THE MOTOR WORLD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18565, 24 November 1923, Page 10 (Supplement)

THE MOTOR WORLD

BY FOCUS.

MAIN ROADS,

Razorback. —A little loose metal 011 the hills but otherwise good.

Raagiriri Hills.—Dry, but rough and uneven for first two miles. Some holes, quite deep, unavoidable.

Huntly to Ngaruawahia—Still somewhat bumpy after ' Huntly and beyond Taupiri. Last mile good.

Rangiriri to Huntly.—Keep to right bank of river, i.e., don't cross the river at Ranpiriri. First three hiiles very wavy, rest metal and good.

Mercer to Mere Mere Hills —Being metalled, about one-quarter distance don? beyond bridge over Mararnarua creek. Rest of road somewhat cut-up through heavy carting.

Hutt Road Formation.The work of forming the Hutt road, a bone of contention for many years, is to be commenced forthwith. The road-making plant has arrived from America. The road will have a bitumen surface. All local trades served by the road are contributing.

Ohakulie - Raotihi.—Arrangements are" in hand for the tarring of the Ohakune-Raetihi road, which the \\aimarino County Council is undertaking. The county engineer has secured a promise of the lean of a tar-spraving machine, and work will begin after Christmas.

N&pier-Taupo. —As there are now a considerable number of timber lorries .on the Pohue section of the Napier Taupo Road, adding nia.eiialiy to the danger at many sharp bends, the Hawke's Bay Automobile Association is asking the county council to improve the visibility at ten corners.

Napier to Hastings.—' question of a . concrete road between Napier and j Hastings was discussed by the committee j of the Napier Chamber of Commerce j recently, and it was decided to urge the, ; Hawke's Bay County Council, to do something in the matter. Members remarked , that the existing road between two such We towns was wholly inadequate for traffic. Concrete and cement was at. low cost at present. It was thoftght by members that the Hawke's Bay Automobile Association would take an interest' in' the matter. X. •'

ST. HKJERS BAY OUTING. An i enjoyable'- afternoon's ; «'rent is looked forward to on Saturday, December 1, whert the Auckland Automobile Association will hold the first of a series' of Saturday afternoon motor-car competitions. The,. function * will '-"be held_ at the St. Heliers Bay reserve. Th© sports committee of the A.A.A. drew up this week a programme of five events. "Thp first competition will be for lady drivers-— fancv driving (figure sight, design). Tilting the ring and picking the pegs will bo two events to be Competed for separately by both ladies and- gentlemen.

> THE CLYMPIA EXHIBITION. Various committees have been set up to complete (he arrangements .in ; connection with the Olympia Motor Exhibition, which is to be held in Auckland next February. A full list of "these committees is given below, together with the names

of those appointed to them :— Executive Committee : Messrs. G. M. White, J. A. Gillett, H. C. Jones. G. W. Sprang, J. A. Lawler, W. S. Miller, and J. W. Andrew. General manager : Mr. • J. 'F. C&Tjsins, Secret-ivy; Mr. T. J. Spry. ' .W; Floor, Decorating and Lighting - Com- ' mittee : Messrs. G. W. Spratrg, W." S. s Miller, Cadman, Hayden, Winger, and Lane. , " _ 4 Management and Finance Committer: Messrs- G. M. White, H. C. Jones, G. W. Spragg, and: J. A. Gillett. Entertainment, Music, Refreshment, and Invitations Committee Messrs. H. G. Jones, J. A. Gillett. M. C. Farrington, "• P. ■!?. Skeates, and John - Carla 5 ' -S'Admission and Ticket ' Committee: . Messrs. F. G. Farreli, J. W. Andrew, J. e r A- Lawler,. Campbell, and Cox. Publicity Committee: Messrs. G, M. i? White, H. C. Jones, and W. S. Miller.

