MOTORING & MOTORISTS

Evening Star, Issue 19388, 23 October 1926, Page 16

MOTORING & MOTORISTS

[BY RADIATOR.]

LIGHTiXG-liP TIMES. To-day .... ... ... ... 7.16 Sunday ... 7.18 Monday ... . ... 7.19 Tuesday ' 7.20 Wednesday ... ... ... 7.21 Thursday ... 7.23 Friday ... ... .7.2-1 PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED. ‘ The Radiator ’ for October. FIXTURE. Labor Day.—O.M.C. Reliability Trial. HINTS AND TITS. —A Starting Tip.— When cranking a cold engine with the starter, throw out the clutch and starting will be greatly facilitated. With the clutch out the starter is en abled to turn the engine only, without turning the clutch and idler shaft gears. This useful hint ensures easier starting, and adds life to the battery —Attend to Spare Wheel.— It frequently happens that when the necessity arises to use the spare tyre it is found that the tyre is debated. Hence, make it a practice to regulate the pressure in your spare at frequent intervals. llomember, also, that unnecessary exposure to sunlight and moisture is not good for your jbyre. Fit. a good strong cover See that in the case of those cars where the spare is carried on the running board that there is no undue chafing. By paying attention to these little details one may ensure keeping the spare in tiptop order and ready for use. —Turning Nuts.—

oil from, the engine sump and replace it with new, as competition work means very hard driving and frequent spells of full throttle on bottom gear.

During my lengthy experience in competition work 1 have noticed on numerous occasions that certain competitors delight in making much noise and getting off as quickly as possible from the starting line, also in passing ns many competitors as they can at ridiculous speeds, and then having a long wait before entering a check, much to the annoyance of serious competitors and the general public. This, I can assure you, is a very foolish practice. In conclusion, I cannot over-empha-sise the need for keeping all the mechanical parts in proper adjustment and every nut and bolt tight. A successful competition machine need not be _ a freak, but it must essentially be maintained in first-class running order.

SPRING CLEANING THE BUS

Now that the warmer weather is approaching the motorist will be looking forward to bis regular week-end outings With the object of a trouble-free season of motoring ahead, a couple or week-ends should now bo spent in a detailed examination of tbo car. In past years it has been the custom of a largo proportion of private owners to have everything in the nature of repairs or overhauls done at the garage or service station. Whde it is unwise to attempt too much in an overhaul, and there are many jobs which, should only be done by skilled mechanics, yet the" simplicity of the motor to-day, together with the much wider general knowledge of the motoring public, makes it possible for those so disposed to at least carry out a “ top overhaul each season. Should this be done a considerable saving will be effected in the year’s running expenses, and, further, the owner will be more conversant with his machine in ■ case of need, and he will he rewarded by taking a livelier interest generally in matters motoring. No apprehension shoiild lie felt as to the ultimate result of this “ top overhaul,” as, provided reasonable care is taken, the job must be in better condition when the work is finished. WHEN INFLATING BALLOON. TYRES. Almost every owner-driver _ is _ now aware of the necessity for maintaining balloon tyres at the pressures recommended, and the majority make a habit of checking the pressures _once_ a week by means of a gauge, adding air where necessary. This process is apt to bo tedious with the ordinary form of tyre pumpj as, after a certain ainount of air has been added, the connection must ho unscrewed in order to check the pressure with the gauge, and this operation may have to be followed by reconnecting the pump and further inflation. The work can be reduced to a minimum by making a few experiments in order to find out the number of pumping strokes required to increase the pressure by 11b per square inch. In the case of, say. a certain sized tyre the number of strokes is six and the pressure recommended is 301 b per square inch; consequently, supposing that upon removing the valve cap and applying the gauge it is found that the pressure has fallen to 281 b per square inch, then it will ho known that approximately twelve pumping strokes are needed, and there is no necessity to use the gauge again.

Particular ■■'ere should be taken in turning up small nuts. If too much pressure bo employed the bolt or stud may be broken, with the result that time and money are lost in replacement. Solid end wrench handles are made in varying lengths, so that the average man, without exerting too much force, may turn it up as tight as it should go. For example, the wrench for a ono-quarter-inch bolt will be about three inches long, whereas that for a one-half-inch bolt will be closer to eight inches. This fact should be remembered when small nuts are being tightened.

