Cycling and Motoring Notes

Horowhenua Chronicle, 2 December 1915, Page 2

Cycling and Motoring Notes

From the Dunlop Rubber Conipauy ot Australasia, for the week ending Kovembea* 27. 1915. ACROSS AUSTRALIA. WONDERFUL MOTOR RECORD. I'REMANTLE TO SYDNEY. Many fine motoring records have been established in Australia, but the greatest of all is undoubtedly tJiat completed last week when a Western Australian *party, comprising Messrs. I'. \v. Armstrong, H. Fraser, and T. Collins, readied Sydney after a MOO miles overland journey from r'romantic. When some few weeks back Mr i'ercv Annstrong, one of the pioneer cyclists ami motorists of Australia announced, to a lew motoring enthusiasts that he th-j'i-ght that the Transcontinental trip lioin the West to Sydney could be negotiated in from liine to 10 days, and that lit: and three other W. A. motorists intended tackling tlie ■ it- w.is thought tharthey were-atu.Vnpting impossible, both on rue part of end irance'of men and 'uaehine. The stupenduous task has been accomplished under nine days, The party selected for the trip a 0-cylinder 40 h.p. Studebaker car, sliod v-ith Australian made Dunlop Tyres the total weight ol the whole outfit including passengers, extra petrol, etc., being tons heavy load ,o transport across some of the worst sand drifts met with on Australian transcontinental routes.

Fremantlo was Jolt at 1 a.m. on Wednesday, JVovember 10th., and a splendid nm made through Northern and •Southern Cross, and Oooigardie. At n p.m. the party camped out oil tile open plaint; after travelling -100 milea. Progress on Thursday was slower, ihe loads and tracks being in very bad condition. The lowest tracks alter leaving -Norseman necessitated cautious driving to avoid stumps liidden in t-Ju high grass. By b p.m. i'laser's liaugo Sheep Station was readied... Alter n very rough day's ride ol 224 miles the Baiiadonia Telegraph Station was reached. Friday's tally was a good one, .'lOl miles being negotiated—mostly across tablelands covered with ratuc grass over two feet high, which practically obliterated the old camel ana vehicle tracks. The plains 'were level as abillard table, but fast travelling was dangerous, owing to hidden stumps, logs etc. At "Seventy miles'' the car crashed into a stump, shattering the wood to pieces, the worst damage being a burst front tyre ,caused by the impact. The party considered! themselves lucky to have got oil so easily. At long [intervals across the plains water was available from the various wells tor engine purposes. On one stage the engine ran hot, owing to the radiator being choked up with grass see i. An hour was lost clearing away tha seeds with leathers, from an eagle slue bv one of the party. The night was spent at Eucla Telegraph (Station, and. incidentally it might be mentioned "that this was the only night during tSie whole trip spent under a roof—a lew hours sleep being snatched either in the car or on the roadside from night to night.

Away again at 3 a.m. the cliil country was tackled, and then passing iuf ,j •South Australia the Nullabor Plain, destitute of all vegetation, was crossed. Ihe weather was hot—trying for . U{zine and men. Heavy sand: hills had also to be negotiated. it was a tired out party that lay out on the plains near lalata Station at night.

llie next day's run proved one ol t'He stillest ol the whole journey, a hot loilowing wind, and heavy sand druts making tilings most unpleasant. At Murat Bay the finst wayside inn -was passed—after a rim of nearly 1000 miles \\ ithoufc a sight ot a hotel. The dreaded sandhills approacTiing the Oa w r er Kange gave considerable trouble, one ciimb—"Bullocky'.s Delight" taking lour hours to negotiate. All the avail able blankets, clothes, etc., had to be laid 011 the loose sand, as a foundation foi cut scrub. \\ ith much struggling and pushing yard by yard; was gained audi tlio -difficulty surmounted After 23 houjifi continuous driving, push ing and struggling •I'll miles were left behind that day. At 4 a.m. the journey was renewed and a good run made through via Port Augusta to Adelaide, "hich was readied at 11 p.m.. Monday (-November 15th.) The distance fro.u i ( reman tie was 17 (i 3 miles, covered i.: 5 days, 20ihoiUTS, grctw time—a remarkable performance.

Alter a live hours spoil—uiling up, leplenishing tanks etc., the journey -Melbourne wards was renewed at -1 p.m. on Tuesday, and good progress wa.s made through 'Meningie down to :ho "Coorong" desert. Here considerate delay was met owing to the clay pa of beds of lagoons being under water. On two occasions the car was bogged to the axles. The difficulty was to get looting for the jack's to raise the car on, ol the mud; with scrub and"'pieces m wood, etc.. the trovfble was ovt'i"o- f jo alter much exertion and Joss ol manC hoin'is of valuable time. It -was the worst "stick-up" of the whole trip. Good progress was afterwards made v'a Penola Casterton, and liallarat to Melbourne which was reached at 2.25 p.m. on Wednesday, exactly 33 hours 55 miu.; from time of leaving Adelaide. The total time from Fremantle to Melbourne (2334 miles) was i days, lljliourn. Away again at 5.8 p.m., the last sta,>e of the heartbreaking trip was tackled. Car tyres were in magnificent ordor. but the sleepless journey wan obviously telling on the plucky trio. Notwi'h-

standing their weariness Al'bury was passed through early on Thursday morning. A stop for petrol, and thj/ the rough country was tackled, Gunda gai being reached about mid-day. Gock roads through to Yatss and Goulbuvi enabled faster pace to be maintained r " but Hearing the end ot the journey wain of sleep told its tale and nearly robbec the party of getting to their destination inside the covetod nine days. A stop at Mittagong for strong hot coffec however helped to pull them through, and they eventually readied Sydney 2.40 a.m. on Friday, dust stained, tired and weary. The task" was*over. Man and machine Had triumphed, and the greatest feat in Australia motoring had been accomplished by sheer pluck, endurance and resourcefulness. The full time to Sydney from Fremantlc (allowing for difference in W.A. and N.S.W. times )was eight days 23 hours, 40minutcs equal to an average of over 320 miles a day tor practically nine days. Considering the country crossed it's a ■ phenomenal performance. Too much praise cannot be lavished on the tyres for the manner in which they stood the gnielliiu: The petrol consumption for tluV whole journey workedi out at about i 5 miles to the gallon. Needless to say it will be many a long day before this great drive is again tackled. The only previous record for the West to East trip stood to the credit of F. Birtles, who mi 1912, took a short route missing Adelaide and Melbourne, cutting across fro in Broken Hill to Sydney, reducing the distance to ?•}/•) miles. His time on a Tittle "Meiz" and; "Dunlops" was 2S days, 1 hour 32 minutes.