ON TWO WHEELS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 278, 14 February 1928, Page 7

ON TWO WHEELS

NEWS AND NOTES

SPORTS MOTOR-CYCLE CLUB PROVINCIAL HILL CLIMB CHAMPIONSHIP At the Sports Club general meeting held last Tuesday evening in the Chamber of Commerce it was decided to hold the Auckland provincial hill climb championships on Saturday, February 25, at Manger© Mountain. The following championships will be run: Up to and including 350 c.c. S.V., 350 c.c. 0.H.V., 500 c.c. 0.H.V., open unlimited class, and an amateur class. This latter class is open to riders who have not previously been placed in a hill climb. The prize money is good and competition will be keen. A special medal has been presented by Mr. A. Kohn for the open class. Over 1,000 spectators witnessed the last championships at Mangere Mountain and it is expected that a much greater number will be present on this occasion. Arrangements have been made to allow everyone an uninterrupted view of the entire climb. * * * SPORTS CLUB SOCIAL On Tuesday, February 21, at 8 p.m., in the Orient Tea Rooms, Newmarket, the club will hold a social evening to present th© prizes won in the recent 500-mile reliability trial, also to entertain the lady members in appreciation of their efforts on behalf of the club. MURIWAI SPEWED CHAMPIONSHIPS On March 17 and 18 Muriwai speed championships will be held. The following events will be run off: Side-car championship, up to 350 c.c. S.V., 350 c.c. 0.H.V., 500 c.c. O.H.V. and unlimited open. The Duran Cup has been presented for the 500 c.c. class, the only class which has not previously had a cup for competition. In additibn there will be a 30-mile race for the Acton Cup to be presented by Mr. J. Griffiths. Records will also be taken for the fastest machines for the flying half-mile. As the programme is a lengthy one some events will be run on Saturday afternoon. RUNS FOR THE MONTH Sunday, February 19.—Hunua, leaving Harp of Erin 10 a.m. Sunday, February 26.—Helensville, leaving Western Springs 9.30 a.m. Sunday, March 4. —Whitewash trail, leaving Harp of Erin 10 a.m. N.Z. OR PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP? At the last business meeting of the Sports Motor-cycle Club a good deal of discussion centred round the Question, of holding a New Zealand heavyweight hill climb championship, but it was finally decided to adhere to the usual programme of Auckland provincial championships only. CYCLE TRADERS THANKED The motor-cycle traders of Auckland were accorded a special vote of thanks at th© last meeting of the Sports Motor-cycle Club, in appreciation of their support of the recent 500-mile reliability trial. NOISY MOTOR-CYCLES Sports Motor-cycle Club members have promised to cut out as much noise as possible, in order to remove the public displeasure at noisy motorcycles. All motor-cyclists are asked to co-operate. Is England’s supremacy in the motorcycle world being slowly but surely undermined? England holds the greater majority of the records, but over the flying mile, the fastest 350 c.c. machine in the world is the Motosacoche at 105 m.p.h. The fastest 500 c.c. machine is the F.N. at 114 m.p.h., and for many years America has led in the 1,000 c.c. field, but then, of course, England does not recognise American records. The first motor-cyclist to cover 100 miles in an hour was C. F. Temple on a 996 c.c. 0.E.C.-Temple. This record was obtained on September 7, 1925, at Montlhery, and was officially confirmed by the International Federation of Motor-cycle Clubs (F.1.C.M.). The Christchurch Motor Club has on its programme a treasure hunt, and a pillion social reliability trial. Roth are absolute novelties as far as the club is concerned, and both should prove very popular. It is now possible to run singlecylinder motor-cycl© engines for a reasonably long period at 10,000 revolutions a minute. This is no doubt due to the wonderful improvement that has taken place in metals. 1928 REX ACME DESIGN The latest models of popular Rex Acme motor-cycle have a most pleasing appearance. This make now has lull duplex cradle frame, but is still fitting Blackburn engine, with smaller fly-wheel. The overhead .rocket standards are now cast as part of tho cylinder block, instead of being screwed in as formerly. Another feature is the allowance for six-cylinder head bolts instead of four as is the usual practice. Altogether the new Rex Acme is a most interesting little machine which should do well. NORTON TEST. The Norton test, conducted by the English Auto-cycle Union, was brilliantly concluded. Of the six 490 c.c. overhead-valve engines which were chosen at random by the A.C.U. from :he complete Norton stock of over 50, ach succeeded in covering the flying kilometre at Brooklands at over 80 miles an hour without any preliminary tuning, and then one engine was used for a successful attempt on the double 12-hour world’s record, and another, which was also selected by drawfng lots, was fitted to a side-car, and the machine, with Mr R. A. Prescott, the A.C.U. engineer, in the side-car, was driven down to Land’s End and then to John o’ Groats. No trouble of any sort occurred, except that at the start the sparking plug oiled up.

Was passing a house last week when I saw a motorist elaborately’ raise his flat at a housewife. Said her* neighbour: “‘Who’s that?” ‘‘Why don’t you know’,” was the answer; "E’s the ginetleman wot run over my. first 'usband.- _