MOTOR-CYCLING

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 106, 26 July 1927, Page 11

MOTOR-CYCLING

NEWS AND NOTES Over 25 machines turned out for the Sunday run to Helensville, leaving Grafton Bridge at 10 o'clock and going via Great North Road. A number of sporting riders went via Lincoln Road for a “little variation,” getting a certain amount of fun riding through the clay section. The other riders went via Wa.itakere, although this road is also in a very bad state. Several solo riders picked ujp pillion passengers, who were waiting tor them outside the city area. It is evident that club runs would be far more popular if pillion riding were allowed in and around the city. At Helensville all had an enjoyable swim in the Hinemoa baths, after which dinner was served at Springside House. The club returned early in the afternoon, voting the day’s outing a huge success. NORTH SHORE- CLUB The North Shore Motor Cycle and Sports Club will very likely enter a club team for the reliability race to be staged by the Auckland Club in the near future; it is expected that four machines will be entered. The club has a fixture to Long Beach next Sunday, at which Auckland members are welcome. The assembly is the junction of Lake and Albert Roads, Devonpoi t, at 9.30 a.m. The club has a deputation waiting on Takapuna Borough Council on Wednesday evening to discuss several matters of import to cyclists. BRITISH RIDERS’ VISIT The two British riders who are visiting New Zealand on their world-tour mounted on B.S.A. motor-cycle outfits are expected to arrive in Wellington within a few days. They will first tour the South Island, afterwards coming North and arriving in Auckland on August 31 at about 3.30 p.m. Both Cathrick and Cantley are very fine chaps, and will no doubt create as favourable an in New Zealand as they have done in Australia. The tourists report that they are delighted with what they have seen of Australia, and that it has been the most enjoyable visit of the whole tour. The roads were emphatically bad, and as a result they were held up several times with punctures. They report that their B.S.A. machines have not given them the slightest trouble, and. with the exception of punctures, the journey has been trouble free. The whole of the equipment used is of British manufacture. From Perth the tourists were given a rousing send-off from the G.P.O. by a representative gathering, including the Mayor of Perth, Mr. J. T. Franklin, Mr. C. R. Butt, president of the Royal Automobile Club, and Mr. Samuels, Trade Commissioner. The tourists intend staying two days in Auckland, where they will be entertained by the A.A.A. and tendered a smoke concert by the Sports Motorcycle Club, at which all motor-cyclists will have an opportunity of hearing interesting details of the tour. The tour of Auckland Province includes Thames, Te Aroha, Rotorua, Opotiki and Gisborne, returning to Wellington, where the tourists will embark for Valparaiso. PRICES FOR SECOND-HAND

The following are average prices asked for used machines of popular makes in first-class order: —Douglas, 22, 1926, £45; Douglas, 22, 1924, £33; 8.5. A., 2\, 1925, £3O; 8.5. A., 22 S.V., 1925, £3B; Indian Scout, 1925, £SO; Indian Scout, 1926, £GO; Indian Super Chief and S.C., 1925, £80:’ HarleyDavidson and S.C., 1925, £75; A.J.S., 22, D.H.V., 1925, £45 (electric); A.J.S.,

22, S.V., 1925, £3O; Norton, 31, 0.H.V., ; 1925, £45; Triumph P., 3?., 1925, £35. NEW FEATURES ON CYCLE The O.E.C. motor-cycle factory *is ! producing an entirely new model, which does not follow conventional ; practice. The machine is much lower ' and the usual front forks are replaced by prolonging the top and bottom front i frame tubes, with two long steering | columns mounted on Timken bearings. The wheel is mounted between double coil spring and pivots castorwise between the steering columns. The new design, which necessitates the engine being tilted forward and the carbur- | etter coming close under the tank, has the throttle barrel turned horizontally by means of a special union. The jweight of the 3S h.p. is 3211 b, and i iground clearance is 3iin. i The steering and stability of the ! machine are wonderful. In a recent test it was ridden two up with the | hands pff and rolled from side to side I until the frame members bumped on i the ground. This would have been !an alarming angle for an ordinary ! machine. NEW SPEED RECORDS Many attempts covering a number j of years have been made to cover 100 j miles in an hour on a 500 c.c. motor- • cycle. Recently A. Denby (Norton) accomplished this on Brooklands ; track, travelling 100.3 miles in 60min and winning the “Motor Cycle” trophy, which has been so much sought for. I Maintaining a speed of 100 m.p.h. for an hour is truly a wonderful feat of I endurance for both rider and machine. , Denby at the same time broke the world's record for 500 . c.c. machines, j which now stands at 110 m.p.h., api proximately five miles an hour faster than the existing record. W. D. Marchont, riding a 22 Moto- | soche on a French speedway, has also lowered the world’s mile record for 350 j c.c. machines, his time being in excess I of 104 m.p.h., a phenomenal speed for n 22 h.p. motor-cycle. She was very pretty and had been . stopped by a policeman for “speeding” down Piccadilly. He was furious, and proceeded to take her number. “What’s your name?” he growled, glaring at j her. She smiled sweetly up at him. “Cynthia. What’s yours?”