have tho goar you wnnl —a high gear for a following wind a low gear that makes tho hills ik. consequonco. and thou a nu'ddlo goal thnfc will suit nil ordinary occasions This is what a throe speed goar of fors. THo Finest long-distance ye; accomplished in Australia, notabb E. A. Pearson's wonderful ride fron Sydney to Melbourne 572 miles ir< 49 hours, was accomplished on a mnchino with a variable gear, and be climbed every hill on the route. No bet-tor test or demonstration of tho value of a variable speed hub can bo had, that this grand ride. Yet, strange to say, cyclists still fight shy of tho best device yet invented to make cycling easy. Js it been use touring is dying out, and the cycle is now only being used for a matter of utility? •