MOTORING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 21 February 1931, Page 12

MOTORING

THE NEW RECORD

CAPTAIN CAMPBELL’S SUCCESS i TRIUMPH OF BRITISH ENGINEERING The whole motoring world will join in congratulating Captain Malcolm Campbell on having regained the world’s land speed record with a speed of 245.73 miles per hour. Captain Campbell is well known for his deeds of daring and feats of renown, so it was no great surprise when the news was flashed across the globe, that lie had surpassed the figures of that ill-fated and gallant gentleman Sir Henry Segravc, in his monster Bluebird. This latest achievement of Captain Malcolm Campbell once again demonstrates the marvellous accuracy, stamina and endurance, of the British internal combustion engine. English automobile engineers may well feel proud of this latest success, and at the same time realise that they belong to the most capable group of men who are engaged in constructing motor cars in the world to-day. Another important fact which arises when one is engaged in discussing this latest British success is that the event which took place at Daytona Beach brings before the mighty American public the thoroughness and the skill with which British goods, and particularly motor cars, are constructed. Not too often can the Americans have

brought before their direct notice how Englishmen arc so eminently successful in all branches of the engineering industry.

Captain Malcolm Campbell has striven long for this supreme time of triumph. It is hoped that he will be permitted for a long time to be acknowledged as the man who has travelled faster on land than any other person. The world’s records achieved at Daytona Beach are as follows:

THEIR CAUSES Causes of breakdowns dealt with by the Royal Automobile Club England) have been analysed and are published in the annual summary of the British motor industry for 1930. They are as follows: 1929 1. Power Unit — (a) Ignition 20.3 (b) Carburation 2.0 2. Engine—(a) Cylinders and pistons .... 10.9 (b) Valves, mechanism, cam shaft, lay shaft, secondary and timing gear 0.0 (c) Valves 1.5 (d) Lubrication 3.1 (e) Water circulation 3.1 (f) Crankshaft X 0.4 (g) Not stated *. 0.1 (h) Starting 1.0 3. Transmission and brakes — (a) Clutch ■<•. , 5.9 (b) Gear box 2.4 (c) Coupling, universal points and propellor shafts 4.3 (d) Brakes 0.2 4. Back axlela) Axle shafts 14.0 (b) Differential 0.9 fc) Bevels and Worms 0.8 5. Front axle and steering 2.4 0. Road wheels and suspension 4.5 7. Lighting failures , 2.4 8. Accidents 12.0 Total 100.0

MASS PRODUCTION T , BRITISH AND AMERICAN '•> METHODS A MANAGING DIRECTOR SPEAKS An interesting sidelight on mass production methods was revealed in Coventry recently by Mr T. G. John, managing director of one of the foremost motor car concerns. Mr John explained that the cost of labour to a car manufacturer, in respect of work actually done in the factory, was a very small proportion of the cost of the car completed: this item, he said, was. the only one. in which mass . production methods could effect an economy. In their own case the most modern American methods could not reduce it by more than £2O, and even then the quality and performance of the finished car would necessarily be affected. j ’ “Most American manufacturers,” said Mr John, “intend their cars to last only about three years. They use a big, inefficient engine, which is cheaper to make than a smaller, efficient one, and they make the rest of the car just well enough for it fo last a certain time. This is their policy, and in' 1 its, way it is a good one, for their cars very soon find tlleir way to the scrap-heap, so that there is a continual .market for new cars; but it"produces an enorhious rate of depreciation. It is commonly said, indeed, that, an American car loses nearly half its value the very day that it is sold! “Some of us in the British motor car trade, on the other hand,” continued Mr John, “make our cars just as well as ever we can. This means that the selling price must be relatively high, but the result is a low rate of depreciation, economical running and long life. I could quote examples of some of the first cars we made which have covered from a quarter to a half a million miles and are still going strong.”

THE AIR CLEANER SAVES THE ENGINE UNNECESSARY WEAR Dashing over a gravel or dirt road, with the wind causing swirls of dust to cloud the pathway of the car, the motorists often wonders what effect the dust has upon the engine of his automobile if it finds its way into the vital working parts. A reassuring answer to this question is supplied by Mr L. L. King, production manager of General Motors New Zealand, Limited, who explains how the air cleaner removes the dust from the intake air, making it quite pure. “It it were not for the air cleaner, dust and sand would enter the carburetter, even in city driving, causing wear on cylinders, rings and pistons,” says Mr King. “Quito often the dust on a good road or street cannot be seen, but it is there just the same. Motor ear wheels constantly grind off fine particles of road material which are dispersed through the air. These particles viewed under a microscope bear a striking resemblance to a valve grinding compound. “Were it not for the air cleaner, this dust would enter the engine, form on the cylinder walls and soon become thoroughly mixed up with the lubricating oil. The inevitable result would be formation of a grinding compound which would attack pistons, rings, evlinder walls, bearing and other working parts, causing damage throughout the engine, lowering its performance,

shortening its life and making unnecessary repair expense. “The air cleaner, used on .all modern cars, is made entirely of metal, has no moving parts and will last for the lifetime of the car.”

