MOTORING NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 6, 4 December 1937, Page 15

MOTORING NOTES

TRAGIC GERMAN GRAND PRIX. In the German Grand Prix, held at the Nurburg Ring, E. von Delius, one of the crack drivers of the Auto-Union team, was killed while Richard Seaman, the British member of the Mer-cedes-Benz team, was injured. The race was won by Rudolf Caracciola, in a Mercedes-Benz, at an average speed of 82.75 m.p.h., for 310 miles. Another Mercedes filled second place, while Berndt Rosemeyer ran third in an Auto-Union. Nuvolari came fourth in an Alfa Romeo. The German Grand Prix is now the most keenly contested race on the Continent since the French Grand Prix degenerated into an event for sports cars, and the pace is furious from the start, Rosemeyer won this race last year, in an Auto-Union, Nuvolari piloted his Alfa Romeo to victory in 1935, and Hans Stuck was successful in his AutoUnion in 1934.

COIL SPRINGS FOR SUSPENSION

The comparatively slow progress which lias been made in independent suspension systems, by British and American, manufacturers particularly, has been very disappointing to those who know that exceptionally good springing can be given a car by this system. . Probably one of the reasons why so many manufacturers have been slow in adopting it is because of the excellent surface of the main roads of most motoring countries to-day. It is rather interesting, however, that next year several manufacturers, while still retaining the old straight front axle, will use coil springs instead of leaf. Coil springs have proved their effectiveness in several types of independent springing systems, their important point being a complete lack of friction, so that when used in conjunction with- really efficient hydraulic shock absorbers, much greater accuracy in the control of spring action is possible.

SMALL GARAGES. In a small garage, where there is a danger of striking the wall, it is a good plan to fasten a fairly heavy baulk of timber to the floor so that the wheels will come to rest against it before the'bumper touches the wall. This plan is particularly valuable in the case of a garage into which the owner finds it better to back his car. In this regard, it is generally believed to be better to reverse a car into a garago when its floor level is below that of the road, because reversing out up an incline with a cold engine is sometimes more difficult than driving out.

BRITAIN’S FAMOUS HILL CLIMB

The hill climb held twice a year a.t Shelsley Walsh in England has now attained international importance and attracts famous European drivers with special racing cars, while the manufacture of “Shelsley Specials,” very light, home-built cars, often of "weird aspect, is now one of the most popular pastimes of young enthusiasts. Raymond Mays, probably the finest exponent of this type of speed driving in England, established a new record for the climb of 39.09 seconds in a l}-litre E.R.A., fitted with twin rear wheels to give added traction. However, H. L. Hadley’s run in a 744 c.c. supercharged overhead valve Austin racing car was perhaps even more meritorious. In this little car, Hadley achieved second fastest time of the day in 40.83 seconds and set a new 750 c.c. record for the hill. Walter Baumer, the noted German driver, achieved 42.31 seconds in another Austin of the same type.

AVATER IN CARBURETTOR:' If spluttering and misfiring, followed by a complete stoppage, occur in an engine which previously has behaved well, first investigation should be made at the carburettor, because it is fairly common for the float bowl gradually to accumulate a fair amount of water. This collects in the petrol through various causes, chief of which are condensation in the tanks of kerbside pumps, and in the car’s own fuel tank. Water will not pass through the carburettor’s jets, and, therefore, when enough of it is present, it will stop the engine running. The cure is to remove the float howl and drain it on to the ground. Water will indicate its presence liy then collecting in fairly large globules, whereas the petrol will immediately spread out thinly over the ground. For the same reason, it is a good plan occasionally to drain the glass how] of the petrol pump, though this should not he interfered with more often than is thought necessary.