MOTOR AND CYCLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 September 1919, Page 10

MOTOR AND CYCLE.

TRACK SPEED EVENT. France has again won the "Indianapolis 500," the premier track speed event in America, the winning car being a "Peugeot," a make that has already figured successfully in this big event on previous occasions. As usual an enormous crowd witnessed the contest, the official figures being 100,000. There were 33 starters, comprising the leading drivers and cars of America, including cars from France, and this half dozen filled first, third, and fourth places. De Palnia took the lead at the start, lapping at the rate of over 90 miles an hour. Close behind was H. Wilcox (Peugeot). The leader (Do Palma (Packard) made the pace so warm that retirements, and stoppages for adjustments, etc., soon kept the repairing dr-pots busy. At 250 miles the crack "Packard" driver was still in the lead, but stopping for tyre changes and refilling tanks lost his position to Wilcox, who was never afterwards headed, he negotiating the 500 miles in shrs 40 mins 4psecs. E. Ilearne (Durant) finished second, 4 minutes behind the winner, his time being shrs 44mins 29sec-, whilst third place fell to .T. Goiix' (Peugeot), the 1014 winner of this, race, in nhrs 49mins lsec. A Guvot (Ballot) was fourth, and De Palma sixth. The winner's purse was £SOOO, and his average speed. 87.0;3 m.p.h, which was not quite as fast as Dc Palma's win onia Mercedes in 1015. During the race a Roamer car had a disastrous accident. The petrol tank exploded and the car overturned, killing the two ' occupants instantly. Another driver was also killed through overturning his car. The winner, Howard Wilcox, is a well-known American driver, who is thoroughly at home on the Indianapolis circuit of 2% miles.

NON-STOP ENGINE PERFORMANCE. A fine non-stop engine performance on the road has' been registered in America where an "Overland" ear was driven continuously for seven days and seven nights, totalling IGB hours without engine ever being stopped. What makes the performance even more meritorious is the fact that the gear change lever was dismantled, and the gears sealed in "high," the whole trip of 4370 1-10 miles being negotiated on top. This achievement is a world's record.

UP-TO-DATE MOTOR-DROME. It has been defihitely decided that an up-to-date motor-drome is to be erected on the old Friendly Societies' ground witllin a mile of Melbourne. Arrangements are now well in hand for pushing on the construction of the banked track, grandstands, etc. The track is to be a third of a mile in circumference, banked at the outer edge up to 18 feet high. The running surface is to be of cement, 34 feet wide, and it is anticipated that it will carry a speed of over 100 miles an hour, which it will need to do if the present day motor-cycle is to show its best pace. Special attention is to be paid to the lighting installation so that racing can be carried on safely at night time during tiie summer months. All going well it is anticipated that the "motor-drome will be ready for opening about the end of the present year. With the advent of this track there will be a great boom in motor speed racing, for we have some of the finest motor cyclists ill the world in Australia. The track will also be suitable for cycle racing and motor car speed work, and will also prove of considerable value to the motor trade as a testing ground Ample provision is to be made for the protection and comfort of the public, about onethird of the circuit being enclosed with grandstands.. The position of the grounds is convenient and close to the city, an electric tram service passing the gates. Tenders are to be let this month for the construction of the motordrome