The Canterbury Aero Club's Pageant- The Triumph of the Motor

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19853, 14 February 1930, Page 32

The Canterbury Aero Club's PageantThe Triumph of the Motor

"Roadster" invites articles and paragraphs of interest to motorists for this page. NOTES. During a record-breaking attempt in A three-wheeler at Drooklands recently, Mr K. li. Jackson felt something wrong with his steering, and, travelling at over 75 ni.p.h., leapt out of the car and tic a peel with a shaking. A famous statistician once proved to fjcotland Yard that if every motor driver obeyed every 10-mile limit in London anil the suburbs, Hyde Park Corner and similar spots would soon become a vast immobile mass of traffic. All motor vehicles in Venezuela are now required to be fitted with both electric and hand-operated horns, the former for use in the open country and the latter in towns. It is not generally known that as far back as 1900 the world's speed record stood at 127.659 m.p.h. Still more astonishing is the fact that the car was s steam one, a Stanley driven by Frank Marriott. The record stood for four years. A scheme has boon suggested for the abolition of the 40,000 level crossings in France, at an estimated cost of £20,000,000, it being necessary to reconstruct many of the roads —a task that will tako some ten years to complete. In tho meantime the Minister for Public Works has issued orders that so new level crossings are to be made. Iu a London daily paper recently Sir Henry Segrave propounded his views ©n motoring 50 years hence. He suggested that cars would be cheaper, although he could not foresee a fourwheeled ear ever costing less than £IOO. He thought that cars would be considerably longer—possibly 20ft to 25ft —and would be streamlined to the last degree. Apparently light ears will not be completely obliterated, however, because Sir Henry observed that for city Hue cars will grow smaller. It iB stated that Italy now holds fourth place in respect of European ear production, about 100,000 persons deriving their incomes from the industry, which provides the national exchequer with some £5,000,000 per year. Fifty per cent, of tho ears manufactured are exported, while in Italy there are about 300,000 vehicles, or one ear to every 133 inhabitants.

UNION HOTELS. CONCESSIONS TO MOTORISTS. WHY NOT ERECT SIGNBOARDS ? Motorists who are members of organisations affiliated with either the South or North Island Motor Unions are loud in their praises of the benefits tliev receive by way of hotel concessions when away from home. The rebate is not the sain© in all cases, varying as it does from Is to 2s (3d per day according to the hotel stayed at, but in the oourso of a tour involving two or three Weeks the amount thus saved by members is considerable. Tho concession is also extended to one other person accompanying the member concerned. The system, like a number of others which have benefited motorists, had its inauguration in the South Island as a result of the efforts of the South Island Motor Union, and was not taken up by the North Island Union until some years afterwards. Not only is it in operation in both Islands, but also abroad, 10 per cent, concession being given members staying at certain hotels m Sydney and in San Francisco. In the district administered by tho Auckland Automobile Association Union, hotels are indicated by a signboard displayed outside the buildings, but sueli is not so far the case in tne South 1 1. Discussing this matter with "Hoadster" yesterday, the secretary of the South Island AJiitor Union (Mr P. R. Harman) stated that, speaking from memory, there were about 150 South Island hotels in tho scheme, which was growing in popularity every year. He understood that the cost of each sign would be about 20s, added to which the cost of erecting them would have to be taken into consideration. The work was obviously too liig to be undertaken by the Union. If, however, it was taken up by the various associations and clubs affiliated with the Union the cost, being thus divided, would not amount to a very large sum. In view of the service that would be thus provided. "Roadster" offers the suggestion to the organisations concerned that tho lead given in this direction by the Auckland Association might well be given consideration.

A USEFUL MAP.

NORTH ISLAND SHOWN IN DETAIL. A Christchurch motorist who re-, cently toured the North Island told "Roadster" that he was greatly imI pressed with the map of the Island issued by the Auckland Automobile Association, by means of which he was enabled to find his Wjiy without difficulty over country he had never previously been through. A perusal of the map shows that it is a most comprehensive publication of a size large enough to contain main i.nd secondary road routes, together with particulars as to whether they i.re all weather roads, whether passable at most times with the use of Jiains, whether liable to be cut up in „evero winter conditions, whether clay roads, and other appreciated details. It also shows tracks, railway lines, camping sites, and heights above .sea level, besides information, historical and otherwise, concerning various districts, being altogether tne most comSlete motorists' map yet published in ie Dominion. "Roadster" was informed that it is one of the duties of the Auckland Association's patrols to submit rough' maps giving particulars of the roads traversed by them so that the map may be revised from time to time and so kept Thoroughly up to date. Any South Island motorist contemplating a tour through the North Island will find the map invaluable to him. It is a credit to those responsible for its compilation and publication.

