MODERN MOTORING

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 15, 19 January 1926, Page 10

MODERN MOTORING

" - ' 5 CA L Am o wtNE R A^ *T SPARKWeLi. .

UGHTING-UP TIMES. To-day 7.42 p.m. Wednesday 7.42 p.m. Thursday 7.41 p.m. Friday 7.41 p. m> Saturday 7.40 p.m. Sunday 7.40 p.m. Monday 7.39 p.m. Tuesday 7.39 p.m. THE MURIWAI MEETING. The prospects for a record meeting at Muriwai on Saturday, February 13 are already very encouraging. For the New Zealand Motor Cup the recordbreaking Sunbeam has been entered by Mr. Hamilton, of Fairlie. who lias just landed a three-litre straig-ht-eight Sunbeam, which he will race if she proves faster than last year's car. Two Bugattis have entered from the south, and a Sunbeam and another Bugatti from Australia. The committee has amended the programme as follows:— Touring Car Handicap, six miles, three turns: First prize, trophy valued £15. Ladies' race, two mile's and a-half, straight: First prize, £7 7/. New Zealand Motor Cup, fifty miles, seven turns: First prize £100 and Now Zealand Motor Cup, valued 100 guineas; also miniature cup and gol<i medal for driver. Second prize, £25; third prize, £10.

Open Handicap, eighteen miles, five turns; First prize, £18 18/. Open Handicap, one mile and a-half, straight: First prize, £10. New Zealand Light Car Cup. fifty miles, seven turns: First prize, £50 and New Zealand Light Car Cup, valued 50 guineas; also miniature cup and gold medal for driver. Junior Handicap, eighteen miles, five turns: First prize, £10. .A certificate of performance will be presented to every driver of a car securing a placed position.

STORY WITH A MORAL. It is harder for a car owner not to be a liar than for a fisherman or a professional provider of alibis. Until the other day I believed myself to be the only motorist who -was not:a liar (writes Alan Bott, in the HondOn '"Sphere"). I had promised to' drive a friend to Goodwood. We were to start at 10.30 and arrive at 1, but on the day of the journey my car was under repair. So the friend, borrowed somebddy else's car. a six-cylinder Patrician, and I was told I could drive it. "We shan't be very late," • eaid ray passenger; "the man who owns this says he's often done the trip ■in an hour and three-quarters." I drove at between thirty and fifty miles an hour over reasonably clear roads, except through London • and the Sussex towns. AYe arrived after , two and a-half hours, and missed our luncheon party.

"None of these fellows who run highpowered cars can tell the truth," I! said. "You see? We've come hell-for-leather, and we're three-quarters of an''hour behind what was promised. You have to substract 30 per cent from the speeds they brag about."' "How much slower is your Plebeian?" asked my friend. I admitted to a subtraction of ten miles an hour or so. "And we were to have done the trip in exactly the time we've taken in the Patrician. You see?" I blushed. "And you said your Plebeian once climbed Duneton Hill on top. Even' in the Patrician we had to change-down tb second half way up. Well?" The blush returned. • "If ever I am lucky enough to pass-St. Peter," said my friend, "I shan't be surprised te hear from Elijah that hra 30-50 flame-power chariot climbed to heaven on top." "