NOVICES AND CAR CHARACTER ISTICS.

Some now cars of what is called the advanced school of design that are being taken into use at this season by motorists of experience dating from the early days of the movement are nevertheless causing their owners quite unnecessary alarm. Hitherto they have handled largo, low-compression, slow turning types of engines of relative inefficiency, not designed to run with notable economy, and not important therefore to work warm. In point of fact, the owners of these old-type vehicles always dread lest anything in the nature of stiff hill-climbing might boil the cooling water, particularly in the summer season. By contrast, the really efficient 1926 typo of car, with proportionately a small, high-speed engine of great acceleration power and capable of developing much power for relatively economical fuel consumption, can function best only if it is run at a very much higher temperature than the “ flabby typo engine. “ I never knew an engine run so hot in my life. 1 have written to tin company about it in case anything is the matter, though she does not actually boil yet,” is the type of remark °no hears often from puzzled owners of new cars who are otherwise delighted with_ the performance of their 1926 machines.

RELIABILITY RUNS

TIPS FROM AN EXPERT.

In view of the one-day reliability trial to be held on Labor Day by the Otago Motor Club, especial interest lays in the observations of Major W. H. Oates, the well-known English motorist. Under the heading of ‘ Ho v To Succeed in Reliability Trials,’ he writes in ‘ Light Car and Cyclecar ’ as follows:

“ It is the man who ‘ drives on his head ’ who scores th 3 largest_ number of successes in reliability trials, for next in importance to handling a reliable make of car or motor cycle is exercising care and discretion in the manner in which the machine is driven. But, no matter how good a car or motor cycle may ho, its driver will never win gold medals unless he first studies the regulations of the event very carefully indeed; I would go so far as to say, in fact, that he should almost learn them off by heart. Having taken this first and all-im-portant step, ■‘ho next thing to remember is that accurate timekeeping is vital; in consequence it is essential not to depend upon only one timepiece. My own method is to use a good dashboard clock as a rough guide to the time and a very accurate stop-watch with which to check it. A good speedometer is almost essential, one of the trip variety being preferred to the cheaper typo, which cannot he set to zero at the start of an event. There are some regular competitors in competitions who set their watches to standard time—that is, the first man’s time—at the start of the event; but, personally, I prefer to work out my own timed for the various places along the route. Personally, I find it less tiring and more satisfactory to run at an average speed of almost exactly 20 m.p.h., and thus avoid long waits to lose time before running in to checks. ■ In some events, such as the motor cycling club’s trials, where ton minutes’ tolerance either' way of schedule time is permitted, I usually run about three minutes early, but whore smaller tolerances than ten minutes are allowed I make every endeavor always to keep dead on time. Punctures, of course, can be guarded against only by using really good tyres. I am asked sometimes whether the job of getting a car or motor cycle ready for a reliability trial is not very tedious. Up to a point it is. The most important thing is to make sure that the petrol system is absolutely clean and that the filter is of a reliable type. Before a big event 1 always drain the petrol tank, wash it out with a gallon or so of clean petrol poured in through a chamois leather filter; make sure that the petrol pipe is absolutely clear, and strip down the carburettor and clean every part-—a choked jet has robbed many a good performance of the award of a gold medal. A new set of plugs is fitted by many drivers before the start of every event, but, for my own part, I do not find it necessary to replace plugs until they have covered about 10,000 miles. It is always a good plan _when preparing for an event to drain the old

!Msf acewits of holiday trips, roads, and places of tetweft m 'invited for this column.

WELCOME LITTLE STRANGER

Meet the latest new word—motorcade. It has found its way into print, and is doubtless already knocking at the door of the dictionary makers. Motorcade of first acquaintance has a way of staggering the innocent bystander. Certainly any one who attempts to get in the way of motorcade is likely to be more than staggered, for motorcade means a procession of motor cars. The past has its cavalcade; the present has its motorcade. Ju the bright lexicon of the future wo shall doubtless have to make way for aircade. Or it will be acrocade, or perhaps avicade P Whichever it may be. its advent seems certain, and those of us who don’t make way for aircade (or aerocade or avicade) will make just so many fewer jay-fliers for the world to conjure with.

