Russian Military Commercial-Vehicle Tests.
Page 13
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By Our Special Correspondent with the Trials.
The Government ot the Czar has arranged, in the absence of any native manufacturers of heavy motorcars, to invite the competition of foreign makers in a trial over the following route :-St. Petersburg, Novgorod, Valdai, Vishny, Walotschook, and Tver to Moscow, thence viA, Malo Yaroslavsky, Yuchnovo Roslawe, and Briansk to Orel, thence vi tt Tahlu and Serponchnov back to Moscow, and thence to St. Petersburg over the same route as followed on the outward journey.. The total journey is 2600 versts, or roughly 1600 miles, the greater portion of which is what is known in Russia as " chaussee " or military road, the foundations of which are usually solid, but the surfaces execrable, partly pave, and partly macadam, but in each of which deep holes occur. The trial commenced on Wednesday, 19th September-2nd October, and will finish on Wednesday, 10th23rd October.
Keen interest has been evinced on the Continent in this trial, in view of the fact that each car presented for trial which successfully completes the journey will be purchased, and further orders placed with the manufacture] s of the leading cars to the extent of two million roubles. The points to be taken into consideration are reliability, petrol and tire consumption, ease of repair and suitability for the particular class of road to be encountered.
The competing cars are grouped as follow :Group 1. French cars of 3-tons capacity and less.
Group 2. German and Austrian cars of 3-tons capacity and less.
Group 3. Italian, Swiss and English cars of 3-tons capacity and less.
Group 4. Cars of 4-tons capacity and upwards.
The first day's run will be in column, the second and third days being free runs, times being set for starting and finishing, inside of which all cars are expected to keep, marks being awarded for early arrivals and deductions made from late arrivals. The following cars have arrived :