The War Department' s Competition.
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Welcome Improvement in the Weather.
Conclusion of Road Tests Yesterday (Wednesday) ; Manceuvring and Winding (Soft Ground) Trials, in Long Valley, To-Day (Thursday).
The tables which accompany this third section of our report convey the essence of the results so far as they had been published on Tuesday evening. It was not until Monday morning that the weather conditions permitted adherence to the published programme, although a short road test, from the mechanical transport depdt to and from the White Hart Inn, Frimley, a distance of 10 miles, was accomplished on Thursday last. This road trip was supplemented, in depot, by numerous runs "round the circus." —of which more anon. On the Friday, after an attempt to reach Hungry Hill, on the Odiham .Road, the tractors were ordered back along the Ft-Miley stretch, thus covering, as compared with the previous day, approximately an extra mile of road.
The First Long Run.
Saturday witnessed the first longdistance run, and this was not achieved without numerous difficulties, owing to the bad ,condition of stretches of the highway. A start was made at 10.29 a.m., en route for Harford Bridge Fiats, via Frim!ey and Blackwater, in order to make a speed test over a measured mile on the London and Basingstoke road; it was impossible to take the road through Cove, as this was blocked with snow. The overhead conditions were most unpleasant, a regular blizzard of snow and sleet raging incessantly until about noon, after which The downfall changed to one of sleet and rain.
The Thornycroft machine went through the most severe ordeal of all, as, owing to its superior running and winding powers, it got on to the Hat-ford Bridge Flats when the surface
there was in a state which seriously impaired the possibilities of uniform or fast travelling. At the end of the one-mile stretch, Tom Baker, the Thornycroft driver, whose record in road trials dates back to the first Liverpool competition of 1898, if not to earlier days, gave a masterful display of smart manipulation of his trailer for the turn ; this was much admired by members of the committee
and other spectators. His was the first tractor to return to the depot, being many hours ahead of its competitors, but its precedence on the trip helped to make parts of the running less difficult for the machines which followed it. It'. overage speed throughout was, as our table shows, o.67m.p.h. ahead of the Stewart, a margin which might well have been trebled had it not been Thornycroft's fate " to make the tracks."
One of the several roadside incidents has to be recorded, in respect of the methods which were adopted by the Broom and Wade party to aid the progress of their interest i n machine, for Mr. Broom and an assistant were noticed putting their trailer scotches to a novel use. Handling them as one might a broom or mop, and both wading through the slush almost up to their calves, these eager competitors effectively lessened the obstructions to the passage of their tractor, by using the wedge end of each scotch as tt miniature snow plough.
The recorded speeds over the measured mile were Stewart (No. 3), 12min. ofsec.; Thornycroft (No. 4), 8min. 59tesec.; Broom and Wade (No.
to) t-sec "The Circus."
The 291-yard course—more or less circular--in the depot, which was pegged out with much circumspection by Captain Bagnall-Wild and his brother officers, has been named The Circus." Some of the observing officers, we think, must have learnt its every curve and undulation, and particularly those who were fated to travel round the " arena '' on the tractor which averaged but little more than one mile an hour. Those people who, from a safe distance, have been scoffing at the idea of a test within this enclosure, may well dwell upon the following facts, and the illustration which is given below. .1 series of drawbar tests was made, and these disclosed the astonishing fact that the average pull for the whole track was about 260 lb. per ton, whilst it was recorded as high as 56o lb. per ton at the particular corner of which we reproduce a view. The average drawbar pull showed that the work clone was nearly equal to the continuous climbing of an incline, with good macadam surface, of 1 in to for the whole period, whereas the maximum was equivalent to a similar gradient as steep as I in 4.
Repairs, Replacements and Adjustments.
We quote, from he akinl notifications under this heading, in respect of each of the competing tractors, as regards repairs, etc., effected.
" 2nd March--Stewart (No. 3), broke gauge glass on water tank: Thornycroft (No. 4), nil ; Broom and Wade (No. to), ignition plug was changed five times--big-end bearing hot and was replaced—the water in radiator boiled and radiator refilled— in depot for night for big-end bearing and fitting larger lubricator to same."
