CHAMPION CAR OWNER

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19803, 16 December 1929, Page 8

CHAMPION CAR OWNER

YOUNG MAN'S RECORD. A young man who is described by the "Daily Mail" as the world's champion motor-car owner was among those who attended the recent Olympia Show at Kensington, London. He is 27 years old aud since he first drove a motorcycle at the age of fifteen has owned seven motor-cycles and 72 cars. Only one "Blister." 4, 1 cannot remember all of them," he said to an interviewer. "But I do know that the last car I bought was my 72nd. So far I have had only one 'blister' on my license—a matter of £lO 10s fine and £lO 10s costs at Leicester some years ago. And I have been. —touch wood!—in only one motor-ear smash. Then the car turned over. But no one was hurt. *'l have driven all over Europe and in India and Africa. In India, where I was the guest of a Maharajah, there were policemen all along the route blowing whistles warning the people to get out of the road. It was the best time I have bad in my experience of motoring. "On no occasion have I had more than five motor-ears simultaneously. My average mileage is 30,000 a year." Cars He has Driven. The young man handed the interviewer a list as far as he could remember of the motor-cars he has bought, owned, and driven. It was as follows: 1 Singer, 1 Vauxhall, 3 Delages, 3 Rolls-Eoyces, 3 Eenaults, 3 H.E.'s, 3 Bentleys, 1 Voisin, 1 Chrysler, 2 Isotta Fraschinis, 1 Peugeot, 2 Fiats, 2 Amilears, 1 Sara, 1 Buick, 1 Lanchester, 1 Hall-Scott (with a 200-h.p. Aero engine), 1 Sackville Hoyau, 2 Bugattis 1 ScrippsBooth, 1 Morris-Cowley, 1 A.V. Monocar, 1 A.C, 1 Hispano-Suiza, 1 Austro-Daim-ler, 1 Daimler, 1 Albert, 1 Salmson, 1 Calcott 1 Charron-Laveock, 2 Wolseleys, 2 A.B.C.'s. 1 Silver Hawk, 1 Talbot, 1 Darraoq, 2 Sunbeams, 1 Shef-field-Simplex, 1 Dodge, 1 Newport Pagnall (Salmons), 1 Mathis, 1 Columbia, 1 Lancia, 1 Calthdrp, 1 ChenardWalcker.

Although the old system of gearchanging by engaging rotating toothed wheels sideways still remains with us, we seem to be on the eve of some development. Gear-changing has always been a matter of some difficulty, and with the ever-growing use of motor vehicles by people who have no mechanical knowledge and- are not interested in the why and wherefore of the technical details of their cars, it would seem that attention to this matter has become increasingly urgent. Most of the makers have gone carefuly into the matter and several firms have recently redesigned their gearboxes with a view to giving easier and smoother manipulation. The introduction of the freewheel may have had its effect in bringing this matter forward, for the freewheel "does give even the novice the chance of changing without noise, and the* conventional type must be brought up to the same stage of perfection. The value of the motor productions of the German motor industry increased from £25,000,000 in 1926 to £45,400,000 in 1927, and approximately £50,250,000 in 1028. A Manchester journal announces that certain Lancashire and Yorkshire speedways are to be made into pony racecourses, and that a great public cra#e for the sport is expected.