MOTORS & MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 230, 24 June 1932, Page 3

MOTORS & MOTORING

(By

“Spare Wheel.”)

Illuminated ignition lock keyholes are a feature of some new models in the United States. ♦ « * The suggestion has been made in England that the police should be armed with a special kind of revolver which wal fire slugs to puncture the tires of bandits using stolen cars. That cinder track racing is as popular as ever in London was evidenced by an attendance of 45,000 at the 1932 opening meeting of the West Ham Speedway. 4 ♦ » Exchange the right front tire with left rear and right rear with left front Changing them in that fashion enables you to get the utmost mileage out of a set of tires. If your spare is in good shape be sure to put it on a wheel occasionally, even though you are not forced by a puncture to do so. Tires will wear out almost as fast on a spare as they will on a running wheel. ♦ » « Wife: “We really should get a new car this year.” Husband: “What? When I’m still paying instalments on the car I exchanged for the car I sold in part payment of the car I’ve got now?” * * A system of school patrols has been inaugurated for the schools in Invercargill. This system is calculated to obviate the danger for school children from the motor traflic at intersections' adjacent to schools. The head teachers wholeheartedly entered into the scheme when it was brought before them, by the Southland Motor Association. TOLL OF THE ROAD Accidents in Britain FIGURES FOR 1931 Figures for road accidents in Great Britain in 1931 were recently disclosed in the House of Commons by the Home Secretary, Sir Herbert Samuel, who said that they showed “a serious state of things,” The number of persons killed in Great Britain in street accidents last year, he said, was no fewer than 6691, and the number of injured was 202,119. Every day of tlie year 18 people were killed in the streets and 553 injured. There was this one favourable feature, that the number of fatal accidents last year showed a reduction of 614 on those of the previous year. On the other hand, the non-fatal accidents showed an increase of 24,224. There were some eases in which pedestrians were to blame for accl-

dents, and any animadversions he might make were directed to all road users. The new restrictions on pillion riding had resulted in a decline in fatal accidents in which pillion riders were involved during the year of 27 per cent. Asked how many persons had been killed or injured in the metropolitan area of London in road accidents in which heavy road vehicles had been involved between January 1, 1932, and March 10, 1932, the Home Secretary said that the figures were: 104 killed, and 214 S injured. built-in car jacks The built-in jacking system has been successfully developed 'in France, where many of the expensive cars and heavv commercial motor vehicles are now "equipped with, automatic hydraulic jacks. On heavy vehicles twin jacks are fitted at each side of the rear of vehicle, and beneath the back axle, while single jacks are used in front. The jacks, when needed, are actuated by a small motor-driven pump, the power being derived from the suction of the power unit of the vehicle. The valve mechanism of the vacuum cylinders is extremely simple. Oil .P 1 ? 6 lines between the pump and the jacks are controlled from the instrument board, and oil is directed to either back or front wheels as desired. The mechanism can be locked by a key, and if needed the vehicle can be raised and left .standing on the jacks. The jacks are telescopic, and each is provided with powerful springs for returning the rams to normal position after use. With this equipment a 21-ton motortruck can be lifted in two minutes without anv effort on the part of the driver, a five-ton truck in four minutes, and! a 12-ton vehicle in six minutes. It is reported from France that this type of automatic jack has found much favour with, users of motor-buses and heavy commercial motor vehicles on the Continent. “REMOTE GEAR CONTROL” Motor racing has led to many innovations which, when proved successful. have eventually been adopted in the standard production cars. A recent departure from conventional gear lever practice has been introduced in many sports model light cars used for rac- j ing in England and on the Continen.. Instead of the usual long gear change . level with its wide radial “ojmnent, what is termed -‘remote gear is now being used by many racing ( men. The object is to bring the gear lever close to the steering whee , o that it is convenient for easy and quick use. and calls for a very short hand travel in the course of gear In some cases au attachment is fitted to the • gearbox, there being a tubula aluminium extension backward to. point just in front of the drivin ß seat. A.t the end of the extension there is ( either a ball or gate change in miniature and a short lever.. The movement of this lever, which is close to t - driver’s left hand, is reproduced at the gearbox, usually by a shaft working within the hollow extension. CORRECT HORN MOUNTINGS It is not generally realised that the performance of an electric horn ou a ear depends very largely on its mounting. If this is not absolutely tight, or if there are any fittings in the proximity that are liable to vibrate, then the note of the horn may be seriously affected. . These points are rightly emphasised by an English firm, who also point out that it is very important, in the case of horns mounted on the cross-bar m front of the radiator, a very popular: position nowadays, to see that the bar ; itself does not vibrate or that the wings or headlamps, which may be attached . to the bar, do not rattle or drum, |

