MOTOR WORLD

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 26 September 1925, Page 14

MOTOR WORLD

MOTOR-CYCLING. GtLiYMP'I A, LONDON. A.N ATT-RIAiGTIEI SHOW. All overseas visitors to the L nited Kingdom. who me at all interested jii inoitor-evoles should endeavour to time their visit as to inolude the Cycle and Motor-cycle Exhibition at Olympia, London, l'rom Septem.bei: 21st to 2tith, ■states the Bulletin of .Ln formation, issued .by the Department ot Overseas Trade. Am the Salon at Baris does* not take place this year, the Olympia Show provides the only representative display ot motor-cycles in the world. The promoter** are taking all possible steps to make the Exhibition even more attract!ve than usual, and a. relatively high proportion, of purahasers from overseas is already assured. Persons in the (trade ran receive invitations by eoimmunieaiting with, the proimoiLens' of the Exhibition, while no pains will be spared to meet their expressed needs. The facit that the Exhibition is held this year while the British Empire Exhibition is still running ought to provide an extra lure for visitors from various parts of the Empire. Jit has been ascertained that, amongst other attractive exhibits, several firms will be showing newest designs of high powered solo machines. These have been evolved lor those who do not want to use side-ears, and whowould prefer a machine only intended lor solo riding, to a design intended to fulfil the double function of operating when desired for propelling a sidecar The choice of engine speeds, gear ratios, and other things is affected by this distinction, and such a specialisation should oiler a big attraction, especially to the overseas purchaser.

WHEEL NOTES. (Australasian.) THROUGH AMERICAN /EYES. In a recent number the Motor-Cycle (Eng.) published an article written by •in American motorist who had read a little and seen more of motor-cycling as practised in Great Britain. Although cloaked in satire, the article contains a great deal of common-sense, though the journal referred to states that tho writer ’s views on English roads and the comparative merits of the motor-cycles of British and American manufacture arc absurd. He says, for instance:— “It is clehr that the people of Engiant, take more interest in motor-cycling than Americans, and that the English rider is more intelligent, higher class socially, and knows more about his mount than does the American rider. But it is unfortunate that no cue has taken sufficient interest in the business to manufacture a motor-cycle in England”—a remarkable conclusion to reach of a country which leads the world in the manufacture and use of the motor-cycle. In another place he says:—“English motor-cycles call for a high degree of intelligence to operate them, and they call for a lot of humouring, and tinkering, and adjusting, to keep them going. It is the roads and the contraptions they ride that make the English motorcyclists the best in the world. . . . The English riders are better than tho Americans because for 40 generations they have been trained to get along with the crudest equipment, and to overcome obstacles without removing them. An obstacle to progress is something sacred in England. In fact, in England the ability to do a simple job in a, difficult. manner constitutes a trade.” After commenting upon tho “horrible condition of the roads after the Romans had dragged their hand organs across the country,” and that “by the provisions of the will of the Englishman’s 42nd grandfather .no improvements were to be made unless absolutely necessary,” and ignoring the fact that British roads to-day are among the best in the world, the article reads: —“On account of the perfect roads iu America, and because of the degree of perfection reached by the manufacturers of American motor-cycles, the American riders know practically nothing about riding, and know next to nothing about, the machines they ride. The American manufacturers have made such knowledge unnecessary.” It is a. pleasing conceit, however, but the fact remains that, despite the overwhelming population of the United States as compared with Great Britain, there are hundreds of thousands more motor-cyclists in the United Kingdom than in America, while the trade returns of the British motorcycle industry this year reveal it to be in a very flourishing condition as regards both home consumption and export trade.

NEW R.A.C.V. ROOMS OPENED. The new rooms of the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria were formally opened recently by the Chief Justice, Sir William Irvine. The occasion drew a large number of members, many of whom had not visited the new premises before, and were genuinely surprised at the splendid appointments and the commodious quarters. In declaring the club rooms open. Sir William said that, although he had been a motorist for .15 or l(i years, and was also a member of the club, he had not visited the rooms for some time, but. was surprised and gratified at the remarkable development of the club. He further said that the furnishings of the secretary’s office were superior to those of the Chief Justice’s office. He trusted that the club would use its influence with motoring in the best possible way, and safeguard the travelling public and pedestrians by every means in its power. The largo dining-room was filled by some 250 members, while others visited the smoke-room, ladies’ lounge, the bar and billiard-room, and other apartments. It is estimated that fully 400 members were in the building at the opening eeremonv.

MOTOR CYCLE ITEMS. The coining season in Australia promises to be a bright one for motorcycling; clubs are being established in country centres, with half-a-dozen bodies in the metropolis, where, a couple of years ago, only one was in existence. There seems, too, a growing desire to encourage motor-cycling as a pastime, as against the sport; i.e., competitive events, where speed is the objective. Club officials are recognising that far more motor-cyclists arc personally interested in touring than in racing, and

arc preparing' to eater for the many, commencing;, probably, with the resumption of wool:-on 1 1 outings. The suggest ion by Mr. .T. H. Rhodes, at the smoke soe.inl of the Sports and Social Club in Melbourne, that the combined clubs should provide a. country club-house rather than rooms for each in the city, is a good one, and should be considered by the several motorcycling bodies in the metropolis. He pointed out that clubs in other countries had adopted the idea, which was a success in every way. Ample land could be acquired at low cost, at about 50 miles from Melbourne, when, with working bees, and other means of assistance, a comfortable club-house could be provided.

MOTOR VEHICLES AND DRUGS. The report of the Commissioner of Metropolitan Police for 102-1 provides material for a contrast between two classes of offence which may be regarded as peculiar to the age we live in. The number of motor vehicles reported to the clearing house at New Scotland Yard as stolen from all parts of Great Britain was 521, and the number recovered was .‘l-10, of which 213 were motor-ears and 130 motor-cycles. In the Metropolitan Police area 300 motor-cars and motor-cycles were stolen, an increase of 5S over 1023. Cases under the Dangerous Drugs Act, on the other hand, showed a remarkable decrease, largely due, without doubt, to the deterrent effect of heavy sentences.