MODERN MOTORING

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 174, 24 July 1923, Page 10

MODERN MOTORING

TO CORRESPONDENTS. ABM. (Hamilton).—Yes, very dangerous indeed. "SparkweU" line an article ready for next week on this verr subject. AUTO-C. (Auckland).—The B.S.A. wor> the senior event in Denmark, and the Ilghweigbt' model, the manufacturers' team and dub team prize in the. 330 C.C. class in the Srottleb Six Day Trial*. L.R.C. (Mangapai, Whangarel).—(l) Weak exhaust valve springe in your Big X. ' ' Get new once. They are cheap. There also must In; some looseuees in tbebcar- ; ings. (2) 350 degrees. (4) About three TROUBLE (Rnetihi) writes:—What is the matter with my 41 h.p. B.S.A. motor cycle? It is bard to start, though the ignition and timing are perfect. Wben it is difflcuU to restart even when the cylinder is hot.—Tbie is apparently caused through, a weak spark. .A i>lus tbat will show a drst-claes spark out«id.- he cylinder will not always function inter compression. Your magneto prob; ly needs overeauling by on expert, tis unwise to try doinj the job yourself. A poor plug may nl«o contri buto to the trouble.

Though there has been a paucity of fine -weather come of the country roads in the province have dried up wonderfully well. The road through Otahuhu is disgraceful. It has potholes by the thousand. Proposals for the tar-sealing or concreting of the Morrineville borough streets are on the board, and Papakura has in mind bitumen for its thoroughfares. Hamilton Borough Council intends to push ahead with the bituminous formation in the main streets iv September. Further plant is to be purchased. Castlepoint County is to hold a special meeting to consider the question of raising a loan for the purpose of metalling the roads with first-class metal and purchasing the necessary machinery. The Matamata County Council's request to undertake the completion of the Mangaiti deviation on the Atiamuri Road from the Waikato to Rotorua, has been declined by the Minister of Public Works, but the county now asks for immediate completion of the work or the right to carry it out—a very reasonable proposition. The roads leading to the Waitakeqps in the winter are not everything desirable, but for the future benefit of local motorists bent on scenic views and to inspect come good sample of New Zealand's "Monarch of the Forests"—tUe kauri trees—a trip to the Dreamland Estate is worth venturing. This excursion is via Avondale, New Lynn and Henderson, turning to the left at the old hotel. The railway line is crossed by the station and the road leads up the valley past Ferndale to the estate destination. The entrance is on the left, just before crossing the bridge at the. foot of the big hill on the Weet Coast road. Once off the road there is about two miles of clay track. But it is worth while seeing the great trees. The road is good, but in the.winter or wet wea,-, titer chains are- essential. OUR MOTOR GROWTH. Auckland's motor business is surely growing. During* April, May and June 678 motor car licenses were issued by the Auckland' City Council compared with 389 in the corresponding months last year, and for motor cycles 154 were granted compared with 122. Heavy traffic licenses increased from .93 to 137 during, the same period. Competency certificates were awarded to 555 motor vehicle drivers, compared with 93 for the same quarter last year. AROUND THE OARAGES. The latest sport touring Jewett attract* attention for good finish. The steering parts have adjustable ball joints, and the lubricating system is made eaey .by the use of the Zerk gun, for which special nipples are fitted. It certainly gives positive lubrication to the spring shackles, and oil or grease can be used. Russell Motors, Ltd., are taking over the premises until recently occupied by Messrs. George Henning, Ltd., in Little Queen Street. ■kg- rr v xr~..« An !.«,. I.— :_x_j

Russell Motors, Ltd., are taking over the premises until recently occupied by Messrs. George Henning, Ltd., in Little Queen Street.

Mr. C. E. Merson has been appointed chairman of the motor-cycle branch of the Auckland Motor Traders , Association.

Mr. Abel, partner in the firm of Messrs. Abel and White, is leaving this week on a business trip - to the Old Country. WIRE WHEELS ON SMALL CARS. Signs are ho* wanting that wire wheels will become popular on small I cars in the near future. Hitherto the I use of detachable wire wheels has been mainly confined to' the more expensive and higher-powered cars, largely on account of their extra cost, but there is no doubt that many experienced motorists appreciate- the . inherent strength combined with lightness of the modern type of wire wheel, and one observes that -the fashion;of fitting them to -; small, cars is .extending. Although, as we have said, the wire wheel scores on account of lightness and strength as compared to the artillery type, it is unfortunately true that the cleanings operation- is not so easy in the case of a wheel with wire apokes as in the case of a wheel of the steel artillery pattern ot the eteel disc so commonly in ■ use. Since most small car owners valet their own vehicle's, this is a factor, which is more important I than one might, at first thought, supi Poee. .' '" ~ . ■ MOTOR CYCLE TRANSPORT. The motor-cycle is being recognised by the big users of transport and official departments. As supplementary carriers to big lorries they_ have served 'Mg distributing and mail order itoree for many years, but the lethargy of official- , dom has now been penetrated. TheLiverpool police have recently equipped themselves with a big fltet of service machines for employment on special duty, the Air Department of the Royal Mail uses side-cars for the haulage of letters and parcels from the General Post Office to the air terminus, and similar machines are to be found in the garages of innumerable local authorities. Bnfc perhaps the meet streniKrae service whjoh is called for from tie side-car is" that of ta* apwtpaper «»- tributors who raeh edition* to the : bif railway stations for dStribntiee in *■• provinces, and ■ who scour the home roads in supplying the suburbs and surrounding counties. In all weathers i and under all conditions the motor- I cycling newspaper squad operates, and the extension of the squad is the proof! el ita efficiency. ._ V

