NEW YORK—PARIS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9109, 31 March 1908, Page 7

NEW YORK—PARIS.

THE MOTOR RACE. The Hew York to Paris mofcor’race started from Hew York on February 13th. The competing cars included three French cars, oue German, one American and one Italian car. The Matin calls this a tour round the Pole, and if one looks _ down upon a globe from a point directly over the North Pole, one realises the propriety of the description, for a line from Hew York to Alaska and thence through Siberia to Paris does seem pretty nearly to throw a loop around the North Polar tract of the sphere. The following description of the De Dion car illustrates the thoroughness with which the competitors have prepared for every eventualitv:— “The frame is entirely lined with soft wood to supplement its steel parts, and these are in turn wrapped first with felt and then wound with insulating cloth for the purpose of protecting them from the extreme cold. The body is especially designed by the Marquis De Dion and Captain Hansen, and jirovides tanks with a capacity of 1000 litres, or about 260 gallons. Over these tanks are lockers, which are commodious and designed for supplies, where implements or extra parts of small bulk may be carried. Over the body, immediately above the lockers, a cape hood fits, clearing the lockers just far enough to admit of the drivers lying down, while curtains, dropping to the ground on either side, protect them and the machine as well from severities of weather, either snow or rain. Those curtains may be dropped all about the car or may drape on the sides and iback alone, permitting the continue on its way with them down. _ In front of the car is fixed a steel ring and socket, and into it will fit a mast. To this mast Captain Hansen believes he can attach a small sail, to be purchased while 'in Seattle, whereby ho will be able travel over the frozen tundras in Siberia, aiding the motor to traverse this frozen country and saving his gasoline supply. He expects with this aid to keep the car going at all times in that country, minimising the risk of the water freezing in his radiator. In the equipment is a small hand-j)ower electric motor, which will be carried to furnish light at night in the Arctic region, While mounted in front of the driver is a compass by which lie hopes to avoid losing his' way over trackless

snow. A small roller in front carries a route map of this district as well, on which he expects to trace his course. A sextant is also provided for the taking of observations where the locality is uninhabited and the way obscure.”