MOTORING WORLD.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 45, 21 January 1928, Page 14

MOTORING WORLD.

NOTES. The longest first-class highway in the world is No. 30 of the United States highway system. It measures 3472 miles. If tire fan belt is slipping a little and there are no tools with which to raise the pulley, it is a good plan to sandpaper the inside of the belt. This cleans off any grease tnat might cause it to slip and gives it better traction on tho pulleys. Evory policeman engaged .in traffic duty in London is now equipped with white guantlets as an aid to better reading of signals by motorists. During wot weather, rainproof coats with white half-sleeves (from tho elbow downwards) will bo used. Many motorisis never use their automatic shield wipers unless it is raining. In fact, it would seem logical not to do so. But on the other hand, the wind-shield wiper will stay in better condition if used, even if only for a moment every day or two, than if it Is allowed to remain idle during long dry periods. Just a few minutes of action periodically is all that is necessary.

The total length of roads and. streets paved or surfaced with bituminous or cement concrete in New Zealand, as at March 31 last, was 133 miles, according to statistical tables just issued. The mile ago of roads and streets surfaced with bitumen or tar was 1012, and with metal or gravel 29,6201. Tho total length of formed roads (inclusive of those mentioned above) is 48,151$ miles, and with the addition of 5143 miles of bridle tracks and 14,355$ miles of unformed legal roads the total is 67,614 miles.

“When a driver in the wrong insists on the right-of-Way, let him have it,” counsels the Chicago Motor Club. “You can’t argue with a fool.” Which is a pretty safe rule to go by. If no driver ever took a chance on what the other fellow was going to do there would be comparatively few accidents. Thirty-two manufacturing companies producing 44 makes of cars, 19 makes of trucks and one taxi-cab, exhibited at the Now York Automobile Show, January 7to 14. Last year 35 companies exhibited. In his annual report the Chief Constable of Glasgow refers to the growing congestion of traffic and suggests that power should be obtained to divert slow and fast moving vehicles along different routes. During the year covered by the report 1440 cases were reported of motorists exceeding the speed limit and £2902 18s had been imposed in fines. Trapping, he considers, is “not a satisfactory instrument,” and often results in the most careful and reliable drivers being prosecuted. It would be more satisfactory if some other means of checking reckless driving could be devised. Two thousand six hundred and twenty fewer motor cycles were exported from America during the first eight months of 1927 than during the corresponding period of 1926. The sdent policeman, or traffic dome does not meet with the approval of the Wairarapa Automobile .association and the white line as used in England and Australia is advocated as a substitute.

The South Taranaki Automobile Association is having a five-mile stretch of road measured and marked for the purpose of providing motorists with tire means of checking the accuracy or otherwise of their speedometers. Another now record from Sydney to Melbourne has been established. This time the honour goes to Mr H. J. Beith, of Aibury, JN.S.W. Driving alone lie left Sydney at 4 a.m. on December 21st and arrived in Melbourne at 3.14 p.m. the same day; covering 5656 miles in 11 hrs. 14 mins., and averaging just over 50 m.p.li. It was a great drive, considering the condition of the roads in some parts of the journey. Between Springhurst and Wangaratta he had a puncture, and as he had lost liis jack somewhere along the road he had to wait until he could obtain the loan of one from a passing motorist. Unfortunately, this delay cost him about 15 minutes or more.