BRAKE SYSTEMS

EFFECT OF FAULTY DESIGN. How brake efficiency may be impaired by faulty design and adjustment' is frequently demonstrated, and in the case of front wheel brakes it is safe to say that, through neglect on tho part of the owner, somo are not much better than ornamentß. To-day with brakes on four wheels, a retardation is expected of approximately 20ft por second. This means that the brake shoe-linings may have to be loaded to four and a half times the weight of the vehicle. The usual practice is to allow one square-inch of lining for each 281b of car weight. Th<j total load on the linings as stated above may be four and a half times the weight of the vehicle, so that the mean pressure on the linings will be 2161b per square inch. A mean pressure up to 1501b per square inch, however, is sufficient if the lining material is of good quality. Long narrow linings are not good; they are far more effective short and wide; the maximum length should be an arch extending through an angle of 120 degrees. Long linings increase the tendency to grab. Some authorities claim that brake compensation is going out of favour, and state that it is possible to balance the pull in the operating rods, but it is impossible to control the coefficient of friction between the shoe lining and the brake drum, or between the tyre and the road. Brakes, which were efficient when first put into often lose efficiency rapidly through bearings becoming partially seized, due to lack of lubrication and exposure to water thrown up from the road. At the beginning of the year there were 21,186 cars registered in Rumania, as compared with only 15,039 at the close of 1927. The new giant bridge over the St. Lawrence river at Montreal, recently opened, is two miles long and provides for four lines of traffic.

EATEN BY LIONS. TRAGEDY IN NYASALAND. A serious motor accident, with a terrible conclusion, recently occurred in Nyasaland, according to the "Sunday Times" Johannesburg correspondent. A heavy lorry was returning to Lilongwe, after having delivered a load of tobacco at railhead in Blantyre, when, the brakes failing, it got out of control on a steep hill. The vehicle —travelling at terrific speed—left the road at the foot of the hill, dashed

into a giant tree, and was reduced to matchwood. Passing natives extricated the native driver, who was badly injured, and convoyed him to a nearby mission station, whero he died without regaining consciousness. Two days later the lorry owner arrived on the scene of the smash to decide whether any portions of the lorry were worth salvaging. In the wreckage he came across the skeleton of another native, whose bones had been picked clean by lions. This second victim, whose presence on the lorry had not been suspected, and who escaped the notice of tho rescuo party, was pinned down, and it is believed ho was still alive when the lions attacked him.

THE YEAR 1929.

MOTOR-BOAT PROGRESS. Motor-boat racing in 1929 was distinguished by the establishment of new records in practically every direction, and in particular by the great ineroaso in speeds attained by boats equipped with outboard engines. Tho world's record for racing boats without any limitations either on hull or engines was established by Gar Wood with his Miss America VII., the average speed attained over the measured mile being 93.123 miles an hour. This is the highest speed ever attained officially in the water, and certified for registration as a record; but it remains to be added that when Miss America VII. was sent to Venice to compete in the International motor-boat races in September of last year, she did not attain more than 90.6 miles an hour, whereas Sir Henry Segrave's Miss England averaged 92.8 m.p.h., and there is reason for belief therefore that Miss England should be considered a faster boat than Miss America VII. The British International trophy races held at Detroit at the end of August

last were won by Oar Wood's Miss America VIII. at an average speed of 75.28 miles an hour, over tho 30-milc course, the highest lap speed being 79.4G miles an hour. The Duke of York's International trophy for boats equipped with engines of the 1$ litre class was won by J. A. Talbot, jun.'s Miss Rioco 111., on the occasion of the International races m tho Thames. . , Some very high speeds were attaine with outboard engines. The Duchess o York's trophy for boats equipped wi » Class C engines was won by R. D. therell at an average speed of W.** miles an hour. The Class C National Championship was won by Colin • Fair at an average speed of 35.48 mi an hour. The class B championship was won by Colin D. Fair, also, at an average speed of 35.48 miles an hour. In England no mile speed "cords have been rnado with standard outboar engines, but various records have been established in America over the n™ 0 * sured mile. The highest speed with a Class R engine is 40.12 m.p.h., with a Class C 41.01 miles an hour, and witn an unlimited class engine 47.28 miles an hour. These all rank as American records. A class B engine has a cylinder capacity of up to 350 c.c. and Class O

engine of up to 500 c.c. Above that is the unlimited class. CARE OF THE CAR. hints for motorists. If the engine stalls when the car is stopped, it usually means that the throttle is set for too slow an idling speed Sometimes it will be due to the choke being left inadvertently closed. After changing to a well-worn spare on a rainy day, remember that the smooth old tyre will slip on the road more easily than the one removed. On a rough road the driver of a car about to be passed is apt to cut to the right suddenly to avoid a hole unless he is warned of your approach. The strange action of an engine is sometimes traced to loose front floorboards, which affect the accelerator pedal. "Coughing" of the engine, or popping back through the carburettor, is a tip to the driver to have the mixture enriched. It often manifests itself when going downhill with throttle closed.

When it is impossible tn .a,"-'- 1 new fuse for the one which out, wrap a piece of tinfoil blown-out member, it way for a while—but as soon as possible. a d t* cigarettes or a bar of ehoeofiSfe M - lush the tinfoil. The glass of a wind***."danger of breaking if it u . fastened on both sides out. The crash will en!? driving fast or when runni£,V«* rough road. Looseness is th- real eau«p and screechy brakes, aud wh j'. J condition it is dangeroug to it" 1 ear. Linseed oil is pood for wheels, followed by u coat Dust the tyre easing witir * chalk to reduce f iiction the life of the tubes.