FRENCH INDUSTRIAL VEHICLE TRIALS.
Page 45
Page 47
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
An Enterprising Demonstration of Vehicles Classified According to Load Capacity.
THE industrial vehicle trials, which were instituted last year in connection with the famous Routes Payees meeting at Lille, have now become an annual event. The first trials were of a very mild character and really constituted a publicity demonstration. As such, the event was highly successful. This year's event, however, was a much more serious affair. The publicity side of the trials was retained, but, instead of taking a pleasant little morning's ramble in the country, as at the first Concours des Vehicules Industriels, the lorries had to make a three days' gruelling run with full loads over all sorts of road surfaces and to keep strict schedule time all the while.
Thirty-seven vehicles were entered for the trials, but only 23 actually started. A sign of the times this year was the participation of half a dozen lorries fitted with gas-pro.ducers using wood or charcoal as a fuel, and several vehicles running on the French Carburant National instead of petrol.
The organization and timing arrangements for the event were excellent. The lorries ran in four groups, by category, each group having an official car at the head and tail of the line. Group D, the heavy brigade, were got away at an early hour each morning and given two hours' start of the other groups. The average speeds imposed-20 k.p.h. for the heavyweights, 30 k.p.h. for the mediums, and 35 k.p.h. for the light vehicles—were so accurately maintained,, that at the end of each day's run the whole company arrived together at the final rendezvous, making an imposing parade. .
We made the first day's run on the leading official car of the heavy group and the two succeeding days on the rear car of the light group. The first journey was from Roubaix to Dunkirk by a rather roundabout route, passing through Lille, Lens, Bethune, Hazebrouck and Cassel. With the exception of the extraordinary little mountain at Cassel, once famous as G.H.Q. for the 2nd Army, the whole of this route is practically dead level. The road surface, apart from short stretches of old, worn pave, is fairly good.
Roubaix was left at 7.30 a.m., and a non-stop run was made to Hazebrouck. Here there was a halt of 10 minutes, followed by a second nonstop run to Dunkirk. Weather con ditions were distinctly unpleasant. Driving mist and a persistent drizzle of rain continued an day until, on the outskirts of Dunkirk, the weather suddenly cleared up and became brilliant. The competing vehicles included the following :— In Group D (carrying a useful load of 5,000 kilogs. and over ; speed, 20 k.p.h.), one Berliet covered lorry, fitted with Berliet wood-fuel gas-producer; one Chenard-Walcker tractor with trailer ; one Liberty open lorry ; one Saurer tipping lorry ; one Saurer open lorry.
In Group C (carrying a useful load of 3,000 kilogs. and over ; speed, 25 k.p.h.), one Bernet covered lorry, with gas-producer ; one Saurer covered lorry ; one Latil open lorry ; two old British Army lorries, each fitted. with the S.A.P.A.M.E. gas generator, also ran in this group.
Two 41-ton Panhard and Levassor lorries fitted with the new type of wood-fuel Panhard gas-producer were entered in the group. The makers, however, elected to run these lorries in the lightest group of all, amongst the little boxvans, as they were allowed to do so by the regulations. The average speed maintained by the latter group was 35 k.p.h.
In Group B there were two sections, one carrying a load of 2,000 kilogs, and over, and one carrying 1,000 kilogs. and , over. 1st Section (speed, 30 k.p.h.) :—One Latil small tractor with trailer ; one Lally lorry. 2nd Section (speed, 30 k.p.h.) :—One Lafily ; one Bernet ; one La Licorne.
In Group A there were, again, two sections, one carrying 1,000 kilogs. and one carrying 500 kilogs. 1st Section (speed, 35 k.p.h.) :—Two big Panluird and Levassor lorries already mentioned ; one La Licorne ; one Bernet. 2nd Section (speed, 35 k.p.h.) :—One La Licorne; one Berliet.
Dunkirk was reached at about 2.30 p.m. and the competitors formed up hi-the Place Jean Bart, the central square of the town, where they were exhibited for the rest of the afternoon. The only missing vehicle was one of the old Army lorries running on charcoal gas. This machine rolled in after dark, having in the meantime acquired nearly all the penalty marks which could be given it. The amount of interest aroused by the parade of vehicles in Dunkirk was noticeably less than in other big centres. This may have arisen from the fact that the people of that town are preoccupied with other matters. The shipyard and metal workers' strike, which has been in existence there for many months, still drags on, and it would appear to be a very serious affair. Some of Lenin's humble followers seem to have got loose In the place.
The town had quite a warlike aspect, being packed with troops, municipal guards and police. Roads leading to the docks were actually barricaded with lines of huge barrels filled with" earth. Municipal guards, with rifles and steel helmets, stood to arms behind the barricades.
The Second Day's Run.
The second day's run from Dunkirk to Amiens, via Saint Omer and Doullens, was longer and much more hilly than the first journey, especially the latter half of the route. In spite of this, however, all the vehicles came through without a single penalty mark and Amiens was reached exactly on schedule time. All the groups entered the town together, and an exhibition was held on the open space in front of the Cirque Municipal in the Boulevard gall. Very great interest was shown by the public and crowds stuTounded the lorries all the afternoon.
The last day's run was the longest and most difficult. From Amiens to Lille, via Arras, Douai, Bouchan and Valenciennes, is about 112 miles. The first part of the route is very hilly, with fair road surfaces and the latter part flat, but with long stretches of abominable old, worn pave. A very early start was made, the heavyweights being dispatched at 5.30 in the morning.
The unfortunate old British lorries with gas generators penalized themselves out of the competition, but, apart from this, very few marks were lost by any of the vehicles. The one-ton La Licorne suffered from tyre trouble and lost 18 points ; one of the Berliet gas-driven lorries lost 115 points and one of the Panhards 7 points.
On the whole, all the competing vehicles behaved most creditably
throughout the three days' trial. Outstanding features which we noticed were the splendid hill-climbing of the small Latil tractor with its trailer and the veryrapid startingup from cold of the Bernet and Panhard wood-fuel gas generators. In the -case of both the lattsx makes also the pulling power of the engines under their heavy loads appeared to be every, bit as good as if they had been running on petrol.
Apart from the first day's run, weather conditions were splendid. A big crowd greeted the arrival of the vehicles in Lille at the end of the trials, and thew is little doubt that considerable business will be obtained by manufacturers whose lorries participated from the publicity given to their productions.
It seems a pity that exchange conditions should prevent British makers from taking part in this annual event. American manufacturers can afford to sell lorries and cars in France at a loss in order to retain their hold on the markets, but the heavily taxed British maker cannot. Let us hope that conditions will have improved by the time next year's trials come along. .
The Placing Awards.
After the exhibition in Lille all the vehicles were weighed and examined. The following is the final official classification :— Group D.—lst (all equal), Chen ard Walcker, Liberty, Saurer, Saurer, no penalties; 5th, Bernet.
Note.—The Berliet went through without a penalty, but its load was found not quite up to the 5,000 kilogs.
Group C.-1st (all equal), Latil, Saurer, no penalties; 3rd, Bernet, 115 points.
Group B.-1st Section; 1st (all equal), Laffiy, Latil, no penalties. 2nd Section: 1st (all equal), Latil, Bernet, La Licorne, no penalties.
Note.—Berliet carried 438 kilogs. in excess of scheduled load.
Group A.-1st Section: 1st (all equal), Panhard-Levassor, 8aurer, no penalties; 3rd, Panhard-Levassor, 7 points; 4th, La Licorne, 18 points; 5th, Berliet, load not up' to schedule. 2nd Section; 1st, La Licorne, no penalties ; 2nd, Bernet, no penalties but load not up to schedule.