MOTORING & MOTORISTS

Evening Star, Issue 18714, 16 August 1924, Page 16

MOTORING & MOTORISTS

[By RADIATOR.]

LIGHTING-UP TIMES. To-day Sunday ... ... Monday ... . ... 5.17 Tuesday ... - 5.18 Wednesday ... «. 5.19 Thursday . - Friday ... -•< 5.21 Publications Received.—Big Tree ‘Bulletin.’ GAMBLING ON MOTOR CAR NUMBERS. The latest midsummer madness—a little in advance of time—is betting on motor car numbers. At Chesterfield (England) five youths were summoned for gambling on moto'r car numbers. It was staled by the police that a bookmaker agreed to pay out if the last number on the next motor car that approached was five, and vico versa. As though motorists are not faced with enough risks, without having to dodge excitable gamblers eagerly expecting to “make a bit” by reading their numbers. HIGHER-PRICED AMERICAN CAES. The ‘Wall Street Journal’ announces, on the authority of Mr A. ’P. Sloan, jum, president of General Motors Corporation, that the price trend in the American motor industry is upwards, and that the public will be asked to pay more for motor cars when the industry considers the price question this summer. “It is my opinion,” said Mr Sloan, “ that such announcement as the automobile industry has been accustomed to make during the summer will this year indicate a higher trend for pricey.” NOVEL DEMONSTRATIONS. One of the most unusual, and at the same time one of the most instructive, demonstrations that has been exhibited in a number of years is now being staged in various cities throughout the United States. A short time ago there arrived in Saginau ( Michigan, a G.M.C. truck equipped with a specially built body with hinged sides, which, when let down, provides a large stage upon which the demonstration is held. Accompanying the truck are four men—three mechanics and a lecturer. @pon the stage in each city where the truck stops a complete chassis of a Buick motor car is built and driven away under its own power. All the parts which are used in building the chassis are obtaine dfrom the Buick distributor in the city where the demonstration is staged, which realistically demonstrates the perfect interchangeability of the parts that can bo obtained from Buick representatives everywhere. During the building of the car a talk is given by the lecturer, who is from the service department of the Buick factory. This talk follows completely the operations of the workmen as the car is constructed, and gives the specifications of the various units used. When the car is completed it is driven down a runway from the truck to the street, and then to tho local sales room, where it is placed on exhibition. This demonstration and exhibition is creating a great deal of comment throughout the United States, and crowds of interested spectators have greeted the truck in all cities visited. GERMAN CAR COMBINE. The most important motor manufacturing concerns in Germany appear to be forming a combine. Tho Schebera Actien Gesellschaft, a concern which is said to have made enormous profits during the collapse of the mark, has recently bought a controlling interest in the Daimler, Benz, and Henza-Lloydworke companies. The' aims of this combine are being furthered by the conditions obtaining in tho motor industry of the world aa a whole. International competillon and the general lowering of motor car prices everywhere will, it is thought (in tlie opinion of the ‘ Berliner Tageblatt ’), soon make it exceedingly difficult for motor manufacturing firms to carry on unless they have a huge capital hacking. It is -argued, moreover, that as the German motor industry, will not be protected by the prohibition of imports for very much longer, the influx of American and other cars will make it impossible for the small Gorman manufacturer to continue in business. The duration of the Daimler-Benz combine re.ferred to is said to have been arranged for the next seventy-five years.

