MODERN MOTORING

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 25, 31 January 1928, Page 16

MODERN MOTORING

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UGHTING-UP TIMES To-day 8,35 p.m. Wednesday 8.34 p.m. Thursday .......... 8.33 p.m. Friday 8.32 p.m. Saturday .......... 8.34 p.m. Sunday 8.3? PraMonday 8,30 p.m. ENGLAND TO AUSTRALIA BY CAK. The latest news of Francis Birtles, the Australian pioneer everlander, who is motoring alone from England to Australia—about 10,000 miles-—is from <Jalcutta, India, where he arrived sofely on Sunday, January 8. His had a thrilling but. nerve-racking experience in getting through to this point, but his bush training and hardships he has had to undergo previously in Australia have given him the necessary resource and courage to negotiate the difficulties of such a trip successfully. In crossing Persia he was caught in blinding snowstorms, and on one occasion while he was sheltering, brigands bore down on him armed with old-fashioned guns loaded with serapiron and robbed him of his blankets. The exposure to the severe cold of this section of the Journey necessitated his spending Christmas Dav Ui hospital at Quetta, India, after which he made good progress. He intends continuing his journey via North Bengal, Burma and Malaya—which will be one of the hardest test« of the tour, the country being wild and hilly jungle and inhabited by savage tribes.

tKWmLC I AUSTRALIAN HEAV OIL ENGINE FOR CARS. In view of the possibilities of Diesel and femi-Piesel engines for motor vehicles, soma particulars from the ."Chamber of Commerce Journal" of a new highspeed oil engine invented by Mr. W. T. Grayson, an Australian engineer, l wjll he of interest. The engine is claimed to have a capacity to run at the cost of an ordinary petrol engine, a high thermal efficiency, a capacity to maintain economy and thermal efficiency at partial loads, an ability to work successfully on almost $ny liquid hydrocarbon fuel, and tha certainty that it will consume all the fuel. It has no magneto or other ignition system, no carburettor, no gear box, and reverses by the pressure of a small lever. It lacks the usual engine troubled and is absolutely flexible. PAY ATTENTION TO LUBRICATION ON TOUR. On long, continuous journeys, a car will need more attention than when used intermittently on ordinary day work. Thus when you are touring, or on vacation, lubricate the car systematically, according to instructions. Every device of a mechanical nature requires regular lubrication to ensure its most satisfactory operation. Lack of lubrication results in excess wear on moving parts. Efficient lubrication is the most important factor in getting the best possible service from your car. For that reason it shot .Id never be neglected.

RE-LICENSING OF MOTOR VEHICLES, igaß-ag. With a view to relieving any congestion that may occur at the central relicensing office, situate at Wellesley , Street, the rpotor registration branch requests motorists to make early application for plates for the ensuing year. This will obviate the waiting in queues t' vt must occur if re-licensing is delayed until the latter portion of March. By making early application, the staff will be able to devote more time to the requirements of each owner than at a later date, when a much greater number of applications aire being dealt with. A SPARK MAY'START A TIRE IN THE BUSH. In the Xortli and the Waikato district several serious bush fires have occurred lately. For that reason, motorists and picnickers are warned against building fires, and then leaving them to burn themselves out. Also against throwing lighted cigarette ends or matches from moving vehicles. It takes very little to start a grass or bush fire under the present very dry condition of the country. Thoughtless acts of this nature may destroy feed and crops worth thousands of pounds, and, worse still, endanger human lives. SYDNEY-MELBOURNE RECORD AGAIN LOWERED. Another new record from Sydney to Melbourne has been established. This time the honour goes to Mr. H. J. Beath, of Albury, New South Wales. Driving alone in a model 70 Chrysler, he left Sydney at 4 a.m. on December 21, and arrived in Melbourne at 3.14 p.m. the same day; covering the 565 miles in 11 hours 14 minutes, and averaging just over 50 miles per hour. A great drive, considering the condition of the roads in some parts of the journey. Between Springhurst and Wangaratta he had a puncture, and as he had lost his jack somewhere along the road he had to wait until he could obtain the loan of one from a passing motorist. Unfortunately this delay cost him about 15 minutes or more. Beath was most considerate when passing through townships, always reducing his speed to comply with the regulations. PRECAUTIONS WHEN ON HOLIDAY. While on holiday it is by no means I an uncommon experience to be compelled to leave the car out all night in the open occasionally. When this has to be done there is always a fair chance of heavy rain descending in the night. The precaution, therefore, of getting a few old sacks to cover up the vital parts is well worth bearing in mind, even though at the time of leaving the car the weather may look promising enough. Magneto, carburettor and sparking plugs should be covered in this manner, and the seat cushions should be reversed. Whenever the car ,s washed at times when such condiflbns prevail, it is well to give the bonnet and panels a thorough polishing with wax ,* uch reparations tends to prevent the formation of unsightly rain spots.

DESERT SHEIK PREFERS CAR TO CAMELS. "\Yhile in Nigeria I had the pleasure of seeing the Emir of Ilorin, but the gentleman shattered all my illusions about desert sheiks," writes a wellknown business man, who is touring Africa. "When I heard the cry 'The Emir is coming!' I expected to see a gorgeouslyappointed camel train, but instead I saw a Morris-Oxford dash by at a furious speed. "The Emir, I discovered, finds camels too slow nowadays." THE MOTOR CAR WAS FORECASTED IN THE BIBLE. Those who think the motor car isn't in the divine nature of things because i 1 ruins attendance at church are wrong. It was forecasted in the Bible. Nahum xi., 4 and 5, says: "The chariots shall rage in the streets; they shall jostle one against another in the broad ways; they shall seem like torches; they shall run like lightning." TO KEEP OUT OF TROUBLE ON THE HIGHWAY. Drive slowlj on curves, grades and crowded highways. If you have any doubt about having the right-of-way, let the other fellow go ahead. Signal early and correctly every time you turn or stop. Don't give a sloppy little signal with your hand, but stick your arm well out where it can be seen. Keep on your own side of the road, especially on turning from a side road into the* highway. Have your brakes inspected frequently and adjusted whenever they need it. Brakes that are tighter on one side than the other cause skidding. Don't come to a stop on the road; pull off to one side. AMERICA'S MOTOR DEATH ROLL. Statistics compiled by the American Automobile Chamber of Commerce show that motor fatalities during the last eight years exceed the death roll of the American army during the world war. The total traffic deaths for the period reviewed were 137,017. Twenty-six per cent were children under la. The National Safety Council reports that during September, 1927, motor vehicles took an average dally toll of 70 lives in the United States. The monthly death roll was 2080, of which 1520, or three-quar-ters, were pedestrians. These included 610 children under 15. The appalling loss of the lives of over 600 children in one month is worth the consideration of educational authorities. It has been ascertained that the majority of these fatalities were due to children playing on the roads. A NOTED BRITISH CAR MAGNATE TO VISIT AUCKLAND. Mr. W. It. Morris, the British motor car ipagnate, was to have left England on December 29 by the Aquitania on a visit to America, New Zealand, and Australia, returning to London about the middle of April. Mr. Morris is due in Auckland in February.