Modern Motoring

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 158, 5 July 1921, Page 10

Modern Motoring

(BY TORQUE.)

MOTOR TRUCKS. When speaking to a couple of very prominent truck-owners recently, who did most of their carrying business with horse wagons until this year, they had a lot to say Tor the motor truck for quick delivery, long hauls, and big loads, and they wondered how they did without the motor truck for so long. Auckland is hard on horses, as there is no way out of the city, without a long pull, and it is slow work with a big load up. The motor truck has really only come into Auckland during the last two years, and no one can say but what it is a huge success. A few carriers still cling to the old horse, but it is only a matter of time when horses will be dispensed with in the city. Tlie motor truck owners have found a very serious fault wtih the loading of of the trucks. The platforms on the wharves and in all the big warehouses are too low for easy loading. The motor truck flat top is on an average of about H inches too high, and it means heavy lifting, and very often two men to do the job that one could do if the truck platform were lowered. For very short hauls of up to half a mile the motor truck has nothing much horse, as just the same amount of time is lost in loading and unloading. It is when the loads have to be taken any distance that tlie truck wins. The motor truck is much easier to handle in difficult places, and it does not require as much care as two horses and a wagon to keep it in good order, on the road. The only lesson a truck owner has to have is to get a heavy load of timber on and try and get through soft places. Only once convinces any truck owner that it cannot be done.

SO ASS FOR MOTOR TRAFFIC. To-day the question is, "iVhat type of road is necessary to take charge of the increasing motor traffic? According to reports from other countries, the matter of new road construction is being given very serious consideration. Governments realise the necessity for motor transportation for the developmant and prosperity of their countries. It is necessary that roads be constructed that are suitable for motor-cars. The various factors that enter into the choice of material is the material most handy, labour, and the amount of money to be spent. There seems to be plenty of labour in this country, stacks of material and banks full of money for everything else but road formation. A new method that is to be tried out in Singapore is to vulcanise rubber on to concrete blocks. This was tried out in England 45 years ago, but instead of using concrete, they used hard rubber blocks, and it is still in good condition yet. It Is quite evident that no sort of loose stone road will stand fast traffic and in great numbers for any length of time. The first considerations in making good roads are good foundations and good drainage.

STARTING THE ENGINE ON COLD MORNINGS. These cold mornings, the best of selfstarters will refuse to do the job, and it is wise not to ask it to do so, without first priming the cj-linders with a little i benzine, and giving the engine a few turns over with the crank handle, to ease the oil on the piston walls, which becomes thick and hard when very cold.' Only the very best benzine should be used, and the carburettors with hot air ( attached, should have the shutter closed,; so that it must draw in only hot air. When everything eke fails to start the engine, it is wise to drain off the cold water, and fill up with hot water, and let it stand for about five minutes, before having another try. With Ford cars that, are hard to start, turn over by jacking; up the back wheel well clear of the; ground, and letting the brake handle

right forward into high gear. It will start much easier, also the hot water works like magic

| . WHY -WAIT ? | Hundreds of car buyers are waiting i for the much prophesied fall in cars be-. fore purchasing. The whole thing de-' pends on whether we are to persist in regarding the motor car as a luxury or whether we are to look upon it a3 a business asset, in the great majority of cases. Nowadays there are very few motorists who would admit or would be justiiied in admitting that they use their motor ears purely for pleasure. The greater majority expect the motor car, to bring in returns of some business or other. In every case the main point is that the motor owner's time is valuable, and the caT is a time saver or maker. Suppose it costs £1 a day to use a ear in connection with one's business, and that two hours a day is 6aved by doing so. In a working day of 8 hours, it is possible to do in three days that, which would have taken four. It has given the business man an extra day at the cost of £3. Now if his time is worth £1000 a year, the car has proved itself to be an actual economy. If the car is worth only £5 a week to a business house, it is a saving of £250 a year to have one. j

THE AMATEUR MECHANIC. When the average car owner starts out to do a repair job on his car, he usually has a book of instruction handy or he does the jab, and marks each part as it is dissembled, but this is risky, and very uncertain. I was called in to look a job over at a private garage, but the car could not be induced to start. The owner admitted defeat before calling mc in, and it was only

after a very severe cross examination that he admitted the magneto had been off. I confessed the thing was a puzzle. "If it was running all right when last 'i used, unless something had slipped, it I should go again. We tested the benI zinc for kerosene, hut that was not the trouble. We looked for water, defective floats, etc., but all was right. When ! all seemed lost, the owner said, "Well, I had the magneto off, but I marked !it and put it back in the same place." ' What he did not know was, that the magneto shaft and the accumulator : brush did not travel at the same speed. Had he marked the position of the ■ accumulator brush, and not altered the position of the crank shaft, all would '■ have been well. ' , ANCIENT ANT* MODERN.

The members of the Auckland Automobile Association waited on trie Newmarket Borough Council during the

week, and placed its views before them. Tlie A.A.A. comprises an up-to-date body of motorists, who are looking after the* safety of the public, and also the interests of the motorists. But I am afraid ttcy were "up against it when they met that very progressive body at Newmarket. Did you ever see anything more ridiculous than a man with a red flag in one hand, and a whistle (attached to a string round his neck) ill the other? He blew the whistle at intervals, and waved the flag for cars to proceed. Such are, or were the ancient customs of the learned men of Newmarket —to hold up the traffic, not regulate it. When asked to take the "kink" out of Crowhurst Street, which is tho only way to dodge the man with the flag and whistle, the Mayor replied, that the purpose it would serve would not warrant the expenditure of approximately £600. Surely the world does not come to an end when the present council makes its exit. "Torque" thinks the A.A.A. should have arranged a motor run, and invite— the present council members and their wives to a joy ride to alter their views some. '"Torque"

wants to get the man with the whistle and flag in his car. RTJ_IO__tED. That Newmarket does not want motor cars. What a pity it could not be moved to Rangitoto, and "let the rest of the world go by." That an old Auckland motorist intends to take the bull by the horns, when motoring through the market. That the demonstration in Albert Street on Thursday last, was a "Korker."