HERE AND THERE, April 1927

HERE AND THERE.

A Little ‘Un “Down Under.”

One of the most strenuous events in Australia is the 1,000 mile Six Days Trial organised by the New South Wales M.C.C. In this event, out of the 35 who started, only five completed the course without loss of marks—a 10 h.p. Harley-Davidson combination, three 3,1 h.p. Triumphs, and a 1-1 h.p. Villiers engined machine known locally as Waratah. Credit is due to all these makes, but in particular to the little Waratah, which, despite atrocious weather conditions, carried its rider without trouble up all the hills and arrived punctually at the checks.

Rover History.

Many of the motorists who will have seen from advertisements, &c., that March 21st-26th was” Rover Week” may be unaware as to what this week commemorates. Actually, however, it was in 1877-50 years ago—that the Rovers began making bicycles, and in that year it was their proud boast that the Rover was ” Britain’s Best Bone-Shaker” ! What really brought the Rover to the front was the advent of the Rover ” safety ” bicycle, which was invented by Mr. J. K. Starley, father of the firm’s present managing director, in 1885. As evidence of the popularity of this machine is the fact that when the Forbidden City of Thibet was first entered by white men a Rover bicycle was found there !

The first Rover car was introduced in 1904, and in 1907 Rover history was marked by two events—first, the winning of the Tourist Trophy race in the Isle of Man on a 20 h.p. model ; and, secondly, the production of a 6 h.p. car at the sensationally low price of 100 guineas. The present day Rovers—the 9/20 h.p. and the 16/50 h.p., known as ‘` The Nippy Nine” and” The Silken Sixteen,” are in keeping with the firm’s good name for quality and workmanship.

Changes at Brooklands.

When the track re-opened last month several well known riders were found to have” changed their stables.” That speed wizard, J. S. Wright, who is usually an” odds-on” price with the book-makers, was riding Brough-Superiors, whilst other famous riders who will be seen on the same make are 0. M. Baldwin, E. C. E. Baragwanath and R. E. Humphries. With so formidable a team it seems likely that the ” B-S. ” will be more in the limelight than ever this year.

The Proof of the Pudding.

At the Motor Show last autumn much interest was shown in the two-colour bodies of the Rover cars exhibited. The Rover Company states that these have proved extremely popular, a very large percentage of buyers taking advantage of the enhanced appearance they provide. A small extra charge is made for dual tone bodies on the 9/20 h.p. model, but the ” 16/50 ” is supplied in the customer’s choice of colours at the ordinary figure.

Motor Cycles for China.

We hear from Dunford & Elliott (Sheffield) Ltd., makers of the Dunelt motor-cycle, that they have been particularly brisk with export trade recently. Orders from India include two new accounts in Calcutta and Rangoon, whilst a large batch of commercial outfits have been sent to Batavia. Incidentally, the recipients of these state that they are proposing to replace their whole fleet of motor vans by Dunelt motor outfits. A big order has also been received from Manchuria, and the manufacturers state naively that they do not know whether the machines are to be used for chasing the Cantonese or for assisting the Chinese armies to retreat at speed !