" 3rd March.—Stewart (No. 3), pipe from condenser to smoke stack and pipe from feed-water pump to boiler replaced, as burst by frost—h.p. cylinder valves adjusted ; Thornycroft (No. 4), bridle on first-speed pinion taken off, ground and replaced—lock-nuts on worm shaft of steering gear had become loose and were tightened up twice; Broom and Wade (No. to), • during the night, big-end bearing and lubricator fitted, also the cover plate at back end of crank chamber—fuel and water tanks replaced (they had worked forward during day's run)— needle valve adjusted, lubricator and ignition constantly attended to by mechanic walking at side of tractor, and radiator refilled."
" 4th March.-Stewart (No. 3), dtopped one of the universal coupling pins (did not stop, but ran slightly slower); Thornycroft (No. 4), re-made joint on grease pipe."
" sth March.—Stewart (No. '2,), fusible plug replaced—stopped for water on road; Thornycroft (No. 4), cleaned float chamber—differential locking gear broken, owing to turning a corner while locked; Broom and Wade (No. to), differential locking gear dismantled and sent to shop for repairs," " 6th March.—Stewart (No. 3), burst gauge glass on separator-differential locking gear broken—remade pump joint ; Thornycroft (No. 4) differential locking flange replaced' in depot (time 34 minutes)."
[Certain repairs were effected on Sunday the 7th. instant, but particulars have not yet been furnished.— ED.]
" Sth March.—Stewart (No, 3), new filter cloth—joint of cylinder by-pass valve remade on road—loW-pressure cylinder packing blowing—Lyon. traction engine hauled its load up last half of hill ; Thornycroft (No. 4), feed choked at jet and lubrication adjusted; Broom and Wade (No. to), new differential locking lever—battery charged and replaced."
Monday's and Tuesday's Trips. A punctual start was made on Monday morning last, the three tractors setting out, at 8 a.m., for a run of 321 miles along route No. VI (Farnham, Alton, -Odiharn, and back). After leaving Odiham, there was a. stiff climb up Hungry Hill, which has a total rise of 300 feet in a distance. of 2,200 yards. The machines were brought to a halt at the foot of the
hill, and started at intervals. The road was still bad in places, traces of the recent frost and snow not having disappeared, and the Stewart tractor was unfortunate in getting the rear wheels of its trailer into a soft ditch, in consequence of which it had to re. ceive assistance before being able to resume the journey. The Broom and Wade tractor showed considerable power in the low gear during the hill climb, but was very slow—if sure.
On Tuesday, the running proved very heavy. The Thornycroft, just after leaving the depAt, had the misfortune to break an inlet-valve tappet roller. The original strong spring was removed, and a lighter one fitted in its place; the engine, therefore, ran throughout the day with the inlet valve on one cylinder operating atmospherically. The Stewart did best on the day's hillclimb, being fastest of the three tractors. It was evident, at the time of telegraphing (8 p.m. on Tuesday), that the Broom and Wade, which had been out until 2.30 a.m. the same morning, would not get back to the depAt until midnight.
Our tables are complete to Monday night only, as later official figures were not to be available until Wednesday. It will he gathered from the consumptions and speeds, that the trials had, up to then, been conducted under the most adverse and trying conditions, but there is little question that the last two road trips of the Series should be accomplished upon more normal road surfaces.
Visitors.
The decision of the M.T.C., that manufacturers should not be admitted to the depot, has accounted, in part, for the non-attendance of many trac tor and wagon builders : so far, we have only noticed Messrs. W. A. Tritton "(Foster) and Arthur W. Tc.miks (Aveling and Porter). Messrs. Burford and Straker duly turned up, as representatives of the S.M.M.T., and both Messrs. John E. and Tom Thornycroft were present on several
days. For the tests in the Long
Valley to-day (Thursday), a. large muster is anticipated.
Completion of Report.
Next week's issue of " THE. CostMERCIAL MOTOR " will contain the final consumption figures, as well as the decision of the Mechanical Transport Committee in regard to the award of the £750 prize. The sip. plement for circulation in the Colonies and abroad will also contain a condensed review of the competition, with particulars of the participat:ng tractors, and the whole should form, in conjunction with the pages which will be devoted to a consideration of standard types of traclors, a valuable and instructive illustrated treatise upon the position of these branches of road transport at the present date. The issue, in fact, has been announced as our "Tractor Special."