Severe W.D. Tests in Wales
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WITH the object of assessing the 1I'V value to the War Department of production and experimental chassis, made by various manufacturers, a series of trials was carried out, this week, in the mountainous district of North Wales by officials of the Department. The competing machines were grouped into three classes—for 15-cwt., 30-cwt., and 3-ton lorries, most of the larger machines being six-wheelers,
A climb of the Old Horseshoe Pass, near Llangollen, had first to be attempted, a stop-and-restart test being held at the steepest section of the hill near the top, All the 'vehicles made. satisfactory ascents, with the exception of an experimental Ford, which suf fered from gearbox trouble.
The fastest ascent was made by a Bedford carrying a useful load of 30 cwt., whilst a fleet of Morris-Commercial four and six-wheelers also showed up remarkably well. It is interesting to note that during a xbrake --test all vehicles, except a Tilling-Stevens pet.. rol-electric machine with a trailer, succeeded in maintaining their positions on a gradient of 1 in 5 when using separately the hand and foot brakes.
Tuesday afternoon's session involved a climb of Alt-y-bakly—a hill mile long with an average gradient of 1 in 6.6'9 and a maximum incline of 1 in 3.38. A certain amount of trouble was experienced by some of the competitors, partly due to the fact that the surface was cut up by ' the heavy Machines, which, of course, had plenty of power with their eight-speed gear boxes. Morris-Cemrnercial, A.E.C., Crossley, Thornycroft and Guy makes did well.