AN ASTOUNDING ACHIEVEMENT. REMARKABLE CAR RECORDS. Since tho advent of the automobile, no achievement probably excepting Major H. 0. D. Segrave’s speed dash on Daytona Beach, when he touched the phenomenal speed of 203 m.p.h., has been of such outstanding merit as tho recently established long distance records on tho Montlhery track, Paris, by the English motorists tho Hon. Victor and Mrs Bruoe. In these days of speed records, people have to an extent becomo used to the remarkable developments in transport on land, sea and in the air, and many achievements are not valued according to their merit, although spectacular events, such as Colonel C. A. Lindbergh’s trans-Atlantic flight from U.S.A. to France and Major Segrave’s sensational speed, received the publicity they deserved. From a motoring viewpoint, the recent achievement or Mr and Mrs Bruce is one of tho most remarkable automobile foats yet recorded; and probably few people in this country—outside a few keen motorists —really appreciate this astounding long distance drive on a British built 6 cylinder car. Imagine travelling 1580 miles a day for 9$ days, or a total of 15,000 miles in nine days, 10 hours, 32 mnutes, 54 seoonds. Unless one pauses to consider, one cannot grasp what this represents. No express train in this country has ever covered anything like 66 miles in an hour and few men or women have any conception of what it means to average mole than a a minute for 60 consecutive minutes. Yet Mr and Mrs Bruce —despite a delay of 15 hours through a heavy snow storm kept up an average speed of 66 miles an hour for 13,592 consecutive minutes —an astounding achievement. "What is more, no such distance has ever previously been negotiated by any method of travel in such remarkable time. When S. F. Edge-one of England s foremost pioneer racing motorists in July 1907 drove a car 1581 miles in 24 hours on Brooklands track, England, the whole world sat up and took notice, yet hero we have a considerably smaller engined car —despite wintry weather conditions —keeping up an equal daily mileage for nearly 9$ days. In the first 24 hours 1890 nnles were covered, whilst in the first 100 hours 7648 miles were left behind—an average speed of over 76 m.p.li. In 2 2-3 days, 5000 miles were covered, the actual time being 64 hrs. 52 nuns. The next 5000 miles, owing to tho track being snow-covered for 15 hours, took longer—Bs hrs. 39 mins, whilst the third and last 5000 miles took /6 his. 1 min. making a total of just over 226$ hours for the full 15,000 miles, and this time includes all stops for fuel replenishment, delays, etc. At one stage Mrs Bruce kept at tlie wheel tor nearly nine hours, whilst her husband slept and during that period sho mauitained a speed of about 80 m.p.h. On another occasion, owing to snow and ice on tho track, the car overturned, but fortunately without hurt to Mi Bruce or serious damage to tho maC)l Viewed from any point, this wonderful drive is one of tho greatest recorded and- unparalleled in the history or motoring. The whole outfit was British.

ROAD COURTESY

ADDRESS BY THE DUKE OF YORK

The Duke of York, addressing successful competitors in the school cludren’s essay competition on bate y First,” said: — _ “Many of you hero are or will e\ entually become cyclists, motor cyclists, or motor drivers. On you will fall the task of helping to make road traffic safe. Start early to cultivate a spirit of good fellowship on the road. We want more goodwill among the different types of road users; and more attention to setting a good example and appreciating the courtesies received than abusing the failings of a few. Perhaps many of you may go abroad to help build up our various Dominions. The Duchess and I have recently returned from a tour of some of those Dominions. When your time comes to travel, they will welcome you. They want men and women who can use their wits and eves, and who can meet hardships courageously and overcome all obstacles. If you learn to cultivate these ideas now you will find all difficulties very much easier to face in the future. Your success in life will depend on the quickness of your eyes, your ears, and your brains. Always keep the true unselfish meaning of ‘Safety i'irst before you and live up to the true Englisli motto of ‘Play up and play the p-aine.’ If you will do these two things, you won’t go far wrong. The Duchess and I wish you all good luck.”

WORLD SPEED RECORD. AMERICAN EFFORT TO REGAIN IT. A now typo of racing car which will be driven by three twelve-cylinder engines is being built in Philadelphia, U.S.A. by J. M. White, a manufacturer, with the object of bringing back the world’s motor vehicle speed record to an American-made machine. Each of the three motors will develop 500 li.p., giving the car a total of 1500 h.p. That will bo 500 li.p. in excess of tho English built car with which Major Seagrave established the world’s speed record of 203 in.p.h. at Daytona beach last March. The appearance of Mr White’s car with its three powerful motors will differ radically from any racing automobile hitherto built. One of the twelve-cylinder motor units . is fitted to tho forward part of the chassis and tho other two are placed side by side in the rear. . The driver’s seat is at tho left of the car in front of one of the rear motors, and the seat for the mechanic is opposite on the right-hand side. To carry these heavy engines the chassis is built long and unusually rigid. The wheelbase is 14ft 7-jin. The chassis frame is constructed of two twelve-inch beams of the typo used in heavy trucks and further strengthened by two additional beams running parallel through tho middle. Most of the weight of tho motors rests upon these middle beams. Underslung springs are attached to the front of the chassis, but there are no springs in tho rear. As the car will weigh approximately 8,000 pounds, Mr White believes that the weight will hold the car securely to tho ground without rear springs and also get better traction. The car will be equipped with special wire wheels and special tyres also are being made, 46 by 6.5 inches in size. The forward motor will bo covered with a bonnet, but tho two rear engines will remain uncovered. The drive, of the direct type, will be controlled by a hand throttle. Another unusual feature is that the car will have ncriclutch, transmission or gears. Each engine will be equiped with four carburettors, one for every three cylinders, making twelve carburettors in all. The petrol tank in the rear will hold about thirty-five gallons. At the jnaximum speed capacity of the car it

