The German A. C. Van and Omnibus Trials.
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Third Report from our Berlin Correspondent.
(Concluded from page 111.)
The Daimler light delivery van tNo. 6) did not appear in the official lists after the second stage. This van was delayed so lung by tyre defects on the way to Gnoyen, that it reached the town long after the control closed ; and it did not steer into Goldberg, on the fourth day, until late in the evening. Coder these cireumstances it completed the rest of the circuit out of competition. At Goldberg, difficulty was experienced in providing night quarters for the party. What would have happened if the competition had been thoroughly representative of the German industry is an interesting speculation. Clearly, Goldberg does not eater for visitors. Then, again, the supermiendeet of the Goldberg control was thrown into a great state of excitement by the non-arrival of the requisite quantity of benzine; but, thanks to Baron Brandenstein and the telephone, the " essence " was despatched overnight by motorcars from herho. Rain greeted the motorists as they set out on their fifth trip -Goldberg to Kyritz 1122 kilometres for the light vehicles and 91 for the heavyi-and grew steadily worse as the day wore on, as did the roads. Along a 20-kilometre stretch stones had been thrown down in the customary way, so that drivers were forced into taking a serpentine course to avoid the worst patches of metal. Added to this, the unpatched portions presented a greasy,
treacherous surface, and the sparse procession skidded about almost continuously. It was trying work. Never theless, there were times when the going was good. The " Safe " re-asserted it self, and rattled in at the head, nearly half an hour hefore its deadly rival No. 7.
At Kyritz, Baron Molitor, who started the automobiles
at Reinickendorf and Gran see, took over the control once more. Members of the Town Council, the burgo master " en fête," welcomed the contestants. During the covering of the final stage.
Kyritz to Spandau (129,8 kilometres for the light ve hicles, 83.9 for the heavy), fine weather prevailed, by way of compensation for the previous day's incessant downpour. With trifling exceptions, no " pannes " occurred. The variations in Consumption, and small differences between the distances covered by the competing vehicles, will be gathered from the accompanying table. Stoppages through defects of any kind, or for the replenishing of benzine or alcohol, are included in the gross travelling time (column 3), although traffic: stoppages, and those for meals, are not included ; the net travelling time (coT
uniri
ei is arrived at after deducting all stoppages. Some of the weights were greater at the end of the run than at the beginning, as the bags of sand used for ballast got soaked by the rain ; hence the weights given in columns le and so are mean weights. Vehicle No. 5 (the Daimler milk van) was driven by alcohol ; the rest by benzine.
No. 6 was out of competition on the 3rd and 4th days, and its consumption of benzine was recorded on the znd day only.
At the finishing-point the German A.C. had had a refreshment tent erected. Most of the leading members of the club were present. Some of them drove beyond Spandau to meet the incoming vehicles, and to keep them under observation over the final stage. On Sunday, October 22nd, all the controllers assembled at the German AC's club-rooms on the invitation of Count Brandenstein, who opened proceedings with an address of thanks to the members of the Motor Technical Society for their invaluable assistance. Herr Ingenieur Edmund Levy, who had been entrusted with the superintendence of the control, stated in his reply that he and the remaining members were very glad to have been afforded an opportunity of taking an active part in so interesting and instructive a competition. I send a list of the awards granted by the jury, consisting of Count Arco, Baron Brandenstein, Civil Engineer Robert Conrad, Over Engineer W. A. Th. Meiller and Captain Oschmann.
The awards were as follows ;-Gold medals and diplomas of honour to the Bussing omnibus (No. I), the Daimler omnibus (No. 21 gold medals to the Siiddeutsche Automobil Fabrik omnibus (No. 3), the Daimler milk van (No. 5), and the N.A.G. milk van (No. Si ; diplomas of honour to the Continental Company's Diirkonp goods van (No. re) and the N.A.G. goods van
(No. 9). The military tractors and trailers, which participated in the trials, but not as competitors, had no prizes awarded, to them.
The trials might have been much more efficiently organised and advertised. The arrangements for measuring the fuel consumptions were clumsy and incomplete, whilst there was an air of mystery which spelt lack of knowledge or preparation on the part of the officials. The German A.C. has much to learn in the matter of conducting competitions of this class to the best advantage. It is not for the benefit of the industry that members of the technical Press should have excessive difficulties put in their way.