MOTOR AND CYCLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 April 1918, Page 8

MOTOR AND CYCLE.

JsEWS AND NOTES. The "Indian" motor-cycle, which lias won great popularity in this country, derived its name in rather au interesting manner. It appears that G. M. Hendee, president of the Hendee Company, which manufactures this maphine in America, is descended from a Ironch Huguenot, who, upon arrival in America married a beautiful Indian maiden. Hence the name "The Indian." It is hard to realise, says the Motor Cycling (Eng.) that after three years' experience of active service work the guard clearance question is just as critical to-day as ever it was. Despatch riders from every sphere of action, no> matter what make of machine they ride, are unanimous in their condemnation of modern guards and clearances. For three successive winters they have personally drawn the manufacturers' attention to the nuisance and seriousness of this chronic guard trouble. It is not to be wondered at, then, if they complain bitterly that the machines issued to-dav are little better than their predecessors in this respect. Along most fronts it is impossible to proceed without working your passage, for every hundred yards or so it is necessary to dig out the clav and dirt. The only alternative is the" discard'ng of the guards, and this, although it is extremely undesirable most rider® are compelled to do. Others who are most resourceful and have access to a bench and a few tools, ingeniously fashion shields of various designs from old tins or whatever scrap material that may be handy, to protect themselves and their machines as much as possible from the slush and mud of the road. That they succeed, sorely handicapped as they are. where the manufacturers with every tool and convenience at their disposal fail, is surely a feat tvf whicli to be proud, and, most important of all this shows that with a little thought along original lines efficient guards for active service machines can be devised. It. seems impossible, however, for manufacturers to thro* aside their cycle-day ideas of narrow hubs, 1 5-lfi inch threads, etc., and to produce something really practical which might be\ termed a "eotorcycle" in the true sense. The begrudging of $-inch additional clearance here. 1 inch in width somewhere else, is typical of them all, and will remain so until failure forces their hands or the authorities to accept a practical engineer's design and standardise a military model. > Great interest is being taken in the motor cycle speed carnival which is being promoted at Mortlake (Victoria) during the Easter holidays by the Victorian Motnr-cyele Club, Record entries have been received for the 200-miles rfc'-ce, also for the 07 miles side-car race event. A reliability run from Melbourne to Mortlake 045 miles) will also be one of the features of the gathering. The profits are to be donated to patriotic funds. Last, year resulted in the substantial profit of £lsl. For the first time in the history of motoring In Australia, tV same ear and tyre combination now bolds the three classic Inter-state road records. The ,'Talbot" once held the Melbourne-Syd-ney and Melbourne-Adelaide records, but by Mr. Boyd Kdkins' recent successful drive from Brisbane ir, Svonev in 2fi hours 3 minutes on a Dunlop-shod Prince eHnry "Vauxliall," the last named combination now has the unique honor of . holding all three, viz: the Melbourne(Sydney and Brisbane-Sydney by Mr. Ed- | kins and the Melbourne-Adelaide by Mr. Murray Aunger. In all three instances the car record is better t'han the best railway express time for the respective Inter-state journey, despite the fact that hundreds of miles of vile roads have to be negotiated on each of the overland ' trips. The actual time occupied by the three Vauxhalls for the 17S0 miles from Brisbane to Adelaide is 57 hours 52 minutes, on an average of thirty miles an i hour —a fine performance for drivers, i j cars and tyres.