DECREASE IN TOTALS

Registrations of Motor Vehicles TREND IN WELLINGTON Three weeks after the closing date for the payment for re-registering motor vehicles and renewing drivers’ licenses must be considered to be a sound testing time as to the numerical records, as by this time even laggards must have paid up. An inquiry was made from the chief postmaster for Wellington Mr. J. M. McLean as to the number of registrations of motor vehicles up to and including June 22 compared with the number up to the same date last year.

Total 9751 8927 It must be clearly understood that these figures are not the complete registrations for the whole of 'Wellington city, as they only represent those

registered or re-registered at the Chief Post Office. Those which were registered at the Te Aro or Wellington. South post offices are not included, neither are those recorded at Lower Hutt, I’etone, or Eastbourne. It is, however, assumed that the ratio of decrease in registrations would approximate those recorded at the Chief Post Office. In that case there are 554 fewer vehicles on the roads to-day than there were at this time last year. So far the number of registrations for the whole of New Zealand has not yet been compiled, but if they are all in the same relation as the Wellington figures it is an indication of a very sensible falling-off in motor traffic. ~• IRRITATED CLERIC Smashed a Windscreen. No less a person that the Lord Dean of Guild was recently convicted in Glasgow of smashing a motorist’s windscreen with his umbrella, because, apparently, he was irritated by the driver’s behaviour at a tramway stopping place. It was an accident, said the Dean, that he hit the windscreen. He had meant to whack the bodywork by way of reprimand as the car passed him — regardless., of the paintwork. The screen was of safety glass, and no-in-jury was caused to.the driver. IMPROVED BRITISH BODIES Not the least pleasing feature of the marked advance which has occurred in the motor-car manufacturing industry of Great Britain in the last few years has been the striking improvement in the appearance of British cars. Five or six years ago it was fairly objected that the majority of British cars were ugly, or, at the best, nondescript in appearance. There were notable exceptions, but these were comparatively few in number, and the great majority of cars, especially those in the low and moderate price classes, certainly lacked the attractive lines of the_ competitive vehicles from the United States. In the past four years body design in Great Britain has probably progressed even further than it has in America since the war. The British body designer has worked under a handicap which has probably ultimately proved an advantage, in that it has compelled him to tackle problems never encountered by most of his competitors; and, in their solution, he has gained experience which has undoubtedly been of great general value. Many of the popular British cars are smaller than those from the United States, and the problem of producing an attractive body on a small chassis, and especially a short wheelbase chassis, such as those of the British ‘‘baby cars, is more difficult than designing a body for a large chassis. It has taken some years for the accomplishment of this task,- and much remains to be done. The fact remains, however, that the modern British “baby car or light car is excellently proportioned and splendidly lined, and in the opinion of a great many people are better-looking than the present American cars. American manufacturers, indeed, have themselves paid a striking tribute to the work of the British car designed by adapting some of it to their current models. At least two American cars for 1032 now available have radiators designed on those first fitted to British cars last year, and used on the majority of British models for this year.

| Few owners realise the detri- | s mental effects often caused by ! I excessively racing the engine, par- I | ticnlarly if the engine is cold. |

A jay-walker was recently sentenced in Berlin to four months’ imprisonment for manslaughter. He stepped off the pavement when the red light was against him, and caused the death of a motor cyclist J I

The result is as follows:— June 22, June!?, 198L 1332. Motor-cycles .......... 1068 SGT Motor-cars . 7074 6445 Other motor vehicles (including lorries, buses, etc.) 1638 1615