MOTOR SPARKS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 23 January 1926, Page 11

MOTOR SPARKS.

It wiJ] surprise most people to hawn that Australia is the largest importer oi motor industry parts in the world, reports of motor engineering products from the world’s leading eenti r totalled £80.000,000 in 1924, and Australia was the biggest importer. East year the United States exported £40,000,000 worth of ears, France was second on the list, Italy third, and England fourth with exports worfn £(>,500,000. A well-known English motoring expert has come to the conclusion that the safest car to drive, and the one that gives the greatest pleasure, is not, the abnormally "high top speed” car. but one with an engine of moderate size with lively acceleration, and constructed so as to be really free from vibration —a well sprung car, fittec. with anti-rebound device. In such a car as this one can sit in comfort in the back seat and rend a newspaper, and, while never attaining a high speed, can easily maintain an average touring speed of 2o m.p.h. I his mileage can only be obtained ov a car oi very quick acceleration, for one saves far more time by a quick get-away than by bursts of speed in the few places where it is possible. In a long day’s run through populated areas, it is practically certain that one will never go more than a few hundred yards without. meeting or overtaking something. One finds the "high top speed” ear relatively .'lower in acceleration than the medium top speed car. One passes many high-speed cars which could, of course, overtake one on a long stretch But, since these long stretches do not often occur, and one has to slow- down at dangerous corners and for other causes, the driver of a "nippy” car gets to his destination at the end of the day as quickly as the "speed mer chant’’ and without any risk to oneself or to fellow-users of the road.