MODERN MOTORING

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 108, 10 May 1927, Page 12

MODERN MOTORING

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BOTES and COMMENTS LOCAL AND GENERAL

LIGHTING UP TIMES. To r day ~, 5.28 p.m. Wednesday «......«...«. 5.27 p.m. Thursday .•M rtMR * UMMM 5.26 p.m. Friday ....*.>.«,,.»..*. 5.25 p.m. Saturday ..,.„..«.*,... 5.25 pjn. Sunday .„.*.. M «.. 5.24 p.m. Monday .#.....».„.... 5.23 p.m. FLAGSTAFF HILL, RUSSELL, REACHED BY CAR. The historic flagstaff on the hill overlooking Russell, which, at various periods during the war with the Maoris, was cut down three times, the last occasion being during Hone Heke'a outbreak was, last Friday, reached by a small English car, driven by Mr. Leo Irvin, of Auckland, with Mr. L. L. ,White as passenger. The time taken was one and three-quarter minutes from the foot of the hill. This is the first time the steep and narrow road, with, its many bends, has ever been driven over by a motor car. A drive to the present terminus of the KussellAuekland road revealed beautiful glimpses of the Bay of Islands and some line native bush. TRADE BANNED FROM

COMPETITIONS. The two big automobile clubs of England, which have frequently held reliability trials and 24-hour tests, have received word from the Society of Motor Traders that in future trade entries will not be allowed for such trials or tests. In reviewing this decision "The Autocar" says: "I am not in the least complaining of the ban on trade entries in such events as 24-hour runs of a social character organised by various clubs. The technical value of such events evaporated as soon ae cars became moderately reliable. The tests were too vague and too complicated by the ability or inefficiency of amateur owners to have much real technical value, but I do not think the public would have submitted quietly to this ban if they had clearly understood that it "would be coupled with a refusal to permit official trails by the two great automobile clubs—trials of sufficient length and on a sufficiently scientific basis to furnish genuine comparative tests of the competing care. "I have often attended such trials, sometimes as an official observer, with a seat in a different car every day, sometimes as a Pressman with special opportunities for gauging each individual performance, and I have never yet returned -without much definite information of real value. I have come home feeling that in the several classes I would buy or recommend certain care to the exclusion of others. But under the present regime the average car owner is lrarred from such information, and it is precisely the information he needs. The present system, without official trials, might have been expressly designed to smother merit and maintain a dead level. "It might be argued that just now the British car industry is capable of manufacturing far more cars than it can sell at home; that this excess of supply over demand ensures fierce competition; and that this competition automatically guarantees a healthy rivalry, which is an excellent substitute for trials. This is the only rational answer which the notrial party in the councils of the B.M.T. can return to those firms who yearn for an annual trial; and there is unquestionably a great deal in it. Special circumstances give France, Italy and America a finger in our home market, which we could more than supply for ourselves. This keeps things alive. "There is no risk of the stagnancy which might occur in any country screened by high tariffs and with plants just about equal to its own needs, and no more. The absence of trials is not likely at the moment to result'in a drop in quality. This ia the main asset of the fierce competition under which the industry is labouring. It is only fair to Add that competition is perfectly sterile as regards two functions which a properly organised reliability trial should perform. Competition does little or nothing to inform Jones, Brown and Hobinson which of this trio represents the best value." PELORUS BRIDGE RESERVE. Tn his address to the annual meeting of the Marlborough Motor Association, the president, Mr. R. P. Furneea mentioned that a few months ago a board was set up to control the beautiful scenic reserve at Pelorus' Bridge,

and, as representing the association, he was appointed a member. A good deal had already been done to improve the spot as a picnic and camping ground for motorists, and this work would be continued as funds became available. A very large number of people had visited the bridge during the summer, including the Duke and Duchess of York, and it was certain that next season would see it established as one of the favourite camping sites in Marlborough. The motor camp had come to stay, and, in common with automobile associations in, every part of the Dominion, the association had, during the past year, provided facilities for parties desiring to engage in this pleasant method of spending their holidays. Should occasion warrant, the work could be extended next year. KILLING CRIME. Desperate ills call for desperate remedies; as those good folk who are a little startled by the severity of the sentences naesed on drunken motor drivers

xences passea on arunicen motor anvers should remember. We recall, states one exchange, with a thrill of horror, the savitge reprisals upon various minor criminals in the old days, but it is as well to remember also that the crimes for which those'punishments were not considered excessive, have practically ceased to exist. Very rarely does one hear of a horse or a sheep being stolen in a rural district, though the theft of motor cars is becoming unpleasantly frequent. Unless these motor thieves have a care, we shall be reading of still further activities on the magisterial front. DANCING ON TOP OF A SALOON CAS. Two London dancing teachers, Mr. Bnntcs Casani and Miss Jose Lennard, charlestoned on the roof of a saloon car while it travelled down the Edgeware road recently. The pair danced to the strains of a portable gramophone also placed on the roof. At the end of the test Mr. Casani and Miss Lennard ex-pressc-J themselves astonished with the «enso of eecure equilibrium - they had experienced while dancing on tie roof 9 U? e car » " wMcll Ilad Ravelled, on open irads ana fa congested traffic, at speeds ***» five to twenty milee per

