1931-05-26 — Page 2

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS TUESDAY, MAY 26, 1931.

♪

“A NEW SPORT FOR H.K. CYCLISTS.

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK IN NEW TERRITORIES.

It has often occurred to me that very few Hong Kong motor-cyclists Dre aware of the excellent sport which the Colony has to offer to those who are prepared to wander far from the beaten track.

Sooner

later one tires of the eternal sixty mile più round the New Territories, and one begins to think longingly of the old days! back in England, when one strad dled a hot-stuff bus at the beginning of a long week-end, with the joyous anticisation of adding a few more hundred miles to the already big total on the Boaniksen before the time came to slow the beloved model back in the familiar corner of the garage again. what time we answered the call of that most loathe-some of all inevitabilities, Monday Morning.

SPARKS

FROM THE PLUGS

THE PRESS AND THE MOTOR INDUSTRY.

There are hills suited to praci cally every grade of skill on the part of the rider; some of them would give the Bert Kershaws of the Colony an anxious, qualm_or two, whilst others require nothing more than average riding ability, coupled with and this must not be overlooked-a pretty steady nerving them how to appreciate the and good sense of judgment, for some quite interesting drops are countryside properly, and also pensible on even the easiest climbs.

Up to Shatin, Gap.

· (Continued from Page 1)

manners on the highway-the last being a most important point.

The Press as Teacher, The first hill I ever tackled in Hong Kong is one I recommend to

With so many thousands of new those of my renders who have not much experieure in this class of motorista on the road, each year it riding. I refer to the math lead-is most essential that the Press ing up to Shatin Gap from Kaw loon City. The gradient is fairly should continue its excellent work easy, the surface is quite good-ex-in teaching these heginners that the cept after heavy rains-while the highway is not the privilege of the corners are sharp enough to need i ready throttle and clutch control, few, but the property of the many. without causing a fair or good } The Press enn also đơn great deal rider any undre perturbation.

This hill can be climbed feet up as far as the last corner but one, which is easily the worst of the lot, and requires full right lock to get, round at all.

Those lang, glorious main rond

Quite recently I climbed this spins, with all their leasures and

and particular hill no less than seven uncertainties, adventures happy memories, are of course Lines in one afternoon in an en- denied us here in Hong Kong, it deavour to achieve a feet up clini in another branch of the sport, a¦

from bottom to top, but each time branch that has it's devoters where was baulked by this one corner, ever motor cycles are ridden, wa and I personally do not think it nre well served: I refer to hit possible to negotiate this bad hair- climbing and rough riding. Thegin without footing.

by telling the public that the beauty of England is not alwaya, to be found by scorching along the main, ronde, but by exploring the villages, old, houses and churches, which often lie only a few miles off the main roads and can easily he approached from by-roads which jare unknown to 09 out of every

hundred motorists.

I should like to pay tribute to the British motor industry as a

feeling which comes to one from Riders who want something real-whole for the remarkable way in taking us up a seemingly ur difficult will be more than salis which-under adverse conditions climbable hill must be experienced fed if they tackle the Shatin Poss to be appreciated; I know of only climb, which has it's begininng they have continued to advertise, one thing which gives one-a feel about half a mile to the east of the thus showing not only their faith ing of greater whilaration, and of hill afrendy described. The grudi in the British Press as an advertis that my contemporary, Prof. Tort of this hill is in some places que, is better qualified to speak very severe. the surface at times ing medium, but also demonstrat- than I

resembles a stone staircase, and to ing their faith in their own pro- 3fany of the bill paths in Newclimb it at all without external as

duct, This faith has been more Kowloon and the New Territories sistance is something of an achieve are climbable by a fairly powerful ment. Like most. Eills, it is ex-than justified by the recent world machine, and apart from the sport tremely easy of descent, so easy in records achieved by British pro- ahtained in the actual negotiation fact that I had to exercise great ducts on land and sea and in tha of the hill itself, the importunity care in, sitting down for some days

air. I an quite convinced that of viewing the beautiful scenery after my last exploit on it's slopes from an altitude of a thousand feet There is naturally a certain when trade incrcases, as it is bound' or more, without a long and tiring amount of risk attached to thir trudge on foot as a necessary 'mre- sort of pastime, but then, no thereto, so will the volume of motor liminary, is well worth the effort. is to taking ten on the top of advertising in the Press increase, Shakespeare's Cliffe on a pleasant because no branch of industry is El Paths in New Kowloon,

summer afternoon, and the would

who The keen rider, to whom thene rebe sporting motor-cyclist marks are really addressed, will of would stop to consider exactly cours find interest mainly in the what is going to happen to him riding part of programme, and if and his machine if his brakes fail he goes to the foot of one of the when he is at the wrong end of a hill paths in New Kowloon with wicked-looking piece of "one-in two the abjret of having some fun, he or so, had better keep to the Castle will not be disappointed. ·

Peak road-and boredom.

so wealthy in its passibilities us the British, motoring industry.

"British Goods are Best.

It is my opinion that the Press can do not better work than con-

|

British goods are best, and par ticularly British motor products, The Press can do no better work than in continuing its intelligent news and comments on the design of British engines and cars com pating in the various entional and international events, far in this manner they will increase national interest in these events and there.

ACROSS THE SAHARA.

A MOTORING ROUTE TO

CAPETOWN.