The North Island Motor Union, at its annual meeting at New Plymouth, passed a remit requesting the Government to take steps to prevent pedestrians making , improper use of the streets by loitering op them or otherwise obstructing vehicular traffic. It was pointed out that pedestrian traffic was controlled in England and America.

WINDSCREEN EXCUSE NO GOOD. “I have always maintained there should be an opening in tho windscreen of a vehicle,” remarked Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., at Auckland, when a driver of a motor ear said he was unable to sec, as tho windscreen was clouded by rain. “You should not drive at all if you cannot see,” added tho magistrate. The chief traffic inspector agreed with the suggestion of tho magistrate. The matter had been mentioned to tho City Council, and was now being considered. The magistrate: “ I have no sympathy with the man who says his vision was obscured by the windscreen.” CARE OF SIDE SCREENS. On certain cars it takes some time to lix the side screens in position owing to their respective positions not being marked. A simple system of numbering tho screens will overcome the difficulty. First of all, the screens should be correctly arranged on the car, after which, with a small brush and a pot of white enamel, small Ic,tiers a nd numbers are painted neatly on the top frame of each screen. Thus, the screens on the lefthand side (looking from the back of the car) will be LI, L2, L 3, etc. Those on the other sido Rl, R2, R 3, etc. This system will save a lot of experimenting when next the screens are litted. If the screens have been laid up for a little time it will probably be found that the pegs are rusty' and will not slip into the sockets. In this case tho pegs should be cleaned with fine emery cloth, and a thin film of vaseline applied. This will make them slip into their sockets very easily. It is important that the screens should be properly housed when not in use. Tho usual method is to store them behind the rear seat. It is a good plan, however, to make an American cloth or canvas envelope in which to put thorn. If the envelope is arranged with a compartment for each screen so much the better, as this will avoid all risk of scratching the celluloid. STAINLESS STEEL FOR MOTOR CARS. At a recent exhibition of chemical plants held in the Midlands a standard two-seater was- shown with radiator, bonnet, lamps, and windscreen fittings made from stainless steel. Alter nearly a year’s ordinary, wear - all these parts look new and bright. Considering the extraordinary stain and rust-resisting qualities of domestic cutlery' made from this material, the idea appeared to he one of great possibility. We hoar, further, that it is being rapidly developed in America. MOTOR GUARANTEES. The guarantee for a motor car has little value in New Zealand (states a Northern writer), Most cars are supplied with a' guarantee against defective workmankship, but if a fault is discovered the local agencies usually refer the complaint to the manufacturers. If a vital part breaks the unfortunate car owner has the option of waiting nearly three months or paying lor a replacement out of his own pocket. Since no motorist can afford to lay up his car to await the consideration of a complaint by an English or factory, the guarantee has to be waived. There is no doubt that the colonial motorist bears the expense of replacing parts which the Home owner would return to the maker. Until the manufacturers authorise overseas dealers to replace any defective

