French Commercial Trials.
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The commercial motor trials which are to take place in August under the control of a committee of the French Automobile Club are attracting considerable attention on the Continent, largely on account of the activity of Count de Dion. This competition will precede the trials of the A.C.G.B. and I. by a month, and will, therefore, enable French manufacturers to secure that much lead in point of time. The trials will extend over eleven days, seven of which will be allotted to runs varying in length between 31 and 124 miles ; the remaining four days will be occupied by exhibitions at important and populous centres on the lines of route, such as Amiens, Saint Quentin, Dieppe, Le Havre, and Rouen. Local committees have been formed to arrange the necessary accommodation and to organise fetes, with a view to increasing public interest in the tests and the vehicles participating in them. Hitherto the French commercial trials have been on circular routes in the neighbourhood of Paris, but the A.C.F. have now taken the matter in hand on more practical lines in order to demonstrate the value of the vehicles that are available both for public passenger service and for goods conveyance. The entry fee in no case exceeds Lao, which covers the right to exhibit at the several local shows included in the itinerary. The classification ranges from six-seated to 24seated vehicles in the passenger section, and from 2cwt. to 2-ton vehicles in the goods Section; an extra class is added for so-called road trains, which term is meant to include systems of the Renard type where the power is taken from the motor tractor by flexible shafts to several light trailers. The commission appointed to judge the trials will not pay so much regard to the consumption of fuel, water, and lubricants as to regularity of running, good hillclimbing powers, and the load carried. A special prize is to be awarded for wheels,
Reference should also be made to two other competitions which will take place in France this year, both under the immediate patronage of the French Government. One for agricultural motors is to be held at Bordeaux in connection with the National Agricultural meeting from May 27th to June 4th. Various tests will be decided upon by the Minister of Agriculture, and the competing tractors or other self-moving vehicles will be allowed the double rail journey to and from Bordeaux for payment of the rate one way.
The other for ammunition and baggage wagons will take place in the neighbourhood of Paris early in August, by order of the Minister of War, who is responsible for its organisation. The trials will begin on August znd or 9th, a Monday, and will last six days. Only French vehicles may compete, and the types may be either steam or explosion engines. The total weight of any machine under loRd is not to exceed 3,200 kilogrammes, of which the useful load must be between 1,00o and 1,200 kilogrammes. A preference is expressed in the conditions for magneto ignition, whilst the following points in the specification of internal combustion systems are imperative :—(a) Three speeds and reverse, the lowest speed to be zi miles per hour, and the greatest 12 miles per hour ; (b) chain or live axle transmission; (c) steering to right side; (d) two independent brakes and a sprag; (e) a minimum of 47 miles on one charge of stores; (f) main frame of pressed steel, drawn steel tubes, or of the armoured wood type; (g) no part, unless a chain or brake, to be less than seven inches from the ground ; (h) maximum wheel gauge or minimum wheel base, 6ft. 7in. ; (i) the capacity for stores to be not less than to6 cubic feet, the total height to be not more than 8ft.
and the overall width to be not more than 7ft. 3in. ; (k) a removable tarpaulin to be stretched above the platform over a suitable framework ; (1) the competitors to undertake to keep spare parts in stock for three years at prices to be agreed at date of purchase by War Department ; (m) a year's guarantee against flaws or bad material.
The Minister of War will order a number of vehicles on the results of the trials, which will only amount to a total distance of 205 miles. One hundred marks will be divided over mm heads for consideration as follow : Power, simplicity, and accessibility of motor, 13; effective cooling or condensation, 5 ; cost of fuel and lubricants, i5; working and friction of various parts, i5; starting control, ; resistance of wheels and tyres, is ; efficacy of brakes, 10; ease of running control, 5 ; starting from rest up-bill and climbing powers, S; ratio of useful load to total weight, 7 ; average speed, 5.