NOTES.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18550, 27 November 1925, Page 4

NOTES.

"Roadster" invites articles and paragraph of interest to motorists for this page.

Amusing letters arc occasionally received by the Chief Traffic Inspector from motorists vrho liaro offended against the by-laws and who are expecting to receive a summons to appear before the Magistrate's Court. ,l I plead guilty, your Worship," was how ono such letter began, tho -writer then proceeding to inform, tho Inspector that lie had had a disastrous week at tho races, and that he had neye r offended similarly before. "I am going so far as to beg your pardon," he added, "and will promise to be a good boy in future." He concluded his letter with tho hope that the Inspector would put mercy before justice. A member has written from Invercargill to tho Canterbury Automobile Association thanking that body for having taken up on his behalf a caso in which he was charged with having; used glaring headlights 011 tho Papanui road. As a result of tho Association's interest in tho case, tho information, was dismissed. When a clatter is heard as if somo part has dropped from tho car, it is ai wise policy to stop and make, a thorough search for tho cause of tho noise, and it is a very unwise policy to assumo that the noiso was caused by running over a tin can or something of tho sort. License plates, license brackets, tyre carrier fittings, tail lamps, crank handles, and tools are just a few of tho things that, have been lost in this way. In fact, there is very little on a car that cannot drop off. Tho proverb, "It's an ill wind that blows nobody good," is well exemplified in a letter which has been sent to tho City Motor Inspector with reference, to charge against a driver whose; name had been taiken for having allegedly driven too quickly. The letter stated that the driver of the car concerned was ono who had been engaged for the purpose of instructing a learner in the art of driving. The prosecution, the letter stated, would be regarded as a lesson to the new driver not to exceed the by-law. A regular service of saloon coaches is to be started shortly l>y tho Michelin Co. between theij* works at Clermont Ferrand in Central France and their Paris offices. The service will be a private one, being intended, as it is, for the use of officials of the company.. Comfortable beds and'washing accommodation are to be provided in tho coaches, the idea being that tho passengers shall travel at night and arrive at their destination fresh and fit for tho day's business.

Shimmy, or wobbling, of the front wheels docs not usually last for mora than a few seconds at a time, but the •length of tho annoyance can bo greatly shortened by pulling hard in ono direction or tho other. Shimming is invariably duo to "play,"" or looseness, in tho steering though thcro aro other explanations in many instances. .Definite steering in ono direction or another will serve to take up this play •temporarily and thus bring tho shimmy to : a quicker end.

In a. series of tests conducted in America by tho Bureau of Public Works it was found that the impact force resulting when a motor truck wheel, with a badly worn solid rubber tyre, goes over an irregularity in the road is seven times the dead weight of vehicle. Not only does such an impact damage the road, but it seriously shortens tho life of the vehicle itself. Owners of motor trucks should realiso that it is poor economy operating their vehicles with the tyres carrying barelv enough rubber to keep tho run off tho ground. Any tyro-sa.ving effected by running solids in such a condition is poor economy, for increased maintenance cost will be more than eat up any saving made by continual use of the worn-out tyres.