MOTORDOM

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 June 1930, Page 9

MOTORDOM

NEWS OF THE ROAD

(By

“Gearbox”)

MOTOR STATISTICS.

DOMINION FIGURES.

On 28tli February last 152,609 motorcars and 31,928 commercial motor vehicles were registered in New Zealand. According to “The Motor Trade in New Zealand” (an annual review of the trade by the Charles Haines Advertising Agency, just issued) the numbers in active operation (after allowing for “dormant” registrations) are 1-11,385 cars and • 27,750 commercial vehicles as at 28th February. In motor-cars, according to the registration figures as recorded in the various countries, the .United States registered one car to every 4.9 people, Canada is second with one to every 9.1, New Zealand third with one to every 9.63. In Australia the average falls to 13.2, in tho United Kingdom to 34.3.

Many makes of cars are registered in New Zealand. The makes “substantially represented” number 42. Their prices range from £lB9 to £lOOO. Tho number of registered motor-cars in New Zealand is more than half the number of dwellings. That is to say, if every registered car had a separate gara'ge, there would be more than one garage to every two dwellings. The figures given are 152,609 cars, 301,970 dwellings, or one car to every 1.98 dwellings. Taking the ten provinces, Southland, Hawke’s Bay, and Taranaki beat the metropolitan provinces. In the ratio of cars to dwellings, Southland and Hawke’s Bay each show one to 1.63; Taranaki one to 1.66. Compare these with Wellington (1.70) and Auckland (2.18). Estimating ownership of cars per head of population, the three rural provinces again beat the metropolitan provinces. Southland has a car to every 7.64 of population. Hawke’s Bay has one to every 7.77, Taranaki has one to every 8.24. Compare Wellington (8.81) and Auckland (11.05). Looking, at car ownership from another angle, Southland with 5 per cent, of New Zealand’s population, has 6 per cent, of New Zealand’s car registrations, and the same tiring is true of Hawke’s Bay and Taranaki. Wellington, has 20 per cent, of the population and 22 per cent, of car registrations. Auckland has 34 per cent of the people and 30 per cent, of the cars. The 1928-29 issue of this review ananticipated that in 1929-30 car sales would rise to 20,000. The actual sales, according to-the issue now under notice, realised 21,145 cars to 28th February. No estimate of sales is offered for the current year 1930-31. In the calendar year 1929, car sales in New Zealand rose to 21,405.' Analysing these total sales, it is found that Auckland province easily leads, with 7326 sales, greatly exceeding Wellington’s 4670, Canterbury’s 3008, and Otago’s 1719. Auckland sales increased by 40 per cent, over 1928, which year was (for Auckland) only 23 per cent over its predecessor. For 1929, the increase of sales over 1928 was 24 per-cent, in Wellington, 21 per cent, in Southland, 22 per cent, in Hawke’s Bay. and nearly 11 per cent, in Taranaki. Taking all New Zealand, monthly sales in 1930 to end of April show declines compared with 1929. Spring and summer months as a rule are the big sale months. But the June figures jumped from 1053 in 1928 to 1911 in 1929 —a figure hardly likely to be repeated. x ■

KAYE DON’S SPEED ATTEMPT.

INTERESTING DETAILS.

Interesting details regarding the failure of Kaye Don’s recent attempt to create a new world’s speed record with his Dunlop shod “Silver Bullet” at Daytona Beach, U.SA., the condition of the course etc. — is given in a letter by L. Warren Baker, Chief Steward and representative of tho American Automobile Association, to the Contest Board of the A.A.A. at Washington D.C., reading as follows: “it is very unfortunate that a combination of circumstances has prevented Mr Don from achieving his purpose in coming to America. At no time during the trial period of the “Silver Bullet” has the beach course offered an opportunity to make a serious attempt to. drive the car at a speed in excess of 231 m.p.h., which is necessary to break - the record. I believe that had the trial period been given dates in January or February the beach would have offered every opportunity for a record breaking run. “In view of Mr Don’s experience 1 Daytona Beach this year, I would suggest that the Contest Board in the future refuse to grant a sanction for the holding of an Unlimited Class Trial on the beach at a date later than February 28th. After that date a. perfect beach is very improbabl and it is certainly necessary for beach conditions to be perfect for a record-breaking attempt now that the record speed is almost four miles per minute. On April 11th., the day before Mr Don’s departure from Daytona Beach, all arrangements had been made- for an attempt. Beach conditions the previous day when a speed of 182 m.p.h. was made, seemed certain to improve over night as the wind continued to blow from the cast. Mr Don inspected the beach on the morning of the 11th, and stated that in his opinion it was not in condition for a record run. About one hour later three members of the Race Committee went over the beach and ex-