t l THE 1924 SEASON. ; IMPROVEMENTS AND CHANGES. - '' ; V . '• With no apparent between-season lull V ift the automotive industry, the production for the 1924 season has'already begun; and bids .air to continue unchecked throughout the full and winter months, writes an American correspondent. :.Unlike past seasons, the industry finds ' itself enveloped in a new phase of com- ; petition created by new engineering j practices which, . combined with high > points in production, -have resulted in a • ■wave of price revision in both directions -s-downward and upward. In addition, f ' there are several instances where mechani- .. cal improvements have been made in .? models, ; but without any' price changes. | Probably the most important change fiat the various models, • the 5 change most < talked about, is the four wheel brake, t which has been adopted by several manufacturers. This has been a subject of no small amount of controversy among the automotive engineers as to its merits or -demerits. After exhaustive experiments by foremost engineers of the industry, there is a difference of opinions, with the result that many companies have adopted the system as standard equipment, while other leaders have rejected the new principle As undesirable; and will make their 1924 campaign with the old style, or rear brake, only. ■ Other improvements announced on the 1924 production are of minor importance, and .will receive the unanimous endorsement of the buyers. The brake system during the coming year will be watched with considerable interest. the hist month a majority of price change announcements were in favour of a downward, revision on a moderate scale. Previous, to that period price . advances slightly outnumbered reductions. ..In practically all ;of ..the price cutting announcements thus far issued the maintenance of volume production throughout the entire summer, with similar indications for some months to come, is given as the reason for such reductions. Where price increases have been made, accompanying statements have been given of extensive new mechanical improvements in chassis or refinement in body designs or equipment.

VALUE OP MIRRORS. In America cars are more commonly used with their "top" up . all the year round.. Accessory makers there have, therefore, catered for the danger from behind by Providing what are termed " three planes TOlrnre'' f or cars. / Mounted on a .>J i, . anc with a universal bracket for i 1 & the front wind-screen, these .itX w r6 a development of the normal into tbr JOrs^'?he mirror itself is divided Si! Am marked A, B and the isone , A iTsa a fp pr ° a w. lng and seen i* l *: ing car is visible 'in thp Cn a PP roach " £> the car on which4l>«3 P Jerked B fen':.- danger, and jjg|^;^ r «..w.;stted is in i , the, near side, to W- n? m l V ved towards The third part of thii' trinU . Car pass, iV. Used • wnenj «■ theTcii ?,'f"v lane mirror as «i>y object that backed, Sijin obstruction to" zon e C life. &Taccessory* an car * te-J mirror, -yet on)® th £ orfelirf But any £ s 6d whether single or trir>W f tter \\ T is only mentioned to show "} l

MOTOR NOTES.

The Domain drive again requires attention. There arc some verv deep pot holes at the foot of the hill near the Stanley Street entrance.

'Hie certificates of nine drivers of motor vehicles were cancelled by the Auckland City Council during the* past twelve months for various reasons.

Front "wheel brakes have been fitted bv 54 French. 10 Italian, 8 Belgium, 7 American, 1 British, 1 Spanish, and 1 German manufacturers, according to a list published in an exchange.

Owner : " How on earth did yon manage *0 puncture the tyre so badlv?" Chauffeur : -"Ran over a bottle, sir. ' Owner : "Didn't you see it in time?" Chauffeur: "No, sir; the man had it in his pocket.''

Because she came to work in her automobile one; of tin- scrubwomen at the .Municipal Courts Building in Detroit, Mich., was discharged. It is the policy of the department to give cleaning work only to women in need

Helen Breidert, touring director for the Illinois Automobile Club, sends highway information to motorists, throughout the middle v.est through the use of the radio. She broadcasts her reports each Thursday evening'from Station WDAP.

j Imports into France of foreign an- ; tomobiles during tin' first four months i of' 1923 totalled 4,409." of which 4.061 j came from the United States, 265 from j Italy, and 14 from England. The exports of automobiles from France in the same j months totalled 7941

'A rattling spring clip, can be effectively silenced by wrapping the lower part with tyre tape, either • sufficiently to prevent it from moving or just enough to cushion it. The tape can then be painted over to' match the colour of the spring so as noft to detract from the car's appearance.

