MOTORING

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19841, 31 January 1930, Page 4

MOTORING

.. "Boadster" invites articles and paragraphs of interest to motorists for this page. NOTES. To-morrow afternoon commencing at 2 30 the Pioneer Sports Club will conduct its annual hill-climbing championships " n tbp pstntfi of Mr .T. Cracroft "Wilson. at Cashmere, who has kindly placed .i suitable hill on his estate at the service of the club, as in previous vears. Four classes are to be contested, as follows; (1) For machines up to and including 350 c.c. (2) For machine* over 300, up to and including f.tX) c.c. (3) For machines over (XX), up to and including 1000 c.c. (4) ror machines ot unlimited power, i.e., open to all. The present holders of tlic-e championships are: Lightweight ;i:k| middleweight, Keg. Palmer; heawweight, N. R. Gray. Post entries* will be received for all events. Already quite a number of maiden entries have been received for the various events, which should prove both spectacular and most interesting. The following officials have been appointed to control the competitions: Starter. Mr R. H. Parker: timekeepers, Messrs P. Menzies. C. R. Hayward, and R. H Parker; course stewards. Messrs H. S. Butcher, W. K. Mulholland. H. K. Pavne. F. P. Sprosen. E. S. Velvin, and W. K. Sunlov; result board steward. Mr G. A. Hayman; gates, Mr L. A. Cuming.

Arrangements for holding the Pioneer Snorts Club's annual reliabilitv trial, always the big event in motorcycle circles are well in hand, and ha* been set down for March Ist and •2nd. A special meeting of the Motor Committee is to be held on Thursday evening to fimlise matters in connexion therewith.

Automotive exports from Germany last year showed an increase of 71 per cent.' over the previous vear. Before the war Germany ranked next to the United States and France in automotive exports. Tt is now in sixth n'ace heinc exceeded bv the United Stntes. France. Great Britain, Canada and Italv. and Pcnres indicate that it is gradually bidding for its pre-war position.

In view of the number of cars stolen each year in New Zealand, although the majority are recovered—sometimes in a damaged condition —it is very desirable that some means should be found for making the unauthorised use, or sale of a stolen car impossible. In the State of California (U.S.A.), there is a system in force in which the car-owner is issued a certificate of legal ownership; it is really a title deed to disclose the legal owner of a motor vehicle. Before the vehicle can be registered in any other name the certificate of legal ownership must be produced. It is claimed that this makes it impossible for a stolen car to be used as saleable merchandise. If a car is boutrht on terms the seller retains the title until the car is paid for, then it is made over to the person who has completed the purchase. If some such scheme was adopted in New Zealand it would most certainlv afford car-owners and traders substantial protection against the car thief Whilst such a t'tle might not stop the thieving joy-rider it would make it practically iraoossible for a stolen car or a car which has not been nnid for. to be traded in. or sold outright, and would reduce the car thieving industry to zero. Moreover, it would save thousands of oounds now expended in police efforts to recapture stolen cars.

The growing tendency in the United Stntes of America to standardise the colour combinations of automohile licence plates is shown by the fact that in 1930. thirty-one States will change the colour scheme* of their license plates a« against thirty-nine that chan?<Hl them last vear. There will be 16 different motifs in use in 1930 compared w'r+h 23 colour motifs used Inst year. Thirteen States and the of Columbia will retain the 1929 colou»- combinations. As the States decide i'oon the most effective combination for visibility, it is thought they will dispense with the nracti"<> of m"kin«? yearly changes in their license plates.

Norman ("Wizard"* Smith, of Sydney, recently established an Australasian, and what is claimed to be a world's 10-mile motoring record, at Ninety Mile Beach. Auckland. He covered the 10 miles straightaway course in 4min 2 l-s*»c at an average speed of 148.637 m.p.h. Inasmuch that particulars were published in the Australian Press in May 1922 that Signor Haugdahl, in April of that year on Daytona Beach, Florida, TJ.S.A., driving a 250 h.p. car. covered 5 miles in lmin 51 l-ssec (162 m.p.h.) and 10 miles in 3min oosec (152$ m.p.h.) establishing world's record figures for these two distances, it appears that Smith's fine drive is not the fastest Bpeed ever recorded for that distance. Smith has been making preparations for his attempt on the record tor several months, and is to l>e congratulated on his wonderful effort in attaining the high speed which he did.