pressed Hie opinion that the beach was in condition for a record run. This difference of opinion ■ naturally created a situation likely to bring about a misunderstanding and feeling of distrust, between the sanctionee and the entrant. While the members of the Race Committee did not and would not have insisted that Mr Don try for the record against his own judgment, they would naturally feel that he should take advantage of the first opnortuuity that in their judgment had presented itself. I had not yet made an inspection of the beach that morning, therefore I expressed no opinion at. the time and immediately went to the beach while Mr Don waited at the garage. The inspection convinced me that it would be foolhardy to attempt a record run under the conditions. The Committee concurred in my opinion that the course was unsafe for high'speed, and I, officially ruled the beach course unsafe for a record attempt, and I ordered Mr Don not to make the run. Mr Don made his decision postponing further attempts that night and. his statement, was issued the, next morning. “There has been some doubt expressed as to the ability of the “Silver Bullet’’ to perform at more than 200 m.p.h. and some doubt expressed in some circles as to Mr Don’s ability to drive the car at nrore than that speed. I do not consider it worth while commenting on this latter belief; Mr Don’s reputation as a race driver makes that unnecessary. During his runs on the beach at times when officials thought it useless to attempt even a practice run, Don has reached speeds in excess of those considered safe. At all times the ear appeared absolutely under full control of the driver and net once- lias the'car at< any part, of the course shown any sign of veering from its course in spite of the bumps which at times tossed Don about in the cockpit and bruised his body. As to tho possibility of the car itself not being able to attain record breaking speed there is no possible way for the race officials to have any grounds for entertaining such an opinion. It is true that mechanical trouble has been experienced, but all such trouble ,lias been of a minor nature mostly with carburrettors affected by the performance of the super-charger by back-fir-ing of the engines. Mr Don curries with him the sincere regret on the part of the officials of Daytona Beach, and on the part of the race officials, that he has been denied a chance to prove the capabilities of the car and driver* by circumstances beyond human control and it is sincerely hoped that be will decide to return to Daytona Beach in January 1931, to renevz his assaults on the world’s record.” After having read this official information one is better able to appreciate the full truth of the failure of Mr Kayo Don’s attempt. “JUST MY BARBER.” “Five gallons, please.” “Okay. How's your oil?” “Just gas, please.” “How about a bottle of Shinyola great for lacquer; your bus is all covered with traffic film?” “Nope; just the gas." “Your left rear tyre’s pretty well shot. Better let me put on a new one; we’re selling Puncherpoofs to-day for ”

“No; the gas will be all.” “How long since you had a grease job? Everything looks kiuda dry—hear that body squeak?” “Haven’t time to-day—just the gas this time.”

“How about one of our electric cigar lighters—clamp right on your dash, and when you want a ” “H —, no! Just the gas!” And as the indignant motorist drove away with his five gallons of “gas” the filling station proprietor remarked to a bystander: “That was my barber.” USE FOR USED CARS. An English paper just to hand remarks: —“There is a good example for motor traders in a scheme conceived by the owner of a petrol filling station in a Manchester suburb, whereby worn-out motor tyres, which are usually—and often correctly—considered worthless by car owners, can be made io benefit the local hospitals. Close to his group of roadside fuel pumps be has erected a tall post with a notice inviting motorists to throw their old tyres over it. Periodically they a,re sold to scrap rubber merchants.

