MOTOR-CYCLING

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22460, 22 July 1938, Page 20

MOTOR-CYCLING

CANTERBURY AUTO-CYCLE CLUB WEEK-END EXCURSION TO LAKE RUBICON A large number of members and firends spent an enjoyable day at Lake Rubicon last Sunday, ski-ing, ice-skat-ing, and tobogganing. Conditions being suitable, another party will leave Victoria square at 9 a.m. next Sunday. All motor-cyclists will be pleased to learn that another copy of the New Zealand Grand Prix film has been procured, and will be screened at a suburban theatre on August 3. In addition to this film, which will be run through slowly at the end of the programme, some special motoring films will also be shown. As this v. ill be the only opportunity of seeing the Grand Prix film, members and their friends are asked to reserve their seats at any of the motor shops as early as possible. An inauguration which will be welcomed by club members is that of a co-operative buying scheme, by which financial members may purchase goods at reduced costs. With the beginning of the new season the sports committee would welcome suggestions for the improvement of the club. Suggestions must be put in an envelope and marked "Canterbury Auo-Cycle Club Suggestions." and left at or posted to any of the motor shops.

PIONEER MOTOR CLUB The announcement that the presentation of prizes would be combined with a ball to be held in the Mayfair Lounge on Thursday, August 4, was enthusiastically received by the large attendance at the Pioneer Motor Club's annual meeting and smoke concert, held on Tuesday evening. Tickets are now available from members of the committee. Prize winners may obtain complimentaries on application to the secretary. This is the most ambitious social event conducted by the club for several years past, and indications are that it will prove a most successful function. Alcoves may be reserved by members until Saturday, July 30. Details -of the new season's programme will be announced during the coming week. CORSAIR MOTOR CLUB On Tuesday night, July 26, a chocolate, carnival dance will be held in the Railway Hall, Carlyle street. A general meeting and the election of officers will be held in the Railway Hall on August 16, at 7.30. CLEANING THE CAR i PRESERVING ORIGINAL APPEARANCE The expenditure of some care on the appearance of a car is very well worth while, apart from the satisfaction which an owner always feels when his car is looking spick and span. Coach-work condition is most important when the time comes to trade or sell the car, and it is surprising how long it is possible to keep the chromium plate and paintwork looking well if a little trouble is spent upon it. The ordinary methods of washing and polishing are fairly well known, but acute "old soldiers" of motoring, who do not believe in doing more work than they can help, have worked out a few short cuts which are worth passing on. One relates to the use of wax polishes. There must be many owners who use the excellent liquid polishes on the market because they are easy to apply and are only deterred from using the glossier wax because of the work involved and the difficulty of achieving a perfectly uniform finish. This difficulty arises because the usual method is to polish one section of the panels at a time, and, unless one is extremely careful, there is a danger of the overlapping sections of waxed surface being clearly evident. To avoid this and also to make the work much easier, some of the old hands mix the wax polish with a little mineral turpentine of the sort painters use, and spread the thin paste so formed all over the panels with a clean cloth before attempting to polish any part of the body. The object is to keep the coating thin and even, so that when the body is finally polished the high gloss will not be marred by any ridges. Cleaning Windows To obtain a high polish on the screen and windows is always a problem in car cleaning. It is practically impossible to avoid streaks if the windows are simply wiped with a wet chamois leather, and polishing them properly with a proper window cleaning compound is rather troublesome. The work can be done perfectly with little trouble if the following practically unknown hint is followed. Windows at;d screen are first wiped with the wet chamois so that they are a little damp and then polished briskly with a piece of old newspaper. The absorbent qualities of newsprint pick up every atom of moisture, and the windows are loft with a very high gloss. After a long country run, it is a commonplace to find the front mudguards, the screen, and the upper portion of the body above the screen plastered wtih small insects. If a little methylated spirits is mixed with water (as far as possible) and the mixture rubbed over the affected surfaces, these will disappear like magic. Cleaning Running Boards Practically all cars to-day have rubber-covered running boards, which become greyish and stained after a fairly long period of use. They are greatly improved if the rubber coverings are tteated with a mixture of lampblack. Another method is to use ordinary black boot polish, brushed on in the usual way and then polished off. This also is excellent for cleaning the roofs of those cars which have a rectangle of black leather fabric let into them. One of the biggest of all worries is to keep th'-j various chromium-plated parts free from rust. At the outset, prevention is always better than cure, so that every time a car is housed after running in the rain, it is essential to wipe every plated part

thoroughly, even though the painted parts of the car are left wet. Should small rust spots still appear, as they may well do because of the ever present moisture in the atmosphere, they may be cleaned off with a solution of phosphoric acid, or more conveniently, with one of those liquid preparations now being marketed for the purpose. . ""