CONTINENTAL ROAD SPEED TESTS. In conjunction with the annual Swiss automobile show held at Geneva, speed tests over the flying kilometre were neld on the Eaux Mortes Road, the competing machines being divided into touring and sporting models and subdivided according to engine size. In the 1500 cc. touring class the winner was a Fiat, averaging 56 miles an hour. A 2-litre Bugatti averaged 6G.4 miles an hour. A Talbot in the 3-litre class won at an average of 60.8 miles. A Panhard and Levassor was the fastest in the 5000 cc. class at an average of 85 miles an hour. The respective winners in the five sporting type classes were:—lloo cc. Amilcar, at 63.3 miles an hour; 1500 cc, Bugatti at 75 miles an hour; 2000 cc, Bugatti, at 87 miles an hour; 3000 cc, Sunbeam, at 76.3 miles an hour; 5000 cc, Steyr, at 99.4 miles an hour. Among the racing cars the fastest was the supercharged 1100 cc. Amilcar, driven by Martin, which averaged 103.5 miles an hour. A 2000 ce. Schmidt averaged 83.1 miles an hour and a 3000 cc. Whippet averaged 61.6 miles. Unable to drive his big Delage owing to the rain, Robert Benoist made an individual attempt the following day and succeeded in establishing a new Swiss record at a speed of 129.3 miles an hour.

I CANBERRA MOTORISTS. r Iron-bound regulations have been 1 drawn up to deal with the use, and [ T parking it private cars at Canberra duri . ing the opening of the new capital. .. ' 3 Probably the most important regula- " tion is that which makes it compulsory ' ' for each car visiting Canberra to be ' " equipped with a fire-extinguisher. v At the capital, parking space has been ] reserved for all motorists who made , 5 written application. ' Parking areas are within walking die- t tance of the Canberra Parliament House, r and the cars cannot be used between , the parks and the building. i Subject to similar conditions, space ( I has also been reserved for auto camps ; for persons who have applied and paid i a fee of 10/ a car. ' l This fee entitles the motorist to park : > his car and erect a tent for the accom- ' modation of his party. , Such camps will be available from 8 I a.m.-on May 6, but must be vacated by ' 4 p.m. on May 11. 1 MOTORING WITHOUT ROADS. i A strange new motor truck with six wheels will soon be seen making its own road across the open country of New Zealand like a tank in war time, says * our London correspondent. The vehicle, - which is intended for commercial pur- '. posea in lands where roads are not fully > developed, has been thoroughly tested • by the British War Office, with results > proving that a practical solution has

been found of the problem of transport over rough land. After discussion with the War Office the Dunlop Company have evolved a spebial type of tyre for use on the new trucki The tyre has a series of large bars set across the tread diagonally, and these bare, digging into the soft earth, have proved most successful in helping the truck to move over difficult ground. The truck, which is made at the Morris works, can carry a load of from 25 to 30cwt. . '" ' FACILITIES FOR OVERSEAS MOTORISTS. In view of the great improvement of Southampton as a port, very many overseas motorists intending to visit Great Britain will be interested to know. that the Automobile Association has established an office at 11, The Avenue, Southampton, at which members can obtain all necessary information as regards touring, road information, etc

A MECHANISED POLICE FORCE. Juet lately the police forces of Britain and other countries seem to have become very considerable purchasers of motor vehicles of one sort or another. For example, the London .authorities have purchased a large number of a certain car, which combine the merits of low cost, durability and quite adequate speed capabilities. I noticed the other day that at least one agent was making rather amusing copy, out of this order, by displaying an advertisement reading, "Don't get arrested in the country, come to London and be run in by a Scotland Yard have recently adopted the very wiso precaution of fitting all their cars with, triplex safety glass, thereby following the lead already set by the Navy, the Army and the Air Force. In the case of the police, the risk of deliberate, as well as of accidental injury from the smashing of ordinary glass must of course be recognised. The ordinary motorist too often does not take this very sane precaution until a serious accident has drawn his attention to its importance. Newcastle-on-Tyne has long ago adopted motor-cycles somewhat extensively for its police service, selecting the 5 h.p. N.U.T. machines. One of the results has been a very distinct economy, since it has been found possible to close a number of police stations in the city area, without running undue risk of the police failing to arrive with sufficient promptitude in cages of emergency. The Persian police force have recently adopted Matchless motor-cycles as their standard. A missionary organisation in the Cameroons also employs a fleet of these machines.

A LOT OF DUTIES FOR MOTORISTS. "No person who drives a motor car should go without a copy of the Motor Vehicles Act," said Mr, J. H. Salmon, S.M., in the Wellington Magistrate's Court, when ho fined James Creighton £1 for having failed to notify change of ownership of a motor car. Creighton, who had traded the car in as part payment for another had pleaded that he was unaware of his obligation. "If you get a copy of the regulations you will find that you have a lot of duties to perform/' Mr. Salmon told him. WHY "FOOL-PROOF." It hardly seems flattering to the general body of motorists that nearly every new device introduced should be described as "foolproof."