Dissatisfaction with 1 the train service led to arrangements for a motor service from Greymouth to Hokitika and vice versa, to be instituted next month. The motors will cover the journey in an hour and a half. The pro-r posed fares will compare favourably with those of the railway.

It is related that a well-known resident of Ficton, driving his car between Blenheim and the port last Saturday, rounded a corner suddenly and ran into some heaps of badly-spread metal which a roadman was spreading- The motorist pulled up with a Screech of the brakes and demanded angrily of the roadman, " What are voir doing this sort of —— 1 thing for?" The roadman was placid. " Twelve and six a day, sir," he replied quietly.

A farmer in northern Illinois is located on a dirt road which is impassable during the winter if a frost comes when the road is in a rough condition. Last fall when the road was at its worst he got a radio warning of an immediate and heavy frost. Calling in his neighbour!; by telephone, they all got out and rolled the road. When the freeze came it proved to be permanent, and the radio owner and his neighbours had a boulevard to town all winter.

The police of New York City have not ceased their efforts to impress upon motorists there the importance; of good brakes. The brake squad v has been active in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and other sections the city. On one day- two of the officers connected with the brake squad? arraigned twenty-five offenders /in the Long. Island City Police" court, where all were fined and one motorist sent- ,to jail for ten days because he i;0uld; not pav a fine bf £2 for operating a car with defective apparatus.

The question of establishing branches of the Automobile Association in North and South TaranakKis being considered by motorists in those districts. An effort was made to start an association :n North Taranaki in 1914j, but the war came on and the proposal was dropped. The- New .Plymouth Tourist League, in the absence Of a motorists association, has been doing useful work, on behalf of motorists for many "y ears. For instance, last season motorists in Auckland were kept in touch with the condition of the mam road from New Plymouth to Te Kuiti by this league through the medium of the press. f

A Skegness constable is ' reported to have tackled a case of obstruction in a novel way.' A motorist left his car in side street and made his way to the sea. A constable, holding that an obstruction was being caused, patiently -awaited the return of tho driver. The latter, however, did not appear, and, tiring of waiting, the wnstable had a happy inspiration. Taking a pair of handcuffs from his pocket he affixed them 1 to one of the front wheels of the car and the steering rod After locking the handcuffs, he left a note attached to them: For key apply to the police station." The luckless motorist, on returning, had perforce to visit, the police station for the key of the handcuffs. He was politely informed that a summons would be issued against him in due course. ~

THE PULSE OP A CAB. There are owners who do rot trouble their heads about the question of consumption ; there are others who strain all they know to get an extra mile or two more to the gallon. The average motorist comes between the two; he is neither keen nor indifferent, but rather intelligently alive to what his machine is doing. He knows what his car ought to do to the gallon, knows also that even when in good tune the weather and speed can bring about an appreciable variation from standard performance. When he finds that standard lowering under normal conditions he knows that matters require remedying. The petrol gauge, telling him by its readings that the consumption is falling, is the first indication he gets that power is going. It is a doubly useful accessory, but it must be used intelligently. That it is useful is indicated by the fact that more and more makers are fitting one as part of the standard equipment of their cars. Other essential gadgets include an air valve, a carburetter etrangler, a lamp dimming device, and a dashboard lamp that really illumines the dashboard. One or two more things may be added to taste, hut there is no need to mount gadget after gadget until one's dashboard bears resemblance to an engineroom. After all, we are out motoring, not playing about in an engine shop. Let us have the things that count, but let us have simplicity.

CREDIT PURCHASE SYSTEM. Motorists who are now contemplating the disposal of their vehicle before buying a new one should get to work at once. An estimate from the United States shows that during the last twelve months 68 per cent, of all car sales were on the part exchange basis, and that £21,000,000 was the loss suffered by the retail dealers in the exchanges, and 25 per cent, of these dealers failed. In England the proportion of old cars taken in part payment for new ones reached nearly 40 per cent. It is not difficult to realise, therefore, that the later the car owner endeavoured to sell his vehicle, the more difficult it was for the dealer to accommodate him. It is also stated that over 80 per cent, of the car, sales in the U.S.A. were effected on ! n,,V credit basis of a small sum paid down \ln w„i la lV ce in monthly instalments. ! be K »mmt n ?« l! 16 part "P a >' ment system is more ca^^^^™ ore , uscd ,> and each-year .more cars at * being bought on credit. *

MOTOR CYCLING.

