Flying and Motoring.

Free Lance, Volume XIX, Issue 1029, 17 March 1920, Page 31

Flying and Motoring.

MECOKDS are of two kinds—-useful and foolish; and one of a, distinct--, ly useful kind (in showing what a. high- . class English Lorry can-do without injury) is illustrated in this issue. "We refer to the photo showing a ne'tt load of 25 tons behind Messrs Munt, Cottrell and Gov's new 4-ton •" Leyland.'' This had to be 'shifted from a local foundry' a distance of miles, and on coupling up the new machine—one ... of the famous; models which composed the whale equipment of the Royal Air - Force throughout the war —it. started this load- from rest single-handed, and took it > away; After some . 200 yards, the older model ■' Leyland " owned by the firm came to , help-—there was no real need,~-but it avoidecL risk of overheating—and the pair proceeded hap-: their destination. We'don't advise this, for a 4-tonner as a 'general thing—even for .a " Leyland "—but thev can do it when asked to.

An important, combination of English -and American, motor manufacturing interests is reported from England. The old-established English motor concern, Grossley Motors Limited, has now joined forces with the big American Willys-Overland Corporation, the intention being to adopt mass production of cars in England—on the most, advanced American • lines. The capital of the new concern totals £2.000,000, and it is anticipated that before the end of 1920 —the company ■will be turning-out-cars at the rate of 7000 a year for the British and Dominion markets.

The story is told of a London motorist who', in despair of finding a suitable ' mechanical thief-proof device, pur- _ chased 7 a savage dog ivhich he had trained to sit at attention in his car "whilst he was absent. One day he left the car, 'with the dog on guard, in Pall Mall, but when he returned found that someone had stolen—the dog !

At a bicycle race meeting held at the Exhibition track, Melbourne, last Saturday week, the Canadian sprinter", W. Spencer, had little difficulty in, defeating F. Wells (New Zealand) ; in a half-, mfle match. The Canadian rider also won a half-mile scratch race with L. ,C. Stevens (Victoria) second, and F. Wells- (New 'Zealand) third. The Victorian road, crack—-E. Tanime —-carried off a mile handicap in good time. " Dunlops," as usual, captured the bulk of the prizes.

Conservative estimates place the production of motor cars and motor trucks : in America this year at 3,500,000. That means that 14,000,000 covers- and tubes must- be made for "initial equipment alone. On top of that there are something like 7,600,000 cars and trucks already on the American roads,' calling for 45.000,000 tyres . a year. The United States requirements for motor tyres, for 1920 are •placed at 72,000,000 —a stupendous output.

. A .new motor tyre and accessories price list has just been issued by the Dunlop Rubber Company. A copy \v ill be mailed by the company to any: motorist on request.

It is announced from New York that the motor car track known as the Sheepsiiead Speedway, established by the late Harry S. Harkness, millionaire sportsman, and a group of associate racing enthusiasts, will be dismantled to save the expense of upkeep and taxes. The sole reason for the dismantling, it is said, is that the racecourse was. a drain on the estate. The big amphitheatre was opened on September 30th, 1915, and has witnessed some of. the fastest motor .car racing in the world during recent years. The two-mile course is built of fooir-by-four timber, and is seventy feet wide, siupported by a steel structure. The track covers about 436 acres.

The motor 'bus has not caught- on in this country —but there's a different story to tell as regards its popularity in London. . Last year 652,000,000 passengers were carried on motor 'busses in London, as against only 198,300,000 by the tramway services in the same city, in the same period.

Conservative estimates place the production of motor cars and motor trucks'in*America this year at 3,500,000. That means that 14,000,000 coders and tubes must be made for initial equipment alone. On top of that there are something like 7,600,000 cars and trucks already on the American roads, calling for 45,000,000 tyres a year. The United States requirements for motor tyres for 1920 are placed at stupendous output.