is estimated that this fuel supply would be used up m about twelve minutes. Mr VViiite has had an ambition for more than twenty years to build the lastest automobile m tlio world, and he is now making practical application of some of his ideas in the ouiidmg of racing cars acquired during nearly a quarter ot a century as an automobile manufacturer. Ho is 43 years old and expects to drive tlio cur himself on the Uimond-JL»uytona .beach.

Application has been made to the American Automobile Association to sanction and make official observation of tho speed test which probably will be held in February over the lamous Florida racing beach, Tho three huge engines cost £1,4U0 apiece, and when ready for road tests it is estimated that the total cost of the car will be £7,060, nob including the cost of labour.

WHY SOME BALLOON TYRES ARE L A DEEIiN ELATED.

Decause the valve is, of course, the most likely point at which a loss of air can take place, investigations were recently conducted in America to determine tho percentage of leaky valves m tyres in actual service, says a motor journal, it should be remembered that tho valve inside is a delicate piece of mechanism and its air sealing qualities depend entirely upon the little brass cone obtaining a perfect seating into tile rubber gasket which is placed within tho brass cup just above the springs of tho valve plunger. Any small particles ot dirt or even grease might interfere with the proper functioning of tlic valve inside at this point, causing leakage. And, moreover, this seal must be broken each time the tyre is inflated and the small piece of dirt necessary to cause leakage may enter tho valve at any time during inflation and lodge upon the seating, so that the owner cannot be sure that when he obtains an airtight valve after one inflation it will continue when the tyre is inflated again.

CHECK VALVES REGULARLY. In other words, he should make a constant check to bo sure lack of sufficient air pressure is not robbing him of tyre mileage. He should take care that valves are properly cared for and inspected at regular intervals. AnotUer interesting point developed in the survey was that, ot the total of 1087 tyres checked, approximately 20 per cent, were found iu which the valve cap was not screwed ou the valve tight enough to obtain a secondary seal, which could bo obtained were it properly iilaced on tlio valve. Ortc hundred and seventy-three tyres, or 16 per cent, of the total, had neither valve cap nor dust cap, and were entirely dependent upon the valve inside for retaining the air pressure. URGE USE OF CAPS. Because 36 per cent, of the 531 tyres which were checked for leaky valve insides wore found to bo leaking, indicates the necessity for using valve caps lor additional seals in preventing the loss of air pressure.

CROCK CARS RACE. To celebrate the thirty-first anniversary of legislation to deal with motors running on British roads, the . Daily Sketch organised a London-to-Brighton run of 51 old crocks, including tho first aii-British car ever built and veterans a quarter of a century old. Cheering crowds lined the route, especially the hills, where the morbidminded gathered in expectation of trouble. A majority of tho cars overcamp tho difficulties of the men, amid much snorting, grunting, voluminous smoking from exhausts, and changing of gears, the last invariably being a “rattling performance.” One competitor stopped and refused to budge. Suddenly there was a big explosion, with clouds of smoko and spurts of oil, and the old bus went on gallantly. Tho first prize for the oldest car finishing within the time-limit of 150 minutes was awarded to an 1893 model which the owner had driven from Lanark, whero he uses it in his business. A 30-year-old car was second. Thirty completed the run*