GRAND PRIX RACERS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18074, 16 May 1924, Page 4

GRAND PRIX RACERS.

FRENCH AND ITALIANS PREPARING. French automobile factories, especially in the corners thereof where cars for tho Grand Prix of Europe are being built, are humming with industry. The final tuning-up of the Alfa-Romeo cars has been completed with, it is said, extraordinary results, and it is claimed that the cars of this make are faster than the Fiats which ran in the Grand Prix race last year. An entirely new type of car also will be the Bugatti racers. The strictest secrecy is being maintained at the Delage works, but it is known that the three cars for the Grand Prix are now completed and eacn is fitted with a very remarkable system of forced induction. Although the cars are already running, no further details have yet come to hand. More precise information, however, is available with regard to the racing Fiats. Tho famous Italian concern, it is reported, has built new racing cars equipped with four-cylinder two-stroke engines. One of tho new cars was recently matched with one of the last year's Grand Prix models on the Brescia circuit; the new model was driven by Salaniano and th© old by Bordino. fho former literally played with the second, being a good 12 m.p.h. faster It is credibly announced that the 1924 two-litre Fiat racing engines have developed 150 h;p. on test, while the road-holding qualities and the streamlining of these, cars are extremely good. There are rumours that the Fiat concern may give up racing at the end of this year, and that it is concentrating all its efforts on winning every possible event before doing so, but there is no definite information on this point. Racine cars of the well-known Italian" make of Alfa-Romeo are taking part in the Grand Prix of Europe and Targa Florio races. They will be driven by the Italian drivers Ascari, Campari and Mftsetti, and the old French champion, Louis "Wagner. ' "SATURATION POINT." r A MYTH EXPLODED. After all the ink, paper, and energy that have been expended! to manufacture a saturation point in the automobile industry everyone seems ,to have come j around to the conclusion that would have been reached in the first place had the alarmists been taken as a joke. Last year proved that the more auto, mobile's there are the more there will be made and sold. But that's justi one of tho reasons. '

There can be no saturation point when cars are being used more and more extensively. Thought they may be better built, use is bound ttf result in greater wear, greater need for replacement. .■■■.. ; ; A; younger generation is coming to maturity with definite ideas as to: what it wants in the way of automobiles. It wants the i newer and/better thingB K which means that scrapping of older cars would be iri order regardless of how many miles of unused transportation still remain. The American woman is unique iu that she has proven her ability to drive cars. There are 26,000 school teaohera who own cars, a large percentage ofwhpm are women.

Doubtless the increase in accidents and fatalities tends to retard sales, and will continue to do so until the manufacturers realise that it is their job to educate the public properly to the necessity for safety and sanity. But one cannot look over the Situation without appreciating the fact that the public is bound to improve in ita driving: .Considering that motoring is a comparatively new pursuit for millions of people, the situation isn't half as bad as it might be. , > As for people who are suspected of never being financially able to own cars or physically' able to drive them one had to go lightly. Many people are motoring to-day and surprising their neighbours, And many a Cripple does wonderfully well at the Wheel.

WHITE FOR FREE WHITE TRUCK BOOKLETS By return mail we will sendiyOu an instructive, interesting booklet; which tells "the full story of White Trucks. We will send, also, the White Truck Roll Call, which tells you who owns White vehicles, and why. We want you to discover that a. "White" can ihthat there is a "White" built specially for your' business, and that We are will-' ing to enter into a practical discussion of your haulage problems. Will you give us an opptfrtuity to put up a plain, btisincss-like proposition? Newton King, Ltd., New Plymouth. 20