MOTORS & MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3081, 11 May 1917, Page 9

MOTORS & MOTORING

IB? Cltjtoh.l

War Conditions in Britain. Tho total number of motor vehicles, including automobiles, trucks, and j motor-cycles, in Groat Britain has fallen over 200,000 sinco tho beginning of tho war. Motor-cars have decreased nearly 50 per cent. 'Hie total number of motor vohiclos in 1914 was 536,747, j divided into 281,175 ; . cars, 233,381 • motor-cycles, audi 22,191 trucks. In j 1915 the total fell 236,000, tho number of motor vehicles at that timo boing 300,626, composed of 137,066 ears, 147,904 motor-cycles, and 15,656 trucks. Tho 1916 total picked up about 31,000. According to tho latest ! oensus tho total is 331,897, including j 150,249 cars, 160,290 motor-oyclos, and 21,358 trucks. It is probable that tho I marked decroaso in the total number of registered motor vehicles was due to tho wholesale commandeering for Government purposes which wont on in tho latter'part of 1914, to tho action of many owners who laid up their cars for tho duration of the war, and to tho voluntary offering of vehicles by their owners for national service whether in England or abroad. It is reported that tho advance of tho British front in Franco will entail such a tremendous further use of petrol for tlio tens of thousands of motor vehicles for transport purposos in use .that motoring in England will have to be considerably further curtailed 1 owing to petrol restrictions. Changing Down in Traffic Many drivers who are neat and workmanlike ■under normal circumstances, says an English writer, make a sad . hash of that awkward little changedown which faces us when we are baulked in traffic, and desire to drop from top to second gear, or second to bottom, without bringing tho car to a standstill.. The trouble is that the change can hardly he noiseless unless we touch the accelerator pedal for a second, and both feet are already engaged, the left in holding the clutch out, the right in keeping the car off the van in front by means of the foot brake. If our car is equipped with a steering wheel throttle-, we can, of course, got the required acceleration by a finger touoh on that lover; but comparatively few light cars possess. this extra .control. In the absence of such a wheel lover, tho tip is to hold the cairwith the hand brake; iho use of the right hand to prevent tho car sliding along too fast releases tho right foot, which can then apply tho necessary pat to the accelerator pedal, and tho lower gear can bo snicked homo noiselessly. I am rather of opinion that designers of light care could mako their gears more foolproof by a littlo attention to their tooth design. Tho other week I was driven by a comparative novico on an American 11.M.0. Ho never accoloratcd' his engine when changing down, and yet the gears ak ways went in noiselessly. Here, and There. Tho-price of cotton, which is extensively used as a base for explosivecompounds, is leaping up in bounds in the world's chief.markets, and tho advance is oxpected to lead to a rise -in tho price of all motor- andl cyclo covers, tho casings of -which are constructed of tho finest cotton tho world produces. In tho last six months the market price of cotton has nearly doubled. With tlio year 1917 all car taxes in France are doubled, this being ono of the special measures to provide funds for tho financing of tho war.. Horso vehicles of all. kinds are also oligiblo for double taxes. One of the wonders of the jip-to-datfe motor cycle engine is its remarkable acceleration. A concrete instance is given.of a four-cylinder engine, fitted with aluminium pistons, jumping, when tho throttle was suddenly opened fully, from 200 r.p.m. to' 3600 r.p.ni. in tho extraordinarily short space of 3J seconds. It would, bo interesting to learn tho record acceleration of single V and opposed cylinder motor cycle power units under similar conditions. For plugging up small gashes in tiro treads, the Dunlop Company recommends "Eopairet," a. self-vulcanis-ing compound, the constant use of which, it is claimed,' will enable the motorist, to got- remarkable mileage out of his tires. ' Lighting-up time:—To-day, 4.47 p.m. Next Friday, 4.40 p.m.' j To Motorists.—Save one-fourth Benzine by using Speedier Vaporiser on your engine. Car size, 255.; Cycle size, 15s. Thirty days' trial. .Cash refunded it" not satisfied. R.'Miller,, Main Street, Greytown North.—Advt.