MOTORING WORLD

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 200, 24 July 1937, Page 7

MOTORING WORLD

NOTES. Local body authorities in America are getting quite concerned about the enormous growth in motor caravanning, which may be expected to achieve an unpredecented boom during the coming months. All sorts of regulations are being drawn up, especially with regard to caravan camps. Since Signor Mussolini began his reconstruction programme in Italy really modern roads have been a feature of that beautiful land. He has extended his efforts to the Italian possessions in Northern Africa. Tripoli already possesses fine roads and modern hotels. The latest development is a highway 1177 miles in length along the North African coast, linking Tunis with Egypt. There are now 6000 volunteers in Germany prepared to undertake traffic control. They wear a dark uniform and carry staffs resembling those used by German railway guards. They cannot impose a fine but may only note the- numbers on the cars breaking regulations and send their reports to the police. In 1936, some 2,400,000 people registered their ca.rs in the State of New York, where it is considered something of a social distinction to have a low license number. It is a triumph of orga.nisation and a challenge to the science of mathematics that about 38,000 people were sent away happy, with license numbers technically below 100. HAND BRAKE HINT. In certain cars fitted with hydraulic brakes operated by the foot, the hand lever is connected to tho rear shoes only, by mechanical means, the connection being by flexible cables running through armoured tubes, the armouring taking the form of strong spring steel wire encircling the tubes in a close spiral. Working beneath his car one day, a motorist noticed two well-defined grooves running around the inside wall of one back tyre, not deep enough to cause any anxiety, but obviously the beginning of wear which would later weaken the tyre if allowed to continue. Examination then disclosed the fact that one of the armoured hand brake tubes was bearing against the side of tho tyre, a.nd the two grooves were being cut by the strong wire spiralled about the tube. Further damage was prevented by pulling tho tube away from the tyre and tying it back to tho chassis so that it could not again make contact. This is a fault which other motorists would do well to look for. OWN HOMES PROVIDED. A new era in rarm life is revealed in the classified advertisements of the American papers. Farmers are now advertising ' for married -men with trailer houses. Hitherto it has been customary to hire either a single farm hand who boarded with the farmer, or a married man, who was provided with a house on the farm. OBSCURED NUMBER PLATES.

With the advent of winter, motorists who travel long distances along gravel or earth roads would be well advised to inspect the taillight and number plates of their cars to ensure that the lights and numbers are visible. Wet mud thrown up by the wheels often makes the numbers on the plate illegible and obscures the tail-light,_ leaving the driver open to a conviction under the traffic regulations.

DANGER OF SKIDS. UNIFORM SPEED UNWISE. “The latest report of the Transport Department dealing with the circumstances of accidents indicates quite clearly that many motorists do not consider the question of their speed in relation, to the condition of road surfaces,” says the latest safety message of the Canterbury Automobile Association. The report states that 74 accidents were caused in loose metal, 91 on wet bitumen, 21 on wet concrete, and 17 on wet clay. “A motorist who adopts a uniform speed of travel without giving any consideration to the condition of the road surface and his ability to handle his car safely in an emergency, cannot class himself as a safe drivel'. Speeds which are regarded as safe and reasonable on a dry, paved road, cannot be considered safe on a wet surface. It does not seem to be realised by motorists generally that after rain the tyres are running on a film of water which acts as a lubricant and reduces to a great extent the friction between tyre and road, on the measure of which one’s stopping abijity depends. “A road may be greasy without having had rain upon it, and the careful driver will always make sure whether a road is greasy or not, even if its appearance looks safe enough. Wet or greasy roads may be safe enough for a fairly high rate of speed if roads are properly made, if they are wide, and if there is no threat of an emergency position arising through other traffic. The circumstances in which a driver finds himself should govern his driving actions, as there can be no rule-of-thumb method in motoring. Loose shingle on a road can produce the same condition of danger as a wot or greasy surface. The - danger of skid and side-slip is present. Motorists should think of the . road surface and its liability to produce skid long before the brakes are applied and an accident is caused. If they did so, they would reduce speed to such an extent that their careful driving would offset the condition of the road.” EASY STARTING IN WINTER, AVOIDING USE OF CRANK HANDLE. Among the minor troubles of motoring, there is no sound more distressing to the driver than' the feeble drone oAhe starting motor when the battery is almost flat. It means a turn of the starting handle. The low temperatures of winter bring starting trouble and its attendant inconveniences to many motorists because they neglect a few simple precautions. Petrol, lubricating oil, and the battery are the factors that have to be given eommonsonse consideration to avoid trouble. The petrol must be of high volatility so that when it mixes with the intake air a mixture results that will give immediate, firing. The motorist has nothing to do except get the right grade. _ / Then there" is the question of lubricating oil. Experts agree that a lighter oil is°needed for winter motoring. The colder oil gets, the thicker it becomes. Even in New Zealand, where as a rule temperatures'do not fall'very low, a lighter oil is preferable than that used in summer. Moreover, summer oil thickens up in winter, and in a • cold engine its stickiness will make starting more difficult and give the battery more work. The remedy is to drain out the summer oil and refill the sump with the recommended winter grade. Tn addition to these precautions for saving the battery being subject to unnecessary work the battery itself should receive added attention. Do not relax anv care in regard to seeing that the nlates are kept covered and see that the terminals are clean.