part on their own judgment, the guarpart on their own judgment, the guarantee is of little value. A conscientious dealer may prefer to stand the expense himself rather than ruin his customer’s faith in a car, but the usual policy is for the agent to endeavor to show that the fault is due to the neglect of the driver. Small faults may not worry the car owner, but cars are occasionally put on the road in apparent perfection, only to reveal a leaky radiator, a cracked water jacket, or a troublesome bearing within a few weeks. A NOVEL RACE. A novel race was witnessed at Brooklands track, when an electric truck, such ns is used on railway platforms, carrying a full load, was pitted against J. G. Parry Thomas (Leyland-Thomas), Paul Dutoit (Alvis), and George Duller (Austin Seven). The handicap was so framed that the scratch man, Parry Thomas, had to concede a start of Hi 31min to the truck over a distance ot three laps. Thomas broke down alter completing two Japs, and Duller also retired owing to his engine misfiring. This left the truck with only one opponent, Dutoit, who had 59sec start, and he was eventually beaten by .32 3-usec. The truck driver, Mr R. M. Hanlon, averaged just over 5 m.p.h, SIX-CYLINDER FORDS? In a recent issue of the ‘ New York World ’ there is a story from Detroit analysing carefully the present situation and immediate prospects of the Ford Motor Company. The gist of the story is that a six-cylinder gear-set car is impending in the Ford factory, and will probably he announced within the next sixty 'days. The probability of some such development has been foreshadowed in the columns of the automotive Press for several months past. The production of a six would not be entirely strange to Mr Ford, as he had a car of thi? type years ago, before he decided on his traditional policy oi concentration of the familiar planetary four. Time was, not so long ago, when the Ford Company habitually produced half of tile cars manufactured in ihe United States. Taking the first six months of 192 G. wc find that the Ford output dfl'is not represent much more than 35 per cent, of the total. In other words, other companies have found means to forge ahead and cut deeply into the Ford production supremacy, which has become almost a tradition of the American automotive industry. This condition is not a sudden development. . Students of automotive affairs have seen it coming for many months. In fact, the Ford organisation sensed some time ago that all w r as not wc)L LABOR DAY TRIAE. The following entries have hcen_ received for Monday’s one-day reliability trial to Ranfurly and return, which has been organised by the Otago Motor Club;— Cars.—New Zealand Motor and Engineeing Co. (12 h.p. Star), New Zealand Motor and Engineering Co. (18 h.p. Star), W. J. Brown (5 h.p. Citroen), M. Stevenson (Delage), A. G. Rennie (4 cylinder Buick), W. E. Atchley (Citroen), H. P. Jelcoato (Citroen), W. M. Lowe (Citroen), G. Connolly (Citroen), H., P. Johnson (Sunbeam), A. M'Donald (Morris Cowley). Motor cycles.—S. S. Smart (Super X), S. W. Gcddes (Norton), S. R. Warren (Super X), J. W. Earland (Norton), D. A. M'Nicoll (New Hudson), W. J. M'lnnes (Humber), Maiclcr and Barr (Indian Prince), W. A. Justice (Douglas), W. A. Justice (Douglas). Motor cycles and sidecars.—L. R.- Quenuell (Matchless), F. Roberts (Harley-Davidson), A, T. Graham .(Super X)«

HERE AND THERE. A recent patent covers a tyre pump which takes the form of a bulb fitted within the inner tube and communicat in" with the atmosphere. When the into deflates to a certain point the bulb is operated by the turning cf the wheel in contact with the road, and restores the correct inflation pressure. c * * « Paul Dutoit, when driving the Alvis racing car Firefly 11. at Brooklands recently, had a collision at 90 m.xi.h. with a pigeon! The bird struck the steering wheel rim, which just protrudco above tho scuttle, and smothered the driver with blood and feathers. Dutoit fortunately managed to retain control. a. * * ■* “Are you car wise?” asks a motor motor. What is the proper answer—- “ Yes, hut we have no bananas, _ or “No, bub the gardener’s penknife is on the pear tree?” It seems that either would do. « ■» « b Friend (congratulating proud father of fine boy) : “And what’s the name to be? Proud Father: “Oh, Austin.” Friend: “Admirer of the Chamberlains, I suppose?” Proud Father: “ Oh, no, but my '"lie has always longed for a baby Austin.’ 43- •Jt- & Cornering should always be done at a reduced sliced. It is often impossible for the rider to see what is coming in the opposite direction, and one should always act as if another vehicle were approaching and that vehicle travelling in an uncertain manner. » * The Association of the German Automobile Industry has circularised German firms suggesting that riiey_ should refuse interviews with commercial travellers arriving in foreign cars. * -y- * -i Two British cyclists, mounted on 986 c.c. B.S.A. sidecar outfits, have started out ou a world tour embracing Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and South America. The tour will occupy a year. * * * R There seems to ho no end _io the purposes to which induction-pipe depression can bo put. _ Already it is used for windscreen wipers and servo brakes, whilst in America a device has been recently tested which uses this usually dormant source of power for changing the gears. In place of the conventional gear lever, a small control is fitted beneath _ the_ steering wheel, and a touch of it is said to he sufficient to change from any one gear to another.