EXACTING TESTS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 March 1930, Page 8

EXACTING TESTS

FOR A POPULAR CAR. Recently in Victoria, Essex the Challenger was submitted to some very searching tests for roadability and came through with Hying, colours. Mr A. H. Oaeetham left Wangaratta on ith February at 6. 2 d a.m. and arrived in -uelbourne at 11.10 a.m., covering lne distance of 147 miles in 4 hours 4a minutes. The average speed maintained was 31.2 miles per hour. The petrol used was 4 gallons 7 pints, an average of 31.1 miles per gallon. The highest speedometer registration was oj miles per hour. This test, as were ail others which followed was carefully observed. Another test was carried out Ay Air J. Montgomery with a passenger who left Hamilton and went to Aleibourne via Ballarat—lß2 miles in -1 hours 24 minutes; average speed ■-J..3 miles per hour. Air J. Summers, witu a passenger, covered 196 miles from Hoisam to Melbourne via Glenorchy in 4 hours; average speed 44.1 miles per hour. An Essex Roadster, driven by Mr E. Anthony, with a passenger, travelled 100 miles from Ecliuea to Melbourne, via Uendigo in 3 hours -14 minutes; average speed 41.5 miles per hour. A three-mile sand test was conducted by Air Noel Duckett, whom Essex Challenger pulled through 3 miles of continuous loose sand between Rye and Sorrento Back Beach. Messrs ■S. W. Jenkin and A. B. James broke the Mildura-Aleibourne road record by 86 minutes, covering the distance of 378 miles in 8 hours 32 minutes. The previous record was 9 hours 8 minutes, the average speed as 44.8 miles pci hour. 100 miles of the road is loose sanu. The Melbourne “Herald” conducted tests with Essex the Challenger, setting three new acceleration records and a new flying mile record. The acceleration test from a standing start was as follows:

0-25 miles per hour (1 and 2-gears) Time 2 9/10 seconds.

0-25 miles per hour (1, 2 and 3 gears): Time 3 seconds. 10-30 miles per hour (high gear) : Time 5 7/10 seconds.

WHEELER’S HILL TEST

STANDING START.

0-50 miles per hour in 51 3/10 seconds.

In high gear from 15 miles per hour to 4o miles per hour in 51 3/10 seconds.

Only one other car, which was a high-powered eight cylinder model, has ever attained these figures on this hill. The surface at the time of the test was in a very rougn and had condition. In the flying mile test the car showed an average speed of 70 miles per hour. Speedometer readings and distances covered were correctly checked before the tests and timing was carried out by the aid of two stop vatches. The Camperdown .“Chronicle” records that an Essex Challenger climbed Art. Leura, and was the first closed car to ascend the mount. It had no trouble in reaching the top with a cargo of four adults. The feat was officially witnessed and testified to. On top of these searching tests advice lias been received that an Essex Challenger Roadster broke the Aleibourne Adelaide and return record hv 9 hours 57 minutes; the total distance was 1,190 miles; the time 33 hours 42 minutes.