BY "ROADSTER."

Russian production of petrol is expected to be doubled during the next five years. Last year Russia exported 5 139,344 barrels of petrol, most of which went to Continental countries.

Traffic in Harrow (Middlesex) was held up recently by a cloud of midges.

A Bill imposing compulsory insurance for motorists is to come before the French Chamber.

Window slashers in London are now reported to be turning their attention to motor-car fabric bodies.

The Municipal Pawnshop in Paris has already accommodation for 500 cars, and a large garage is to be built.

An invention, which Scotland Yard believes will put an end to car bandits, iB nicknamed by the Force "The Flycatcher." According to a report from Stockholm, the compulsory insurance scheme in operation in Sweden for some time past is to end. A travelling motor-bathroom has been built for an mdjan prince. A "SaVe-the-Countryside" exhibition has been opened at Southampton. A German has invented a car which takes to pieces when it is required to be garaged. All-British parts will be imported for the new Ford factory at Gdynia (Poland). A subterranean lake, 300 yards long, has been' opened' to th-3 public at Ingleborough, eight miles from Settle. The British Legation at Berne reports that there were 28,432 motorcycles registered in Switzerland by December, 1928. At the end of June last there were 56,038 cars in use in South Australia, as compared with 51,753 at the corresponding period in 1928. Lady (to her partner): Have you any prominent men in your family, Mr Dumleigh? Mr D.: Yes, one of my forefathers j was an admiral. At one time he led I the world's combined fleet. 1 Lady: How interesting. What was his name? Mr D.: Noah. i The Women's Automobile and Sports Association, formed in England with | the idea of looking after the interests of women motorists and sportswomen, will shortly place on the roads a number of girl motor-cyclists, selected by Mr Victor Bruce, who is adviser to the Association, to act as guides and road patrols. The Association's club-rooms are in Westminster, and provide all the comforts of an ordinary club. An information bureau is being established where all matters relating to motoring and sport will be deal> with by experts. Professor A. M. Low will be the technical adviser to the motoring section. The Netherlands Association for Fast Motor Roads is planning a system of roads costing more than £16.000,000, which will speed up traffic in that country. Roads will extend from Amsterdam to Rotterdam; from The Haenc through Utrecht to the eastern border leading into Germany, and from Amsterdam to Utrecht.

An employee of the Ford plant with a hunger for venison, recently drove to the woods for a day's hunting. He parked his car near the brush, nnd, because a brisk wind was blowing;, placed a brown blanket over the radiator. Then he ambled off into the thicket. When he had walked a fair distance, he stopped find looked about. Through the brush he saw a moving natch of brown. Raising his gun to his shoulder, he let go, and ns the patch continued to move he continued to fire. Finally he investigated. He found that he had fired 14 shots into the front of his ear, "tincturing the radiator and windshield.

Motorists do not realise that fast starting and stopning on the modern hard-surfaced road is often more of, a wear on the tvres than a "poor" or softer road. Everv time a tyre starts turning on one of the present-day hard-surfaee roads there is friction between the hard rood surface and the rubber tvre surface. Every time a brake is'applied a friction starts up between the road surface and the tyre surface. Every time a tyre comes to a stop there is a final scraping between the tyre and the road, if the road surface was soft there would be leas friction, hut just because the surface of the road is hard there is more friction.

Despite the fact that to-day's internal combustion automobile engine has reached a high state of perfection, is practically fool-proof, and requres a minimum amount of attention while giving a maximum amount of performance, there is still a demand for further improvement in the matter of lubrication, when the valves, piston rings, oins, and upper cylinder parts are taken into consideration. This laok ot lubrication is particularly prevalent when the engine is first started up, and exists until it is thoroughly warmed up, and even then in the minds of many, the lubrication is not complete. While the modern pressure system does a wonderful job, it cannot reach all parts of the engine immediately, and the amount of wear that takes place in the first five minutes of running, commonly called the "warm-ing-up period," is abnormal. To provide lubrication during the warmingup period and to give a sort of auxiliary lubrication to valves, push-rods, and other upper engine parts that are subject to heat, several systems of "top cylinder lubrication" have been placed upon the market within the last two years, all of which seemingly accomplish their purpose. There must have been need for the introduction of these systems, for surely if there were no demand for this auxiliary lubrication said systems would not have appeared. Cylinder wall wear is generally conceded to be the greatest when starting up an engine cold. The engine has been standing overnight, or even longer. Any oil which might have collected on the cylinder walls has by this time drained back into the crankcase. When starting the engine the iron piston rings begin to slide up nnd down, scraping the dry cylinder walls, and this scraping effect continues uutil the oil is thoroughly distributed, sometimes even after the gistons expand to their normal running t. Providing lubrication during this period is but one function of top cylinder lubricators. The valves, particularly the exhaust valves, operate under "extremely high temperatures. The paradoxical part of this situation is that the valves and upper cylinder walls, which get the also receive the least lubrication. The stems, particularly run drv to say nothing of the push-rods and guides. Again, too cylinder lubrication, it is claimed, takes" care of this end. in addition to softening carbon deposits and dissolving gum from valve stems. If * ne present systems of top cylinder lubrication prove effective in all respects. it will no doubt be only a matter ot a short time when they will probably become a standard equipment on most

