THE MOTOR WORLD

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 28 March 1925, Page 13

THE MOTOR WORLD

‘One trouble with automobile speedsters seems to be that their . horse sense decreases in inverse ratio to their horsepower/'

Sheffield police state that the imposition of a definite speed limit in t he city is inadvisable.

The racing of the engine when cold, with the mistaken idea of “warming her up a bit,” is an evil habit. Ih© oil being in a thicker state when co d than when warm, wilL not flow quickly enough to supply adequate lubrication for the. over-worked bearings, with resultant friction and wear.

The writing out of the local motor regulations in’'longhand-—a 10.000 word task —is stated to have been the punishment meted out recently by an American court to two motor cyclists convicted of furious driving.

At 6000 revolutions per minute, the engine speed of a motor-cycle engine, in recent Brooklands speed records, the piston started and stopped 200 times every second. Each of the valves opened ancTclosed MOO 1 times per minute or over 40 times per second. The pistin must have gone tip and down 1-Goooths part of a minute,' and the exhaust and intake periods would be about the same, still the engine ran as quietly as a sewing machine, and never missed a tap. Such is the efficiency of th© modern motor-cycle engine.

Reliability in motor-cycles is nowadays taken so much lor granted, and not without good reason, that special tests of machines bv way of demonstrating their dependable, qualities are generally considered quite unnecessary. There are, however, occasionally special performances which are worthy of consideration by prospective buyers. No longer does a 1 hundred-mil© non-stop trip arouse interest, any, motor-cycle of reputable make being quite capable of being assembled and taken straight out on the road and over a 500-mile journey, say to Wellington, without th© slightest fear of mishap. Looking at a modern machine, the remark is often heard that it looks very complicated, yet to-day everything is so simple and foolproof that it only reqlilies a little explanation to realise that all the pipes and wires which seem so likely to cause trouble are nothing to worry about, but just part of simply-controlled an easily-operated mechanism.

Incorrect alignment of a .s: do-car causes undue strain on a motor-cycle frame, and prematurely wears tyres.

The epic feat of four B.S.A. machines in, ascending M.t. Snowdon, is graphically told in the booklet, “bp fihowflo.it by Motor-Cycle.”

fiin.ee the Melbourne, Motordrome lias opened seine very fast.’ times have been established. The racing is of a high order- n-rwl the visit of the American racing riders has helped to boost the sport.

.Hiding on Ba.lliiui Reach, Australia, Gone nifty, a local mier, establisued, tor the first, time, in Australian motorcycle records, a. speed of over 100 miles per hour. lie covered hall a mile in. Li 4-osee.., a speed of 101 m.p.h. The previous fastest time was 90 m.p.h.

Several attempts at world’.s records were made on. Brook lands tracks just prior to its closing, for winter repairs. Eight world’s long-distance, records up to seven hours in the. 500. c.e. and iSO c.c. ola.sses were made and two short distance recordis were put up by V . lionsiiman, who covered the flying hve kilometres in Imin 56.nsec.

Since, the early days of the motorfwele it. has always been one of the first aims of designers to a’chieve as fow centre of gravity as possible consistent with, accessibility and adequate ground clearance, the object being, ol course, to provide greater .stability for the two-wheeled machine. This has been obtained generally by the use of a. dropped top tube, permitting a low saddle position, in some lnistances 1 names of unorthodox design being employed. To-day, especially among the snorting class, this object, has been fairly well achieved, although, ini many cases saddle, comfort has been neglected. The English designers clo not seem, to be able to realise the conditions under which we ride, and it is being .left to local importers, to specify special .fix‘tures on thoir to a-daipt ttioiu to our roads.

A speed contest or bill ©limb is probably the most attractive fixture on a motor-cycle club’s programme, but in the present .season there lias been a dearth, of these 1 events. Committees are faced with the difficulty of catering for riders of all classes oi machines, and at the same time beeping the" entries in each class .sufficiently large to be- interesting. The 350 c.e. class is now demanding that the o.h.y. nua<ih.ine.si ,should be c*;l lusisod from the side-by-side valve engines, so* fresh, I>roiilbilo' arises. . [’he American type of hill climb, consists of an ascent, of an 'abnormally steep hillside so .steep in fact, that no machine couiltl siioeessfiiilly scale it. the winner being rtlie rider who succeeds iji reaching the li.ighest jxiint. Tlii.s is a. type of"' contest more suited, to the American. v mentality, and while it doubt-, less appeals to the youthful and enthusiastic, the damage caused to. the machines is too- great to be worth while, and .it is scarcely likely that it has any future in local events.

