A Remarkable Journey by a Six-wheeler.
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WE have had occasion in the past to draw attention to the good performances which have been put ,up by Thoreyeroft six-wheelers operating
under difficult conditions overseas and a further instance is to be found in the story which has recently been received from the company's Brazilian sub sidiary, S. A. Thornycroft Co., Brazil.
It relates to a journey made by a Thornycroft 'type A3 rigid six-wheeler from Sao Paulo to Sao Joao, in the State of Santa Catharine. The primary object of the trip was to deliver the vehicle to its purchasers in Sao Joao, where it is to be used for log transport, but the opportunity was also taken for demonstrating to prospective customers in the timber district of Parana.
At the start of the journey, the vehicle carried a load of about 1 ton 15 cwt., including two drums of petrol, in addition . to a body weight of 16 cwt. The journey was nailed on the night of September 13th and completed on October 8th. In this time over 800 miles were traversed, over all kinds of roads and cross-country tracks and, although on some occasions the rainfall was s-o heavy as to cause a temporary hold-up, the journey was successfully negotiated.
Many impressive demonstrations were given en route, and the vehicle gave ample evidence of its all-round capabilities. On several 'occasions it was used to rescue four-wheeled vehicles which had become bogged in very deep mud.
During the journey, incidents in the course of which are shown in accompanying illustrations, open .country without roads or river beds, quicksands, difficult and dangerous gradients, marshy ground, a so-called impassable swamp (including a quagmire in which all four rear wheels became completely
submerged) had to be tackled. The cutting down of trees and the making passable of mud holes. were tasks also undertaken in the course of this trip.
Throughout the trip the petrol consumed was at the rate of a gallon for every 9.8 miles rim under the most favourable conditions and a gallon for about every five miles when the low gears were used for long periods in the swamp country. The amount of oil used throughout the trip was 41 pints only, and the amount of water added to the radiator was 3/ pints. The distance covered with track bands fitted was 215 miles.