A GOOD DRIVER MALCOLM CAMPBELL’S , DEFINITION “If asked to define a good driver, I would say that he must be one who can take another good driver as his passenger and maintain a fair average speed in such a manner that his passenger is sufficiently at ease .to admire the scenery and, if the way be long, enjoy an occasional nap.” This definition of a good driver is given by Captain Malcolm Campbell, in a special article to a recent publication, “Your Car —Its Care and Maintenance.” In the world-wide campaign tojvards greater safety on the road, he makes the following suggestions:— “Whilst driving never turn to look at your passenger. Even if conversing, cultivate the habit of keeping your gaze ahead. If you must watch your instruments, do so on the open road and never, under any circumstances, look down at your gear lever. “Always ensure that your headlights are properly focussed and set; you gain nothing from seeing the telegraph wires overhead,. and cocked-up lights are dreadful things to meet. “Acquire the habit of listening when approaching cross roads; it is surprising how acutely one’s hearing ban be developed, and an uncanny sense of unseen, approaching vehicles attained. “Minor signs, such as a faint blue exhaust haze, a little dust,’;' 1 or' the smell of burnt petrol will often indicate a vehicle ahead around thb’ next corner; such information is always useful.”

NELSON’S CAMPING GROUNDS IMPRESSIONS OF SOUTHERN MOTORIST The road between Blenheim and Nelson has been wonderfully improved, and although there is much steep hill climbing, the'journey, even over the Whangamoa and through the Rai Valley, has now no terrors for the careful motorist (stated a Southern motorist on arrival home after a motor tour of the South Island, covering 1800 miles). All the corners and bends have been widened and the outside edges have been protected in a great many places, while scrub and trees which formerly ob structed the view of the road ahead have been cut away. The journey can be covered by any careful motorist who is sensible enough to travel at a moderate rate of speed. There were very good camping grounds for. touring motorists at both Blenheim and Nelson, but particularly at the latter place, where, there is a large community hall, in which generous hospitality was .extended to the Lecston folk on their arrival. All conveniences were .available, and the Nelson business people were found to be very live to the trading possibilities the tourists offered. Everywhere the touring parties 1 met with were exceedingly friendly, both, at the camping grounds and along the roads. “We found every one of them perfect gentlemen,” said Mr Felton, in referring to the service car drivers; met with. They gave the very % jut 1 - 1 most consideration to drivers of privately owned cars, more particularly on the hills, and if there was a difficulty in passing anywhere the service men always gave way, irrespective. ,bf the rules of _the road. One man even backed up a hill and round a bend, where there was more space .for two cars to pass. A tip worth 1 romembering by motorists contemplating the run to Marlborough, Nelson and the West Coast is that it is better to go the Marlborough way and return via the Coast, as about 80 per cent, of the-run-ning is on the inside.

CABLE-OPERATED BRAKES A N-KW I,K.<IGS A neiv design of brake installation designed to reduce the operating gear to the most simple form, has; recently been adopted by a large corporation owning several types of pr.oprietory brakes. The main feature of this new design is the use of cables encldsed in flexible metallic conduits in place of the usual pull-rods. There is a single cross-shaft;'operat-ed by tliS’pedal or by the hand lever at will, and from leaves, at the ends of this shaft four cables extend 'towards the brakes. The three-bearing support of this shaft safeguards the system against failure. At convenient distances from’the axioms the cables pass.into flexible metallic conduits, one end of each .-.conduit being clipped to the frame, while the other end is secured to the back plate of the brake itself. Inside the drum the operating cable is connected to an enclosed lever,- which actuates the brake shoes through the usual expander. . ... , With so simple an operating gear friction is, naturally, reduced to a minimum, as is maintenance work. The cables are an easy fit in the/conduits', and it has been found that the best results are obtained when they are allowed to work dry. There is actually very little load on the conduits)?a!n essential feature of the whole . system being that the leverage is mainly exerted adjacent to the shoes, so that the load on tile operating gearTs- comparatively light.

The cables themselves are built 'of steel strands, laid in 'a special way so that they have no tendency to:.stretch or unravel. The steel end-pieces of each .cable are actually swage'd'hn in a special machine which to all practical purposes, consolidates the steel sleeve and strands. Consequently, there is no heating, as with brazing or other methods, so that the steel wires are undamaged. Nevertheless, the strength is such that the cables will break before the ends will phll off. The flexible conduits, naturally, provide a perfect and very simple allowance for the axles and for steering. Each conduit is formed of a strong core of square-section wire round .which is placed a casting for protective purposes..

Date. Name. m.p.h. 1903 Alec Winton 09.18 1904 Alfred Iv. Vanderbilt. 91.8 1900 Victor Demogoet 122.45 Frank Marriott 127.5 1919 Ralph De Palma 144.29 1920 Tommy Milton 150.4 Joan Lacoste 144.05 (Holder of record for women drivers.) 1922 Sig Haugdahl 180.27 1927 Major Seagrave 203.79 Capt. Malcolm Campbell. 20(5.95 1927 Ray Kcach 207.55 1929 Major Seagrave 231.362 1931 Capt. Malcolm Campbell. 245.73 BREAKDOWNS