MOTORING WORLD

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 308, 26 November 1932, Page 9

MOTORING WORLD

NOTES. To coinbat the noise in Berlin streets the police have issued a new decree, under which motor drivers who unnecessarily sound tlreir horns will bo fined. * * * » Revenue collected in the United States of America last year from taxes on petrol totalled more than £130,000,000. * * » . • The numerous unlawful conversions of motorcycles that have occurred recently have resulted in the Auckland Alotor Cycle Club establishing a vigilance committee to endeavour to check the trouble, and also to assist in the recovery of missing machines. * * * * *

Side-curtains may be cleaned easily with any recognised duco polish, applied in the same manner as when jiollshing the conclrwork. If the curtains are discoloured they may be renovated by wiping throughly with a rag soaked in vinegar, and should then be given one or two coats of duco polish. In this manner even old curtains that have become yellow and almost opaquo may he restored quite satisfactorily.

The importation of new motor vehicles into the Irish Free State is practically at a standstill owing to the prohibitive import duties. * * * * *

Soviet Russia has started a synthetic rubber plant, alcohol being the basic ingredient. » * * * * In the filial cinder track test match England v. Australia, at Wembley Stadium, England won by 51 points to 42. Hours before the time of starting the stadium was besieged by a huge crowd. The attendance was 84,000.

Sometimes a valve stem sticks or squeaks, and it is often difficult to introduce oil where wanted. A feather, however, if dipped in the lubricant can usually be inserted between the coils of the valve spring and manoeuvred so that the oil reaches the stem. A few applications will prevent the trouble recurring. CHECKING SPEEDS. A new “speed detector” for 'motor vehicles is being used in Connecticut. This consists of a box in which a mirror is placed at an angle to each opening, one of which points directly across the road, the other being directed toward an observer stationed at a distance. The observer, looking parallel to the road and into the open end of the box, can see in the mirror directly across the street from the point where the box is set. An approaching car, as it passes the box, makes a distinct flash or flicker in the mirror, which is readily seen by tho observer. The instant lie see this flash lie presses the stop watch. When the car passes the point at which the observer is stationed he stops the watch and records the interval of elapsed time. The has line, or distance along the road from the mirror box to the observer may bo any reasonable length so long as it has been accurately measured. About 109 readings can be made within half an hour. When these are plotted out the exaggerated cases of speed, either fast or slow, will at once show on a diagram, and from it, apart from the extremes, the average reasonable rate at which people travel will be apparent. PIONEER DAYS. RECALL OF REAIINISCENCES. Reminiscences of the pioneer dfiys of motoring were recalled by Commander Alontagu Graham White at Bournemouth Round Table No. 5 dinner, held at the .Bournemouth Pavilion recently. Commander Graham White’s driving experience goes back 1895. Ho is one of tho founder members of the Royal Automobile Club, of tho 19tli Century Alotorists’ Club, and of tho Automobile Club in France. During tho war he served in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. He began motoring, he told the Round Tablers, in November, 1895, when he purchased a motor tricycle, J h.p., De Dion, from Hon. Evelyn Ellis. Later he purchased a three-wheeler, the driver sitting on the hind wheel and steering by the two front wheels. The motor car then came on to the market, and in 1895 Levassor ran from Paris to Bordeaux and back without stopping at 24 kilos per hour for 740 miles —“at least,” he added, “the engine did not stop.” In 1896 the first Daimler was built at the Coventry works by Hon. Evelyn Ellis, and Commander White went down to the works to learn something. “The pupils sat on a wall and watched the other fellows do all the work, and it cost our fathers £500,” he added. In 1896 Fred Sims founded the Alotor Car Club, and the Automobile Club in 1897, the speaker and his brother joining as members. The motor car was so well advertised after the first London to Brighton journey that the capital of motor cars floated in ten months in 1896 was £2,300,000. This trip was made in 1896 at an average sliced of 12f miles per hour. Air White took part in the ParisBordeaux race in 1897, when the inflated tyre was in the experimental stage, being laced to a wooden rim. The only car which got through was a solid tyre car at an average speed of 12.75 miles per hour. A tyre inventor was told by a well-known motorist that his tyres were useless, yet within five years on a non-stop run was made on his tyres from Paris to Bordeaux at 57.79 miles per hour, without a tyre having to be changed, such had been the progress made. “An astonishing speed,” commented Commander Whyte. The car was sold to Joe Haycock for £2750, and afterwards bought by the speaker for £IOOO.