The journey aerom the Sahara Desert may still rank as something fore in the motoring industry. of an adventure for the private motorist, but it is an adventure Thus the Press can help Great that is becoming less hazardous Britain to lead in those few fields | since now there is little chance of where she is not yet absolutely in-being lost or stranded. The 000 vincible.

miles of desolate sand that fie be- I must repeat that Britain tween Regan in the north and Guo motoring on the River Nigor in the south possesses the

may still provide hurd going, buð Press in the world, and while we must accept sensńtionalism as part they are sale. This Reggan Cao of our daily life, at the same time stretch is, further, a link to that one could wish that, when the very much longer road that ring from

greatest

|

event of a breakdown a ralief car wili bo spramoned. It would seem that the desert is conquered for the car. The Intest stages have been rapid. No longer ago than 1929 two Englishmen, Mr. Owen Tweedy and Mr, Richard Crofton, starting from the Sudan, fought their way noross and endured many hardships. As instancing the value of the bus company's wireless system and the organisa. tion behind it, it may be recalled that when little more than half- way through the desert they were found temporarily held up by the crew of a 'inus. They were assisted, directly and indirectly, for when they eventually arrived at Reggan þit ; was to And thus

grám had been received from Paris ordering a lorry from Ting- gan, neroplanes from Adrar, and

NEW FORD STANDARD COUPE.

FL

Anita Page, star of "War Nurse" and many other film suceessen, in her new Ford Standard Coupé, starting for the studio. Miss Page prefers to drive her own car and spends many of her leisure hours behind the wheel of the easily handled, comfortable Ford. The Ford astures her that, she will get to the place she is going to aud be back in time for all engagements.

to turn out in search of them.

Lele-

PRINCE'S FAITH IN BRITISH CARS:

BIG FUTURE FOR THE INDUSTRY.

The Prince of Wales's satisfac tion with British cars and his faith, in the future of our motor industry wn voiced in a message from him read by Mr. J. H. Thomas at tho Albert Hall

رمین

In a cable from Lisbon the Prince said:

"I understand that you aro the chief guest to-day at a large and influential gathering to in- augurate a new world model car specially designed to comply with the requirements of overstas markets.

"Having just returned from South America, I am convinced that a great future lies beford the British motor industry. Bri- lith ears which I have used 'on my recent tours abroad have. proved that this country can pro- duce cars suited for overseas.

"But British manufacturers must not only produce such cars, Good salesmanship and good seT- vice after sales must also be their keynote if they are to capture the world's markets,"

On the cleared floor of the hail five great black-and-gold boxes con- lained the new "world model," After the speeches a film was shown. n the testing of the car in various. parts of Europe and Africa, and when the lights were raised again the boxes had vanished and the Hilman "Wizard tras displayed with fvo different bodies. ·

Following a practice adopted by two other companies to escape the handicap of our horse-power tax, the car is made with two sizes" of engine, both six-cylinder. One, known as the "65," is e 15.7 h.p.,

paying £10 tax, and the other, the

78," for abroad, is of £0.9 h.p. The price is the same for both. In all other respects the cars are iden- tical. It is an exceptionally roomy

London to Paris, Madrid, Gibrala camol patrol from the Hoggar, car, casily taking three in the rear tar, Tangier, Reggn, across the de sert, en to Uganda and Kenya, It is and as down to Cape.oWII. a trip that demands time, for the desert is best crossed in the Novem-

be-ber-April season, and the dry sea son is the only period when the rua from Nairobi can be taken

tinue to put across the fact that infrequent necidents do take place, less space should be devoted to drawn-out details, and more atten- tion be given to the fact of the ex- traordinarily small proportion of anch accidents in this country. I have heer naked how I like ing motoring Editor of the Field, I can only say that I have always regarded the journal as a mosty road. representative English sporting paper. It embodies the right element of Conservatism with a just and well-judged appreciation of new developments,

ROME WAS NOT BUILT IN A DAY, NOR

WAS THAT MORE MODERN TRIUMPH

OF ITALIAN ART THE

FIAT CAR

seats, and three could also travel in the front seat. With lavish equip. ment, good finish, and a four-speed Already silent third gear box, the car costs

The desort rond, or track, is scheduled by the Royal East Africa Automobile Association as the best way home overland. members of the IE.A.A.A, have travelled home by the Sahara, and from £270 to £200, according to this year others intend to try it, style of body chosen. including woman motorist.

For anyone who wishes to try

this road to Capetown his ronte; but it is practicable. In East on landing at Tangier 1rom Gibral-Africa and all along the further tar, is on to Oran, thence to Reg

The desert section has become practicable by reason the servi ees set up by the Cumpayne Trans saharienne, who in the winter son- son run a regular system of roas The Field's well-known apprecia-ches, and who, further provide a tion, of modern developments in desert guide for the private mo sport is especially demonstrated torist who wishes to cross the de, Thence he will pass by Kano in each stopping place. One of the

The fee chare.

this week by the appointment of sert in his own car. Col, the Master of Sempill-threo ed for a pilot is £10. This guide times President of the British Acro-servico further includis the mai. nautical Society-as Aviation Edi- ing of arrangements for petrol, tor of the Field.

oil, and water supplies, and in

Enn, for the desert, with Gao as route to Capetown the maforist will the desert terminus in the south. find suplica of petrol and oil at

Nigeria, skirt Lake Tchad, _ go

through French Congo and Be latest hotels to be established with. gian Congo, and so to Uganda } in the region of the R.E.A. A.A. and Kenya The rond is rough, is at Meru, and it is called the

(Continued 'an utzi Column.) - Pig and White.

FIAT 514

4 Cylinder

"A car to be proud of"

FIAT 521°

6 Cylinder

"A car which has justified all claims made on its behalf"

FIAT GARAGE: 350. Fennessy Road,

ARRANGE FOR A TRIAL RUN!

AGENTS:

A. GOEKE & CO.

SPARE PART DEPARTMENT: CHINA BUILDING, 4TH FLOOR.

TELEPHONE 222

· LANCIA · GARAGE:

348, Hennessy Road.

"ALWAYS IN FRONT"

SOCONY

GASOLINE plus

MOTOR

OIL

STANDARD OIL CO, OF NEW YORK