“A 50-mi I© flit on the edge- of hell.” was how, a Wanganui councillor described the Panapara. road. The Mavor thought that it was a. glorious road.'

Wheels should he tested regularly against wear of the hearings. The axles should he i a eked up and the wheels shaken back and forth, in an effort to see whether they are loose and wobbly. ’

An. American report says, that, despite. the lifting of the McKenna duties, the British motor oar manufacturers! are not losing, but havo been unaffected by it.

Cany a piece of tougjh canvas in your tool box. In an emergency it makes an excellent p itch when doubled twice and caught, and. belli by' the rim.

Under-inflated tyres, over-lieated engines, .improper spark plugs, or dragging brakes will increase the cost of a motorist’s petrol anywhere from, id per gallon, up.

On© l of the most remarkable motor high-ways in America., from a- scenic and engineering viewpoint, is open for motor traffic. A particularly interesting feature of this western thoroughfare is that it is constructed for its length, of 221 m/iles over the. old roadbed of the CWomdo Midland railroad.

Spark plugs arc as good a.s new as long as the electrodes are not corroded or burned off and the procelain is free from cracks, leaks, or imperfections, and the surface of the part, Which is inside o,f the cylinder can be mibbed brmht and smooth. The electrode points should have a space of .025 to .030 of mi inch hetween them.

Describing conditions on a run in rural Christchurch, a Press correspond, ent says : —“Another noticeable feature is the absence of the trap and horse. Everywhere one meets- grocery motorvans, butchers’ and bakers’ motor-vans, and many others showing the excellent facilities for saving time and labour, and a "ood result for everyone, as the Motor Rural Delivery has also proved.”

It will surprise most people to learn that during 1924, motor-cycles to the value of £772,860* were imported into Australia, of which £770,933 came from two countries. Of this amount nearly half a million, or to be exact £494,489 worth of machines came from England, whilst America supplied motor-cycles to the value of £276,444.

A party of enthusiastic motorists encountered a stranger, who talked about chassis design in a very learned fashion. After listening for some time, one of the party inquired, “May 1 ask your name, as you seem very conversant with technical matters? ” “Certainly; lam Mr, Whiffle Tree.” “Why surely not the Mr, Tree, the chassis expert!” “Well,” replied the other modestly, “I suppose you may say so.’’ “Pear me,” ventured the motorist thoughtfully, “to think that I am speaking to Mr. Whiffle Tree, the famous expert, and had never previously even heard of him!”

An Australian motorist had a rather peculiar experience while motoring from Krambach to Wingham recently. He had stayed the night at Krambach, and put his car in a. garage there. Next morning he left for Wingham, and when at Burrill Creek something went wrong with the car. He lifted the covering off the car engine, and found a. 7ft. carpet snake inside. The snake had evidently tried to shift to cooler quarters, and the reptile had come into contact with the belt fan, with the result that a slice of its head had been severed. Nevertheless it'was a particularly lively carpet snake that greeted the driver, who immediately dispatched it.

GROWTH IN SOUTH TARANAKI

There is no doubt the association located at Hawera is proving the wisdom ox those who, ten years ago, registered the district title, and those who some months ago revived the association, and have gone ahead iii leaps and bounds since. The members of the executive have shown very commendable energy and enterprise, and have not spartM themselves in furthering the interests of thfe motorist. Branches have been formed in every centre. Members are going every week, and in Hawera. the record is remarkably good. Stratford now li.s joining up. It should make a very compact 'territory which, united as it would lie, would be in a position to exercise a good deal of influence on any project for the good of the motoring public. The good work done may be seen m many directions, and not the least use. fill is that done at the suggestion of the association, and in conjunction with them by the municipal authorities. It is very valuable to the town and district.

INSUR ANCE OF CARS. Insurance is a subject of paramount importance to the motor-car owner, and it is essential’that an owner or intending purchaser should pay great attention to it. Far too many people are apt to regard the selection of a policy merely a.s a matter of price, without giving sufficient thought to the question of the protection which is being obtained. In insurance, as in everything else, the cheapest is not by any means always the best value, and it behoves every proposer for insurance to consider very carefully not whether his policy is the cheapest but whether it represents the best value obtainable—i.e., whether it combines the maximum of cover and security with the minimum premium for the risks covered.