WATER SPLASHES. Crossing a ford or water-splash can be just a cooling dip for the tyres in a shallow puddle, or it can be a rentable shower bath for the occupants of the car if the driver takes it fast. There is only one way of taking a watersplash, and that is dead slow. If you know it to be shallow and there is no sharp dip on either side, and the surface at the bottom is firm, you can often drive through it at a very slow speed on top gear. You are hardly likely to get through with the clutch disengaged, owing to the. resistance offered by the water, but if there is any doubt at all the best thing to do is to engage bottom gear and go through very slowly, avoiding sudden acceleration, riot only because of the splash caused, but also because whoclspin might be engendered. FLYING ROUND THE WORLD. The imagination of people in every part of the world is being greatly stirred by the daring attempts which are now being made to encircle the globe by aeroplane. This great contest between the invention and the determination of man on the one hand, and the elements on the other, makes a direct appeal to everyone’s interest and admiration. The _ widespread interest in aviation at this lime is indicated in the fact that three nations are represented in the simultaneous attempts to fly round the world—to keep Hying in a given direction until the starting point is reached. The aviators of England and France are flying east from Europe. The United States airmen are flying west from the Pacific coast of North America. There is a fine spirit of sportsmanship being manifested by the airmen and by the various officers in charge of supplies and repairs for the different divisions. One nation is assisting the other by practical suggestions and co-operation. International flying not only brings, in a sense, the geographical world together, but brings the nations together in friendly rivalry, and in time will, actually bring them together by speedy and widespread transportation facilities. In choosing a brand of lubricating oil to be used in their D.W.O. type aeroplanes, fitted with Liberty engines, the United States authorities had to decide not only upon an oil which could bo absolutely depended on for uniform high quality under <he severest tests of temperature variations and strenuous engine operation, but which was available at the many different points designated as supply stations all along the route. The Vacuum Oil Company’s products were chosen, and 12,000 gallons of Gargoyle “B,” in sealed containers of four gallons each were delivered by means of the company’s distribution service to various stations on the route specified by the authorities. REMOVING TAR SPOTS. Tar spots, when still fresh and before they have dried hard, can be removed from coachwork by the application of furniture cream into which the juice of half a lemon is squeezed. This is very gently dabbed"on 'to the spots by means of a soft rag stretched over the tip of the finger, and, after being left to soak in for a time, is then wiped off. A rub over with chamqis leather will bring the paint-

BeJsf ncooßflta of holiday trips, roads, and places of Interest m invited lor this column.

work hack to its original lustre without a trace of tho tar spots being discernible. The acid of the lemon juice eats into the tar and dissolves it, while tho furniture cream finishes off the work thus begun and protects the paintwork from being damaged, as well as supplying the final polish. A CORONER’S VIEWS ON PEDESTRIANS. “ We hear a lot about reckless drivers, but nothing about reckless pedestrians who cross the road without looking to right or left, and, after reaching the centre of the road, hesitate and turn back.” These remarks were passed by the Brixton coroner, Mr Cowburn, when he investigated tho circumstances of tho death of a lady who was knocked down and killed by a motor omnibus. He exonerated the driver from blame in tho matter. FORD UNIVERSAL JOINT. _ When going over your Ford with a spanner, don’t forget the universal hall cap It is not uncommon to find this neglected to such an extent that both tho bofts and the set screws are quite loose. The effect of this is obvious —it leaves the joint without rigid support, causing great strain on it and the hearing at the end of tho drive shaft, and, in fact, on the whole transmission. R.A.C.V. ALPINE TRIAL. There is a prospect of the next alpine, motor contest, which is conducted annually by the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria, being restricted solely to owner-drivers. Should this eventuate an open reliability contest over a shorter course, and covering fewer days, will probably be conducted this year, in which trade cars and owner'drivers will compete. As regards the alpine contest, the greatest event of its class m Australasia, it is realised that the accommodation en route is limited in places and inadequate to cover the requirement of the large number of contestants that would take part in the 1925 event (set down for March next) if the contest was open to the trade; and, such being the case, it would be belter from a public point of view that this classic event bo reserved for private owners of cars.

HERE AND THERE. Outside one Christchurch dancing resort one night there were thirty-seven cars. Of these, only seven were lighted. Ten of them were on tho correct parking place, the remainder being $n the opposite side of tho street. Blue papers are commencing to be issued freely, and several of these by-law breakers will see themselves in the Police Court in the near future. The only South Island, motor club to apply for a - racing date this year is the Marlborough, which has applied for December 6. Motor cycles are becoming extremely popular in Czecho-Slovakia. Contrary, to the usual trend of affairs on the Continent, high-speed solo machines are not the most popular, the heaviest sales being made in the heavy twin sidecar class. Incidentally, the roads are so bad that specially strong saddle springs are usually necessary. In the interests of owners of Sunbeam cars equipped with four-wheel brakes, and also for the benefit of other road users, the Sunbeam Motor Car Co., Ltd., of Wolverhampton, is now fitting warning triangles, displayed about 3in from the tip of the offside rear wing. An official announcement from the Ford Company, Detroit, dated June 4, says: “Ford Motor No. 10,000,000 was completed at the Ford Motor Company this morning, and the ten millionth model ‘T’ Ford car will leave the assembly line this afternoon. The first model ‘T ’ car was completed October 1, 1908. The last million cars were turned out complete in 132 working days.” > A steady decrease in the number ol traffic accidents in Chicago is stated to be duo to improved mechanism of cars, increased skill of drivers, systems of control and regulation, and increased alertness on the part of tho walking and motoring public.