RIDING COMFORT.

ENSURING EASE IN CARS.

RESULTS OF LONG RESEARCH

One of the outstanding features of the automobile of to-day is riding comfort. Year after year the automotive industry has expended much time and money in research to add to the comfort of the motoring public. This being an era of long trips by cars, and universal use of motor vehicles in business and social life, every effort has been offered to insure against fatigue. Mechanical experts have passed many hours on designs and inventions to eliminate any indication of a tired feeling," no matter how extended the journey. . Adjustable seats, body construction, springs, and numerous devices have entered into the work which has been projected to insure the greatest degree of ease for the motorist. The advances made have been so gradual and fitted into the picture of automobile building progress so well that there has been little general attention given to one of the greatest attainments of the automotive industry. Triumph of Builders. A decade ago the cramped positions endured by those who travelled by cars was an accepted fact. Then the era of refinements began, with the result that the present conveyance is constructed for relaxation and the lines and other fundamentals of building have been designed to this end. In commenting on the important developments of riding qualities, C. B. Veal, research manager of the Society of Automotive Engineers, U.S.A., said recently: "As much as ten years ago, fully realising the deficiency of authoritative information on this important feature, Dr. Benjamin Liebowitz, a physicist and engineer here, attracted by the opportunities for development through research in the automotive industry, designed and constructed a special seismograph by means of which the motion of an automobile body could be recorded and thereby the intensities of shock and vibrations "definitely measured. "While this instrument was itself a distinct development, it was possible for the engineer to measure with it the shocks and vibrations of automobiles in very much the same way that the seismologist has measured the shock and earth tremors attendant upon earthquakes. Special Type Invented. "Through improvements in the original instrument through a series of steps Dr. Liebowitz brought a special tvpe of seismograph to a high degree of perfection, and a number of them were placed in use by leading car manufacturers. "Coincident with the later stages of this development Dr. A. F. Znhm, research physicist employed by the Bureau of Aeronautics of the T nited States Xavv, brought our attention to a form of "multiple element contact accelerometer which he had constructed experimentally for measuring the landing shocks of aeroplanes and seaplanes and flying-boats. "We immediately were struck with the possibilities for accurate measurements and the simplicity of construction and ease in interpretation of the results which would be obtained from this type of instrument. It was largely this latter feature which enabled us to interest Dr. Liebowitz to undertake the perfection of a modified type of multielement contact accelerometer especially suited for the measurement of vibrations in motor vehicles. "Dr. H. C. Dickinson, chief of heat and power division of the Bureau of Standard*, also developed an integrating type of contact accelerometer, while Dr. Roy Brown, chairman of the Riding Qualities Research Committee of the Society of Automotive Engineers, perfected a counter-type of electric solenoid contact accelerometer which has found a wide and varied use for many measures associated with riding qualities.

