MOTOR AND CYCLE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8352, 12 February 1913, Page 11

MOTOR AND CYCLE

The Wellington Motor Cycling Club's speed trials at Miramar on Saturday proved very interesting, being witnessed by quite a number of spectators. Some high speeds were obtained, the placed men in the final being H. Plimmer (Douglas), P. England (Indian), and RBender (Indian). , S. L. Bailey, ox-amateur champion, of New South Wales, who, since turning professional, has raced with notable success in England on Brooklands track, is returning to Australia. His last performance in England prior to leaving was to lower the flying kilometre and records at Brooklands, liis mount being a new Douglas of 350 c.c. capacity, fitted with steel cylinders. The records he at tacked were held by H. Martin. Bailey s times were 30.85e0 (73.63 m.p.h.) f° r the flying kilometre, and sX.4seo (70.04 m.p.h./ for the flying mile. Martin s old I®®® l ’™ were 32.765ec (68.28) and 53.065e0 (6/.85, respectively. Shortly after these figures, Bailey and P. V\ eathonlt, another notable English rider, lelt together for Australia. The continual rise in the price petrol in all parts of the world is attracting serious attention from experts with a view to finding a cheaper substitute. In England alone close on <u million gallons of petrol were used last )'® ar > and the recent increases in price in England now represent a large sum of money, which has annually to come put of motorists' pockets. The same applies to almost every motoring centre in the woriu. So far recent developments point to benzol, which is obtained from 0?*!; providing the best and cheapest substitute. A new process known as Del . Monte has recently been invented, which is said to yield a bigger percentage of benzol per ton of coal than any other process. The inventors of the Del Monte process claim that they can produce h* 3 to 10 gallons of 100 per cent. b<mzol per ton in addition to several other valuable products for which an active marxet exists. One colliery in England is already erecting a plant capable pt turning out over 7,000,000 gallons pi benzol per annum, which can be retailed at iu pence per gallon. Francis Birlles, tb,e overland cyclist and motorist,' motored into Rockhampton <Q.) on January 31st in oilskin coat and covered with mud. His 20-h.p. FI anil era car, his brother, C, Birtles, and friend, C. Bartley, also bore evidence ox having had uncomfortable experiences. Birtles said between Brisbane and Rockhampton he had struck the monsoonal season. He left Brisbane about the beginning of December (says the correspondent of the “Sydney Referee"). He diverted from the usual road to the Central capital, and travelled via Esk, JManango, and along the country traversed, by the Burnett Ranges. His tour excited much curiosity, while the dithoulties en route were stupendous. It was the first occasion on which - a motor car had travelled over some of the country. Having knowledge of the great floods and rains from below Bnndaberg and northwards. Birtles came to Rockhampton, m Cania, Kroombit, Banana, wrt Westwood. The journey was considerably round about, but one which afforded the traveller much excitement. Progress was only made at the rate ofthreo fules to a gallon of benzine, which, Birtles.said, was equal is 20 miles on an ordinary road. Several times the party had to camp beside the creeks until the floods .had subsided. At Rroomblt, as the < >w « slowly wending its way along the mountain side, which also termed the bankof a creek, the earth suddenly subsided, and caused the car to drop into about pit Hoover, affer lightering the oar of everything movable, the three men pulled it te shore with ropes. Birtles has ateo. obtained some toe cinematoscrapii views. lor the past tarea week! the party has Jived while previously they livedHWht%nM (a small marsupial) tor a fortnight. U»ca the netrol gave out, and a messenger with a packhorfe was despatched for more. On the return half tne spirit was lo • Birtles will continue his northern trip via Eongreach. How many motorists simply E trap their spare covers qwte toprote c t®At fhn aide of the car te be lett till wanted. 1 cover thus neglected is bou^„^°„ to grief. It stands to reason that a tyre which is constantly exposed to “ even damp must soon begin to deteriorate Strong sunlight is equally la J u “‘ ous causing the .best of rubber to harder* <m>wbrittle,* and lose its resiliency. There is also the probability that the unprotected tyre will become ehafed by friction, or spotted and smeared with oil any one of which causes.will suffice to render it. worthless before theL° c £f*the for usmg it arises. How then. is rue motorist te ' preserve his covers ? Ihe answeris vefy simple. .j^rry.each £ them in a special covering, a iiicneun waterproof wrapper for instance, wtoh effectually protects the covers, and can be quickly removed at will.