MOTORING.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 12263, 26 May 1934, Page 9

MOTORING.

CARE OX THE ROAD. APPEAL TO -MOTORISTS. SEVEN CARDINAL- RULES. TRANSPORT MINISTER'S PLEA. Addressed to ’‘every motorist.” and signed hv the Rt. Hon. J. ti C'oates, a message in folder form is being distributed by the Ministry ot Transport- in connection with the issue of motor vehicle number plates for the new licensing year. In appealing to motorists to exercise every care, the message points out- that for the year ended march 31, 1933, there were 143 deaths from motor accidents, approximately -5, 000 persons injured from motor accidents, and approximately 20,000 motor accidents resulting in damage to property. “These arc figures which to every motorist will carry their own significance,” the message proceeds, “They show the need for constant care on the road. To the motor cyclist particularly an appeal is made. Insurance records for the past five years show that with motor cycles there is a higher traffic risk than with other motor vehicles. Recklessness on the road is likely to involve the rider and others, including young children, in death or injury, and some restraint is surely a. small price for reducing these risks. “I am sure,” Air Uoates concludes, “that you appreciate the desirability of ensuring that our roads and streets are made safer for 'all, and your co-operation is invited.”

Then follows the following cardinal rules, which, it- is stated, the experienced and careful motorist knows and observes:—

1. Keep to the deft 2. Give way fat intersections to traffic cm your right. 3. Ensure that brakes and lights are efficient always. 4. Refrain from passing another vehicle at a corner or at the crest- of a hill

5. When passing stationary vehicles watch for sudden emergencies of pedestrians. 6. Modify speed to the traffic or route conditions.;

7. Give appropriate signal when turning or stopping.

OVERLOADING. “THE WILLING BEAST.’’' MISUSE OF SBRINGS. An adage tells us that willing people are always those most likely to. be. put .upon, and we must take warning, when we think that the modekn ear is surely the most willing tiling of a/ll time. '

Many sm'all cars of to-day are fitted -with what tho in a kefs -term, extra “occasional seats.” While cars with- these seats fitted are probably designed to carry two fulLgrown people in the front with either two children or one adult in the back, it is quite certain they were never intended to carry four large people, perhaps some luggage, oai a long run.

.Yet it is not an uncommon.' sight to sec four heavy adults journeying in a car of small capacity. As long as nothing breaks, many motorists think all must be well; four seats are here, fill them up. It may hap-' pen that nothing will ever break, such is the astounding strength of modem cars, hut it is quite certain that persistent overloading will work an immense amount of harm. Small cars, by reason of their price, must be fitted with comparatively simple suspension systems, and while these cars will put up with a great deal of abuse, there is no doubt bat that, the cumulative effects .of constant misuse will be serious, and trouble may result in springs, engine or transmission.

Undoubtedly, ears will carry » great deal more weight than it was the intention of the designer that they should; and not- only will tiiey eomplete long journeys when overloaded, hut they will achieve them with remarkably little loss of speed. Never!helerdq the damage may have been done. It is essential, therefore, when loading a ear. to watch the clearance between, the tyres and the wings, and the axle and the frame, since this will give a rough idea a.s to whether or not the willing beast is “o’erladen.”

INVENTION OK MOTOR CAR

SECRET TRIPS MADE AT NIGHT.

The 100th anniversary of the birth of Gottlieb Daimler, inventor of iha motor-car of that name, was celebrated near Stuttgart. As a boy Daimler showed a marked technical talent and at lb became an apprentice in a tooi mach-

ine factory in Grafenstadt. Alsace. From there he studied at the Foil teehnic-um, Stuttgart, to-days In:, rersity of Technology. spent some years in England, and finally became, director of a factory r.z Deurz, neai Cologne. There, with Wilhelm Maybach, a-. built the first 100 h.p. gas motor. Although it caused a sensation, st. was only a signpost for Daimler, it a motor could produce power in a workshop, why could i; not propel .< vehicle ? In 1882. Daimler went to Catmstatc. now a suburb of Stuttgart, am* established his own workshop. MayBach scon followed him and the two worked on the idea of an automobile. '.York: was carried on behind curtained windows and with such secrecy that the police descended on tno shop, believing counterfeit com* were, being made. On August 16. 1883. the first combustion motor appeared. It ha*-; a horizontal, air-cooled cylinder arid a wrought iron fix wheel which turned at 900 revolutions a minute. A second motor followed in November ol the same year, and a third in 1884, which was later haili info a hiWuc — the world’s first motor-cycle The first use. of the motor for. propulsive purposes was made by I tain-, lor for a boat. A trusted workman carried the motor down to the Xecnnr at night, where it was mounted on a skill and the first trip lasted until dawn, when the motor was hurriedly taken out and brought back hv stealth to the factory.

Night also cloaked the first trip.with the “horseless carriage.” but. gradually the local inhabitants became accustomed to tiie new vehicle. By 1890 the Daimler Motor Company had been founded and the great inventor* •- patents began to be used abroad. In 1893 Daimler built ins first “saloon”, the first taxicab in the world, which was put to service iu Camistntt. In ISO?. Daimler cars won the first prize in the world’s first-long-distance race from Paris to Rouen and hack. K’f'.d fate allowed him to enjoy this great triumph before his death on AI arch 6. 1900. ITis native town unveiled a monument to his memomy in connection with memorial celebrations held from April 21 to 21.

SWIMMING NOTES’ AND NEWS Ten years ago Johnny Weismuller, great American swimmer, set a world's record of o.o< 2-ssee. for 100 metres, in a 25-metre bath at Miami, Florida. It stood until a few weeks ago, when, in a 25-metro bath, at New Haven. Peter Fiek, 19-year-olcl New York swimmer, brought the record dowu to 0.56 4-5 in a match race with David Livingston, formerly of Hawaii but now of Yale University.