MOTOR-CYCLING

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21867, 21 August 1936, Page 16

MOTOR-CYCLING

PIONEER MOTOR CLUB The features that helped to make the club’s first run such a huge success were undoubtedly the brilliant weather and the interest caused by the destination being kept secret. The first stop was at the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society’s fish hatcheries at Greenpark, where members were conducted by the curator, Mr J. Digby. At the final destination, Selwyn Huts, impromptu sports were held. As it is some years since a club run has been held at this delightful spot, the day was all the more enjoyable. The annual prize-giving was held last Tuesday night, and a large gathering saw the trophies presented by the past president, Mr R. H. Parker. Dancing filled in the evening, and everyone present appreciated the change from the usual smoke concert.

CANTERBURY AUTO-CYCLE CLUB

Prospects look bright indeed for the club’s social pillion trial to be held on Sunday. The start will be at the Exide service station, Oxford terrace. Competitors must be on the line,at 10 a.m., and a fine of 6d will be imposed upon all latecomers. The first man will leave at 10.45 a.m., and will be scheduled back in Christchurch at 4 p.m., making the run a pleasant day’s outing. The outward route follows a back road through Rangiora and Loburn to Journey’s End, where the lunch stop will be made. Hot water, tea, sugar, and milk will be supplied. The return journey will be over a different course, and "entails no hard riding or any long time calculations. This event also caters for all types of riders,

whether they own large or small machines, or ride solo or with passenger, the run being a pleasant social interlude from serious racing. Now that the social side* of club life is strengthening, the club intends to hold another of its popular dances on September T in • the Selwyn Street Hall. CORSAIR MOTOR CLUB

All club members are looking forward to the club birthday on Tuesday next, and the excursion to Dunedin on Saturday. August 29. On Sunday, August 30, the first motor run of the new season will be held. This motor run opens a season which the club is intending to mark by new and bigger events, information about the nature of which will be given later, when the dates and places on which they will be held are made public.

If the blade of an electric windscreen wiper ceases to work, stop the car and its engine and listen carefully for the sound of the little electric motor in the wiper arm mechanism. In some types of wipers the arm is fitted to a tapered spindle and held tight by a screw in the end of the spindle, and should this screw loosen, the spindle will simply oscillate within the tapered hole in the wipfer arm, which is held motionless by the friction of the rubber blade on the glass.

The maximum safe speed at which a car can be driven at night is 30 miles an hour. In the absence of glare from oncoming cars it can be increased to 40 miles an hour. Such are the results obtained by Warring and Moore, two scientists, who have just completed a long research for the Massachusetts Highway Commissic-i. TT found out by actual experiment the greatest distance at which a person walking on the road could be seen. They then carefully observed how the drivers reacted. There was always a lag of between half and one second during which they did nothing at all. Warring .. and Moore suggest that pedestrians, walking on country roads should always show an area of white —for instance, a handkerchief. This increases visibility by 50 per cent.,* while the use of three reflector buttons doubles it. The best way, however, of increasing visibility is really brilliant highway lighting. The stretch of roadway between Ville D’Avray and Versailles, in France, was recently lighted with sodium lamps. Immediately the number of accidents after dark dropped by three-quarters.