CYCLING & MOTORING NOTES

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 20 March 1913, Page 3

CYCLING & MOTORING NOTES

E. A. Cato's attempt last week to better ,T. Bolger's Melbourne Sydney motor cycle record of 23 hrs. 11 m">., failed owing to heavy ram sotting in between Goulburn awl Yass. A' tn* 1 last named town Oato relinquished his ride and took the train as it was useless pu.eeeding further in the wet. As' the season is now getting rather late for this class of record riding, it is hardly likely that Bolger's figures will 'be reduced unt:l next summer, when no doubt further efforts will >o mado to cut down the time for tlie motor cycle ride between these two capitals. , „ , „ i The promoters of the first l< reach 6 days bicycle race, recently decided in Paris, and won by A. Goullet, the Australian Crack (who teamed with Fogler, U.S.A.) made after defraying all expenses, nearly £-1000, and that after giving big prize money. The takings for ono day alone totalled £2,880. How different is the financial story of the recent 6 days Bicycle Race held in Melbourne. I' rom what one hears,' the riders percentage of the gate was very poor recompense for the week's 'riding, and some of the contestants would have been more m pocket if .thev 'had kept at their usmd work. This >style of Racing, to be a success, must he full of go and excitement from, start to finish, and the field must comprise only first class stayers and <spr:Titcrs. Again a small covered track is essential to the success of such a contest. In the recent Parisian event, -nearly £3OOO was donated by spectators as special prizes, and the race was brimful of excitement throughout. A fine amateur rid£r has been .unearthed an Sydney in S. R. Burtensliaw, who last week carried off the one mile Amateur Australian Championship. This season the same rider has also won the half-mile and ten miles Australasian events, Burtenj sliaw only started racing in 1911, so | that his career on the track has been | a meteoric one. . He is a fine stamp of athlete, stands 6 feet a.nd weighs 12 stone. The five miles championship event was also decided in Syd<new, and was won by A. Beck (New South Wales). Fourteen representa- | tives from Victoria and Queensland , competed. , J Particular interest will attacl] -.to this year's French Grand Prix motor \ car race, the premier event of its kind in the world, inasmuch as a motor cycle contest and also a cycle car race are to b§ held tho day after the big car event has been decided. The motor cycle and cycle ear races vrilt be held on a 12 miles * circuit.. The date of these two events is July 13th, and as tremendous crowds will flock in France to see the Grand Prix, the two new French fixtures are sure to attract considerable attention, particularly the cycle car race, which will he the first' event 1 of its kind held.