TOPZOAX. NOTES. It is interesting to note that out of the 2,334,000 cars to be made in America this year, 92 per cent will lie the output of only sixteen manufacturing concerns. The Pioneer Motorcycle Club at Christchurch will hold races on Sockburn racecourse on Labour PayThe Rotorua Motor-cycle and Athletic Club -will hold a motor-cycle rueetitg on October 22. Although the eg *pxx)ent generally was very* complete, not a single car in the 24-hour race at Ij> Mans, France, had a mechanical windscreen wiper. Mr. H. Halliday (president) stated at the monthly meeting of the Otago Motor Club on Tuesday night that vie introduction of police-traffic control in the city would soon be an accomplished fact. The Rudge four-speed motor-cycle gained three maximum awards in the six days' Scottish trials, which were exceptionally severe this year. To encourage the attendance of motorists at Minster Church, near Deal, the vicar (the Rev. Vf. Boyd) ia providing facilities for a wash" and brushup at the vicarage. Motor epirit from sugar is the latest proposal. It is «aid that the Panpanga Sugar Mills, Manila, have been successfolly using motor alcohol made locally by what is known as the Foster formula, and the results are said to compare very favourably with gasoline. The display of vehicles at the Auckland Winter Show now in progress is not very comprehensive, but, according to re. ports, the exhibitors are well satisfied. A motor Olympia would prove a special attraction. When the drive" wheels of a car an locked through a breakage in the dif ferential or in, the universal joint, tin car can be placed in position to be towet by removing the keys that bold the real wheels in the axles, allowing the wheeli to turn freely. Vast oil deposit* have been found ir Venezuela; indeed, it eeerae ag thougt they were of unparalleled richness. Thii discovery will have a marked effect ot I British engineering work; and, as it may be presumed that this newcomer will have the effect of reducing, or ai any rate, steadying, the price of motoi spirit, it will aid to a marked degree the development of the British automobile industry. The motor cycle lias heen coming intc dts own in Christchurch on recenl ■frosty mornings, which makes horse de> liveries very slow and risky (says an ex. change). One local baker, who has about ten horse turn-outs, together with the largest and most modern motor cycle delivery in the Dominion, testifies t« the superiority of mechanical transport, and milkmen and butchers can also speak feelingly, on the subject. A Ford .car came to-grief in Stafford Street; Timartr, with a bump. The mas at the wheel was driving steadily along •when, -with a severe jerk, the car took a dangerous list to port. He immediately pulled up, but by this time one oi the back .wheels was lying on the pavement, the "axle having broken. No othei damage wsj» done to the car, and the occupant* received nothing more than a fright, f- * * • ■ Xhe number of licensed vehicles operating re the Department of the Seine, Paris, is half a million. This figure in chiefly made up of delivery tricycles, which number 358,000. Next come tractors and autodrays, 40.000;' then 34,000 private automobiles; 30,000 horse-drawn vehicles, 10,000 public taxis, 6000 motorcycles, 1200 electric cars, and 1000 autobuses, leaving a balance of 10,000 which lack classification. Latest information from New York Is to the effect that traffic congestion in the city is so acute that the Xew York police are considering the exclusion of all but taxis and commercial vehicles in certain districts at certain hours of the day. Schemes are also being discussed for the construction of overhead roads. With the exception of the Bentley, all the fast cars in the 24-hour race held in France recently had front wheel brakes, with which they gave marvellous exhibitions of their ability to stop quickly without skidding. The winning car a three-litre Chenard Walcker, covered 1372.5 miles at an average of over 67 miles an hour, a world's record for a 24. hour road race.

lJ^ r ** Winter Show, i«T»T (on a chassis) gandra, New South Wales, was destroyed by fire a few weeks ago, the townspeople were surprised to find their electric lights Btill chining. The local engineers were at their wits' end .in an endeavour to overcome the situation, when somebody suggested that an agricultural tractor might possibly furnish the required power. On a farm adjacent to the town a tractor was located doing a ploughing job. It was requisitioned, and for over seven weeks it has provided the power necessary to light the town to the satisfaction of all concerned. The other evening some young men decided to go to a dance at a place not many miles south of Timarn. They hired a car, and one of them, although he knew nothing about its mechanism, steered it' without mishap to the place of amusement. The party spent a jolly time, and, as he took hia place at the wheel to come home, the driver felt quite pleased with himself. Ho tried to start the car, but wag unsuccessful. Various devices were renorted to, but all were in vain. Finally, the car was tied to another machine and given a run along the road, but still the engine did not move. At last, exasperated and weary, the party gave it up, and travelled home by another par. The following morning the driver told a long story to a man in the garage, contending that there was something radically wrong with the engine. The garage man went to the car, and after one turn of the handle the engine started. Aβ it turned out, the trouble was not with the car, but with the amateur driver, who now has a fairly good idea of how to start a car.