Purposes of Devices. "While these various instruments enabled us successfully to evaluate the intensity of vibration, and we could determine its other physical characteristics such as amplitude and frequency, still we are unable to determine what constitutes 'a good ride' except by getting the subjective reactions of opinions of thousands of passengers, and inevitably any method, before it can be adapted as an accepted or even recommended practice, will have to be subjected to just such a practical verification. "With the instrumentation for measuring the movements of automobiles thus carried to a fair state of perfection, it became obvious to the members of the Society of Automotive Engineers' Research Committee that some physiological method must be evolved for physically evaluating riding comfort or discomfort as indicated by fatigue of passengers. "Several months were passed in the search of some physiologist and psychologist who was sufficiently competent and at the same time interested to undertake research in this field. A little more than a year ago the committee obtained the services of Dr. Fred A. Moss, physician in Washington and head of the department of psychology in the George Washington University. "Far more rapidly than could have been anticipated Dr. Moss has succeeded in developing not only a method but a whole series of methods whereby it is possible to develop actual numerical valuations for both muscle and nerve fatigue. While the research work as applied to the riding qualities of automobiles is by no means complete, in fact, has only now been well begun, as is frequently the case in all fundamental research, the by-products which accrue to industry in having readily available a simple means of measuring industrial fatigue, whether it be muscular or brain, or both, is of inestimable value." Objectives are Outlined.

An interesting analysis of riding comfort research was presented in a paper read by Dr. Moss recently before a meeting of the Society of Automotive Engineers. "Progress in any line depends upon ability to measure exactly," he stated in his introductory remarks. "The exactness of measurement is the best index to the development of science. "The steam engine could not be created until one man make a piston and cylinder of dimensions sufficiently exact to prevent steam from escaping but to leave sufficient clearance for the piston to move up and down. The automobile had to wait until men could measure to the l-5000th of an inch. Likewise, the improvement of devices for eliminating automobile riding-fatigue must depend upon measurement of that fatigue. "It has been well said that whatever exists at all exists in some amount, and anything that exists in amount can be measured. Fatigue and th« other reactions that accompany long rides in automotive vehicles not only exißt in amount, but to-day we are beginning to construct crude devices for measuring the amount."

In accordance with the authority conferred upon him by the State motor code, the Governor of the State 0 f Pennsylvania has issued a proclamation setting aside the period from October Ist to November 15th as the period during which all owners must submit their vehicles to an official station for inspection as to equipment, such as brakes, lights, steering, and so forth.

STREET LIGHTING.

HEADLIGHTS UNNECESSARY EXPERIMENTS IN LONDON. The hon. secretary of the Association of Public Lighting Engineers, London, Captain W. J. Liberty, has the following to say in the "Electrical Industries," in regard to the better lighting of city streets:— "The proposal that the main streets of our principal towns should be lighted to such an extent that it will become unnecessary for vehicles to use their own lights at night is not so impracticable as it may at first sight appear. "Already the City of London proper the a rea under the control of the City Corporation—is so lighted that the use of the lamps on cars and buses is a mere formality rendered necessary only in compliance with the laws on lighting up. The City of London streets, lit by gas or electric lamps suspended over the centre of the roadway, are bright and shadowless by night, while the lighting is entirely devoid of glare. The headlights of a car, therefore, are no more necessary in the City at midnight than on a clear day at noon. "The general introduction of an equally effective system of illumination is mainly a question of local initiative. Progressive public bodies may see what can be done not only in the City of London, but also in less wealthy districts such as Lewisham, where the Borough Council is at present engaged on a most interesting series of experiments.

"The Lewisham tests are not yet complete, but, so far, they seem to show that a system of high-pressure gas lighting, based on the careful combination of lamps suspended over th<? roadway with lamp* olaced on the pavements, gives a soft floodlight effect, suitable alike for motorists and pedestrians. The further tests will be on an elaborate scale, with gas and electricity each allotted one mile of main road for their trial installations. "With the abolition of the speed limit for cars, the question of getting rid of dazzling headlights becomes urgent. A fast-travelling car with its lights on will become a real danger in urban thoroughfares. The safe alternative is to get as near as possible to a daylight effect in street lighting, so that strong headlights may become unnecessary—and even illegal —in our principal towns.''

The Sporting Committee of the Royal Automobile Club of Belgium has decided to organise, towards the end of June, a 625-mile non-stop tour of Belgium. It will start at Antwerp and finish at Liege, where an International Exhibition is to be held this year. In the district of Holland, Lincolnshire, it is officially stated that there is one motor vehicle to every 7.5 persons, compared with one to every 2'5 persons in England and Wales. HiE MIGHT AS WELL. Prospective Car Buyer: 1 want to buy a car that will do one hundred miles per hour, forty miles on a gallon of gas, ride like an easy chair, turn in a thirty foot street, cost not more than 500 dollars, and run for years without any more repairs. What would you suggest? Salesman: Walk.