Motor Cycles and Their Horse Power

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6621, 6 August 1931, Page 5

Motor Cycles and Their Horse Power

SUPREME COURT INTERESTED. The Supremo Court in Palmerston North yesterday was enlightened by witnesses as to how motor-cycles wero rated. Defendant in the action (a Danncvirko motor-cyclo dealer) had quoted a 3.48 c.c. (cubic ccntimentrc capacity) machine as of a 34 h.p. (horse power). A witness for plaintiff informed the Court that a 3.48 c.c. machine was only of 2J h.p. and that a 34 h.p. cycle was of 4.98 c.c. capacity. 'Counsel: That is not ,iust a Palmerston North practice is it? Witness: It is the R.A.C. rating (Royal Automobile Club) and is recognised the world over. Counsel: Except in Danncvirkc. Witness: Even in Dannevirko when they have race meetings. Counsel: Motor-cycle racing? Witness: Yes. His Honour: It is refreshing to hear something without horses called a race meeting. Defendant pointed out that in all catalogues to-day c.c. was quoted. as being the same as h.p., owing to engine efficiency having developed in recent years. This was the British Auto Cycle Union interpretation. Counsel produced for defendant s criticism a programme _of a Napier motor cycle race meeting, in which thero was a race for machines between 350 c.c. and 500 c.c., and the entries were all from 34 h.p. machines. Defendant said the ratings as set out in the race programme had been m vogue in New Zealand for 20 years, and unless the new British ratings were recognised in the Dominion the same old ratings would go on, but they were wrong. Twelve years ago, the maximum speed got out of a 2J- h.p. machino was GO m.p.h., but to-day, with the same machine, 100 m.p.h. could bo secured owing to greater cficicncy.