CYCLING AND MOTOR NOTES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 91, 24 April 1913, Page 3

CYCLING AND MOTOR NOTES.

SILENCER TRIALS. The recent silencer trials held in England by the Auto Cycle Union was, without the least doubt, one of the most important events that has ocurred for some time in the motor cyclc world. It has been a habit with the majority of motor cycles for many years past to be extremely noisy. This habit has brought them into bad odour with a large section of the public who take exception to the “conk” of a healthy “single.” It lias been demonstrated many times that a machine fitted with a correctly designed silencer is capable of developing more power than one exhausting straight into the atmosphere. When one comes to look into the matter, it is but natural that this should be so. But the 'motor cycling public has all along. .refused toy believe in the truth of this theory. The' ment invariably was that everyone au fait with the facts know exactly well that a silencer spelt back pressure, and, therefore, loss of power. There was a certain amount of excuse, however, for the continual reiteration of this statement, owing to the fact that in many cases the silencers as fitted to thd machines of the period, were almost as efficient as the brakes in slowing the machine. The recent trials proved that a motor cycle can be very silent any yet "most-efficient, and there is really no excuse for a noisy exhaust. The result of the trial will be welcome to all, and the day is not far distant when the motor cycle will be almost as quiet as an up-to-date car.

A CHAMPION PACER

A. EL Shepherd, the champion pace follower of Australia, has fixed up a riding engagement with a well-known Parisian sports promoter, and leaves at an early date for France. With experience Shepherd promises to der velop into a first class man at this branch of cycle racing, and if he can only command up-to-date motor pacing, it should not he long before he makes good in Europe. It is Shepherd’s intention to take part in the World’s paced championship to be decided next August in Berlin. THE BLUE RIBAND OF MOTORING. South Africa is apparently anxious to secure a position for herself in the high places of sport. The success of her sole cycling representative, H. Lewis, in the Olympia Games 200 miles road race last year was, it will be remembered, greeted with extraordinary enthusiasm, his supporters even going so far as to endeavour to obtain for the Lake Malar hero a State pension. It is now announced that the Committee of the Rand M.C.C. arc raising £2OO for the purpose of sending Mr Percy Flook, a Johannesburg motor cyclist to the Isle of Man (England), to compete in this year’s Tourist Trophy Motor Cycle Road Race, which is the Blue Riband event of its kind in the world. It was at one time suggested that the motor cyclists of the Commonwealth should take steps to have Australia represented in this great road contest, but nothing was done, and it is very evident that the cycling and motor cycling bodies of South Africa have a lot more energy and more money than have similar bodies in this country. We have the men but apparently it. is no ones business to see that these two branches of sport in Australia arc represented in ■jnv of the world’s loading international cycling and motor cycling contests.