CYCLING AND MOTORING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 172, 7 December 1912, Page 7

CYCLING AND MOTORING.

A verv fine motor drive was recorded the other day by Messrs A. V. Dodwell and A. Lang, who left' Sydney at I'j oclock on one morning, uul at 1i.50 on the following afternoon had reached Brisbane, the distance between the capitals—about 700 miles—being negotiated in 3(ih. f>om. The record, breakers had the bad- luck

to strike a 4iif tropica] 'downpour during part of the trip, thus losing considerable time crossing creeks and boggy, black soil plains. During the ride numerous mountain ranges had to be negotiated, some of them reaching'an altitude of l.oOOft, so I hat. tin l record is indeed 0 wonderful performance.

An ocean-to-oceaii motor cycle ride across the American continent was .field last month. The 4000 odd miles of country between New York and San Diego (California) was divided into sections of about 100 miles each, over which three motor cyclists had to race with a, wallet containing a message from the American War Department. Day and night, wet Or fine, the chiin of motor cyclists had to proceed across the United Stales. The event attracted considerable interest in America, special permits being granted alijug the route to enable fast times to lie negotiated. There, is little doubt that the idea of this big relay ride emanated from the successful event organised on similar lines by the Dunlop Kubber Company from Adelaide to Sydney last April. At the time the American Press gave considerable publicity to the event. The average speeds recorded by the three divisions in this ride —cyclists, motor cyclists, and carists being pitted against each other over the 1.140-miie course — were: Cyclists. Ki 1 /, miles per hour; motor cyclists. 22 one-sixth miles per hour; and earisls. 24 miles per hour. The weather conditions for the AdelaideSydney event could hardly have been worse, heavy rain falling along most of the route. It will be interesting .to see how (he average speed of th American motor cyclists will compare with that established in Australia. The result of the American transcontinental.relay ride should be to hand bv the next mail.