An ordinary motor-car policy is divisible roughly into two sections; (1) loss of or damage to any car spec died in the schedule, or its accessories; (2) cover against third party risks. There are numerous additional benefits which the assured can add to his policy at his discretion, such as accidents to passengers, and so forth. But in general, the two headings given above are those on which to concentrate. Most policies cover a number of further contingencies, and it .is merely a. matter of comparison to decide which policy offers the widest cover.

Before taking a motor-car policy, the proposer/ shpuld obtain a satisfactory answer to the following questions, details as to which will generally he found; on the proposal form : • (1) Loss or damage to car.—There should he no unreasonable limitations of liability; the policy should merely state that the insurers will make good any loss or. damage sustained There should he no limit to the amount of repairs, and the assured should he permitted to put repairs in hand as soon as possible after an accident occurs, provided that he also gives immediate notice of the claim to the insurers, ft is / also important to see that the insurers will pay the reasonable cost of transport to the place where the repairs are to be executed. The policy should also include tyres and accessories stolen, whether with or without the car. (2) Third Party Section. —This is a most essential part of any motor-car insurance. The driver o'f even the smallest .car- may through an accident become liable for a very large, sum in compensation, and it is therefore of the highest importance to every insured person to make sure- that his,-policy covers every contingency which is likely to arise under this section ._ It is essential that the policy should give unlimited indemnity, and law costs should lie included. The assured should be protected whilst driving any

car, and the policy should extend to any licensed driver driving the assured’s car with his permission. In addition to all the foregoing, the insured person should ascertain that the company with whom he has effected his insurance have a. good reputation as regards fair and prompt settlement of claims.

GEAR INO HEA D LIGHTS. i “Every mail for himself” seems |o be the motto of the majority of automobilists in New Zealand in regard to the glaring head Light problem, says a southern paper. There are two conflicting views on this subject, the first that if nil motorists keep their headlights on it is safer than “blacking out,” with a consequent blinding contrast between light and darkness; and the second that the danger of dazzling lights far outweighs any other considerations. Although New Zealand motorists, generally, take the first view, they cannot point to accidents that occur from “blacking out,” whereas it is quite common to hear of accidents to drivers who were dazzled, by the lights of other cars. Such an accident is reported from Oamaru, where a motor-lorry went over a bank recently, because the driver was dazzled by an approaching car. At Home the two principal motoring organisations are divided on this subject, the R.A.O. urging that lights should he kept full on. while the A.A. recommends members to use their own discretion. In America, however, the problem is tackled intellignetly by throwing the beam of light down at a given angle, and this rule, though nominally adopted in New Zealand, js never enforced. The motorists who met in conference the other day might well have discussed this matter, but, as they appear to be indifferent, the police should take a hand in stamping out an offence that is oartieularlv marked in Christchurch;

FATALITIES IN AUSTRALIA. Tn motor-car smashes in Melbourne last year 110 people were killed. The figures show an increase of 22 over flior>e for the previous year, and a still, more deplorable fact is that during the past 10 years the casualty list has been growing longer and longer. Curiously enough, the Sydney fatalities —there were 82 last year—were announced before the Melbourne total, and Melburnians were congratulating themselves on the prospect of favourable comparison. The official announcement, however, shows that Sydney, though a biggen city, is a much safer place' for the pedestrian and the motorist. The position is viewed with alarm bv the traffic police. Year by year, with the increasing popularity of the motor-car, the number of vehicles in the city streets swells. And near by the ropd hog is found exulting in possession of a steering-wheel. The police point out that there is need to tighten up the law, so that in future the reckless* motorist may be effectively checked and the death rate kept down. Cautious driving is now more essential than ever, and efforts are being made to ensure that offenders, when convicted, will be dealt with seyerely. One important factor in the frequency of street accidents is the drunken eardriver. A £5 fine often has as little effect upon him as upon the high-speed motor-cyclist. The magistrates are now trying imprisonment as a deterrent-.

£15,364,000 FROM MOTOR TAXATION. «* YEAR’S RECEIPTS IN ENGLAND

The gross receipts from the motor taxation, it was announced by the English Ministry of Transport, amounted to £15,364,407 in “Hie twelve months from 'December Ist, 1923, to November 30th, 1924. The rebates allowed for pre-1913 engines amount approximately to £150,000.

The total number of motor vehicles licensed may lie taken as 1,242,000, including 474,000 cars taxed on horsepower, 441,000 cycles, 210,000 commercial vehicles, and 84,000 motor hackneys.