who, while being reluctant to buy one or two covers at a time from motor owners, are prepared to give a price for big batches.” INTRIG LTXG INVENTION. There is a story of extraordinary interest behind the particularly fine automobile achievement, which ’was successfully terminated in Melbourne last week, by Messrs D. Nudl, A. W. Kimmich and W. G. MacDonald. The trio, aboard a 6-cyJindcr “Chevrolet” drove from Port Darwin via Alice Springs to Adelaide in t> days V hours 40 minutes, and continuing on to Melbourne, via Mt. Gambier, Port 1-airj’ and Colac, reached the Victorian Capital—2637 -miles—iu 7 days 18 hours 25 minutes; an outstanding test of men and machine. It was only upon arrival in Melbourne. fhui the party learnt to their surprise that they had reduced the Darwin-Adelaide car record —standing at (> days 17 hours 51 minutes, to the credit of Dr Mackay and B. Wood—by S hours 11 mirutem particularly the object of the long drive across the continent v.-as not to set up new speed records. I but to test out an intriguing invention bv Mr Ludwig Nudl, which had

boot! fitted to the "C’hev.” This device was claimed to eliminate all pusyibiiily of plug trouble, to increase engine power and reduce fuel consumption; ai’.d with this' object, in view. it. was decided to drive from Melbourne via Sydney io Darwin, and th-ij’i endeavour to pul up a. mm-stop engine run on the return journey across the continent, via Alice Springs to Adelaide, and Ihcn on io Melbourne. It was with tile object, of acting us “observer” (hat Mi- MacDo'iaJd joined the. party—-he also taking his tni'n at tin' wheel in the cou-timion-i day ami nigiii. drive, v. (rich war. sentia 1 to the ■■■iicccss of Ute tirn'crlaking. That it was a success, will ho appreciated from the fact ih'.t not a. sparking plug was removed or touched in anyway during Site double journey—Melbourne io Darwin and hack again. 11,I 1 , is interesting to note lha* mi tin?, run from Dai win buck .to Melbourne, the average distance covered per day was about ::40 mile;.', whilst the stoppages of road-wheels—-whilsl picking on ».«>-. 1, obtaining food, and a .hours ->i‘ minutes lost, in extricating car out of sand bed of the Finke -River, totalled 10 hours bt) minutes; leaving 115 hours 35 minutes actual driving

time. If is the application and use of Mr Nudl’i..: invention that makes ties drive of outstanding interest. Jhe explosive mixture in the engine cylinders, was not filed by the usual elcc(ri'.‘ snark at the plug points, but by Pew* force—a ray, which is based on tlie principle of electro-chemical affinity of metals; and which, for lacn of a better term, has been named “Raysola.” The device which converts the ordinary electric current Io on incandescent ray embodied in a small circular container (weight about was attached to the dashboard of cur. The device is interposed between th” distributor and the spark plugs, aryl in the container the whole < haructeristics of the electric current an cliiiiigci l , and i.ho cables to plugs curry a high amplification of a high fri qiiency ray, which will function ncyfecliy under all, conditions ami will), all grades of oil and fuel. It is claimed that the ray ensures peifect combustion of cylinder charge, and effects a. very considerable saving' in I’f.ti'oi. Insides giving greater power. Displayed through the face of “Ry.yi.-clu” container, arc spark gj.ys (one for each cylinder) each of which can i.-e adjusted by the driver io suit

Hie compression of each cylinder; enabling a stronger ray to be produced across the points of. plugs. This it is stated ensures wonderfully unproved power ami better operation of the engine. That the device was an un(Hiulified success on the run to and from Darwin is beyond question, and tho'ruv did all that the inventor claimed. According to Mr Nudl, his invention —patented throughout the wcr ld—has astonishing possibilities and so amazing are some of the results, stated to have already been achieved, that its development and application may possibly have very far reaching results. Air Nudl is of Austrian extraction and has resided in Australia for 16 years. Prior to coming to this country he worked, at the famous Bosch Electrical Works in Germany.