HERE AND THERE, April 1927

HERE AND THERE.

London-Edinburgh for 3/4.

On Thursday, 24th March, Mrs. Grenfell, the wellknown lady competition rider, set out from London on a Francis-Barnett motorcycle with a 1.47 h.p. Villiers engine, to attempt to reach Edinburgh at a running cost of four shillings.

The trip, which took two days, was observed by officials of the Auto Cycle Union and was eminently successful, for the petrol consumption averaged approximately 200 miles per gallon, 1.928 gallons being the actual amount used. The petrol price was therefore 2/7, and to this must be added the cost of pint of oil9d.—making 3/4 in all.

Mrs. Grenfell has therefore completed the 395 mile test with flying colours and has shown that lightweight motorcycling is cheaper, almost, than shoe leather, since her running costs worked out at nearly ten miles a penny.

Overseas Successes.

J. Vidal, who is considered to be Spain’s foremost racing motorcyclist, has just established a new record for the Ordal race, run off on 13th March. Vidal established a record for the race on a 1,000 c.c. machine in 1918 at 65 kilometres per hour, but he has now broken this record on a 4.90 h.p. Norton, at 82 k.p.h.

In the Dublin Cup Trial organised by the Dublin & District club on St. Patrick’s Day, J. G. Burney was successful in winning the Dunlop Cup on his 3.46 h.p. Enfield.

Speeding up Raleighs.

Up till this year Raleigh machines have been associated with reliability rather than speed. Since the well known motor-cycle expert, O’Donovan, joined the Raleigh staff great strides have been made already in speeding up the o.h.v. model. Where speeds of 60-70 m.p.h. were considered creditable, such speeds are now referred to in everyday terms, and the speed of 85 m.p.h. has already been achieved. Even this is not sufficient to satisfy O’Donovan, and it is quite expected that a three-figure mark will shortly be attained.

A. J. S. in the ” Victory ” Trial.

In the 150 miles ” Victory ” Open F,eliability Trial on the 12th March, for which 220 contestants entered, Mr. E. W. Jones, riding a 21 h.p. A. J. S., secured the Jennen’s Cup for the Best Amateur Performance, solo or sidecar ; the Turner Cup for the Best Performance under 21 years of age, trade or private, falling to Mr. S. Jackson, who rode a 2/ h.p. A. J. S. solo.

Mr. Frank W. Giles, who gained a gold medal and tied for fastest time in the Acceleration Test, was one of the Stourport M.C.C. team who won the Club Championship Prize for the best aggregate performance of a nominated team from any affiliated club, his mount being a 21 h.p. A. J. S. with sidecar.

Other gold medals were won by the following :— Messrs. J. H. Simpson and J. H. W. Clift ; riders of 3i h.p. A. J. S. machines ; and G. E. Rowley, D. Brandish and S. Jackson, each on 21 h.p. A. J. S. machines. Mr. P. H. Herbert on a 2/ h.p. A. J. S. won a silver medal ; and five other A. J. S. riders secured bronze medals.

The newly organised Raleigh Athletic Club, which is the result of the amalgamation of the various sports clubs which previously existed in the Raleigh Works, has produced its first journal under the title of “The Raleigh-Gram.” The club has acquired a large piece of land, which has been converted into a sports ground There will be facilities for football, cricket, hockey, tennis, etc., and, what is perhaps of first importance, a well designed cycle track for racing events. The club is in a fiourishigg condition both as regards membership and finance, ad it is confidently expected that its activities will lat enthusiastically supported by Raleigh employees.