THE LON DON Tu EXETER , RELIABILITY TRIAL. There is one reliability trial in England which always commands the interest of all motor-cyclists, and that i.--the London to Exeter Boxing Night trial. j The ‘conditions it is usually held under make it q.ne of the most gruelling tests for both machine and rider, and Boxing Night of 1924 proved just a little worse than usual. The rain, it seems* started shortly after midnight on December 24 and continued till the last man,checked in on the evening of the following day; steadily blinding rain it was, which soaked the competitors through and through. 'White Sheet Hill, where a stop and a restart was made, resembled the world in Noah’s time, and the riders had to push their way through swirling waters a foot deep. , There was a record entry of 380 machines, but not a quarter of these completed the course.

GOOD BOADS. THE MOVEMENT IN 1924. , (By T. W. Seaver, 8.E., M.1.E.) „ “Civilisation begins with a road.” — Buskin. During the past year many important events have taken place in connection with the Good Boads Movement. In one of Kipling’s verses a soldier thus refers to the result of one of those little ware, of which so little is heard, but which are often of much importance to the Empire. Many readers will remerber the jingle of the lines : W© broke a King! and we made a road, And a Court House stands where our rigimint goed, And the river runs clear, where the red blood flowed When the widow gave a party. In these lines Kipling, with his keen insight, expresses in a few words the colonisation system of. Great Britain. First conquest, then the onioning up of the country by means- of roads, then the administration of justice as typified by the Courthouse. « ‘‘Smiles,” the' author of “Self Help” and the historian of the- Engineers, expressed the same view when he wrote us to the requirements of a new colony : “First roads, then commerce, institutions, schools, churches, and newspapers.” Again, to take a more modern view, Mary Lee Davis, of Fairbanks, Alaska, U.S.A., writes as follows in a recent number’ of Scribner’s: “The future of the country as a white man’s land depends upon roads, more roads, and yet more roads. . “We cannot get together as separate units, we cannot develop the truest citizenship, until we have roads, unon which not only our transportation, but agriculture, education, and industry in general more and more depend. With adequate roads om: mines and our farms alike develop unaided. “Boads are paths to school and market, church and court, and every other symbol of man’s communal effort.” In Victoria we. in the past, have endeavoured to achieve these: results by means of railways, and we have concentrated our energies upon that form

of transport, which, good and necessary as it is, has failed to achieve success. In our outlying and farming districts conditions have hy this means been improved only to a very limited extent, and the population of such places, so far from increasing, is seriously decreasing. This fact has now come to be recognised by our legislators, whose views have been well expressed by Mr J. C. L. Fitzpatrick, Minister for Local Government, who lias recently stated that “good road development is infinitely more important to the people of a large portion of the State than railwav extension.’’

In Victoria, ’the Minister for Public Works stated “that for many districts it would he far preferable to put in a good road than to incur the expense of constructing a short lock-spur line.” These statements of a basic fact were the most important events in connection with the Good Roads Movement of last year.

Next in importance has been the awakening of the people, and more especially'of public bodies, to the urgent need for good roads*. This has been evinced during the year in the. interest displayed by chambers of commerce, progress associations, and local government. bodies, who have held meetings in various parts of the State for the purpose of securing improvements in regard to oui» State highways,’as well as better means of communication between farms aiitl markets. Not only has this interest been of a more or less general nature, but the rapid growth of the National Roads and Motorists’ Association proves that a personal interest in the subject has been aroused The progress of this association has .indeed been remarkable, as its membership has risen from POO In close upon 5000 during the past 12 months. Its work has been of a very practical nature, and in its rooms may be found at any time numbers o! motorists discussing the condition of the roads in various parts of the State. The abstract value of good road consi ruction is generally admitted. This in itself, however, will not hasten their (instruction. But when an individual member of the community is convinced that, a,s far as he is personally concerned, such is a paying proposition, he at once becomes an ardent good roads advocate.

During the past year the'fact that good road construction very materially increases the value of the adjoining and adjacent land has been amply proved. Mr E. J. Machine]!, M.L.A., of Viciiqia, and a ipembey of the Farmers’ oarty of that State, has recently stated •‘that. Victorian experience had shown that no single factor had greater effect oil the improvement of land values than good roads.” The secretary of the Victorian Municipal Association lias qnoted instances of land being improved in value from £2O to £3O per acre by the operations of the Country Roads Board. From another aspect it has been proved that good roads as compared •«-it.h had. save motorists mi an average BtVd per mile in their running expenses, ar, say. on an average, £3O per year m each vehicle.