• The Harley-Davidson Touting Club will hold a dance and social this evening.

The Otahuhu Motor-cycle Club hold its first race meeting on Avondale racecourse to-day. The first event starts at 1.30 p.m.

Latest cable advice from America reports the A.C.E. secured first and second places in the Maryland Hill climb. .

Arrangements are now in hand by the Auckland Motor Racing Club to bring over an Australian rider to compete in the Australasian championship, to be held in February.

Side-carists will be glad to learn that they are again to be catered for, a race having been included in the programme of the Auckland Motor Racing Club. The club is desirous of catering for all classes of motor-cycle racing, in spite of the fact that a solo race is a far better proposition financially.

The big race to-day carries a prize of £20 for first place, and is only open to machines which can lap faster than 68s. This is in order to prevent the limit man completing a couple of laps before the scratch men start. It will thus tend to make the race easier to follow, and more interesting to watch.

I The Auckland Mc-iOr Racing Club is ' offering big money for its February meetin? at Takapuna. One feature of the | programme is not only the raising of the * first prizes but the very liberal allocation I for second and third places. The total I nri/.e money exceeds £ .00, and a valuable cup for the Great Northern Handicap.

I It. is possible that an American track ' competition rider, Paul Romftley, will he in Auckland with a special factory racing motor-cvcle early in the new year. He has been prominent during the past two seasons in U.S.A., and the meeting of New Zealand's best against such a rider, and also an Australian champion, would be worth' going a lon<j way to see.

The proposed amalgamation of motorcvcle clubs in the city advanced another stage on Monday evening, when representatives of the S-iorts and HaleyDavidsori Clubs met in conference. From the friendlv spirit of the • meeting, it is to be hoped that some understanding "has been arrived at. and that. on December 3. wh<m the matter is submitted to the respective "bibs. 'one definite scheme for amalgamation will be settled.

Th» competition at A von dale to-dav should be, very keen. Most of the we'lknown cracks, including the inimitable Coleman. have entered,, and a large number of local riders are making their first appearance. Mr. Fardv. president of the Otahuhu Motor-cycle Club, states that the track has been recer'in? special attention drrinrr the past of weeks, no horses having been allowed on the grass traHk, and he is condent the course will hold any speed requited.

In suite of the wet weather the Sports Motor-cvcle Club held its hill climb last Saturday It is only fair to mention that Smith. Shakospear, and a few other* were not competing, having been informed the trial was postponed, but even so, Nash's performanre is' none the less T>«>ritorious, .ind his ride was full of confidence end well controlled, and would h"vp been hard to b«|t. Dalhow se' his Trii"~*>h solidlv, and every credit is due to rider *nd machine trr' th- w tv sterling performance. Millar (Indian Scout} must rot be forgotten, much admiraton : being expressed at? his neat mid tp adv climbin"-. ,Had lie been riding his own machine, no doubt he would have been prepared to take that extra risk necessary to reduce his,time. As it was his fastest was only one second behind the best of the day.

\ CARBON DEPOSIT. In a motor-cycle engine petrol .and lubricating oil. to which are added a certain amount of silica, which enters the cylinders through the air valve of the carburetter in -the form of road dust, and a small quantity of oxide of iron are usually the - products from which carbon is formed.

The first and most important consideration is the incomplete combustion of the fuel, for from this source the largest pro--portion of carbon is deposited. When the char of petrol and air is taken into the cylinder of a gas engine, it consists of hydrocarbon vapour and air. This mixture is fired, and the products of combretion are expelled from the cylinder through the exhaust valve. , If the amount of ait entering the carburette/ is not sufficient to ensure complete combusticin, Wo have what is known as a rich . mixture, which is slow-burning rather than explosive, and will cause excessive carbon deposit. ' The products of incomplete combustion of the fuel, together with a portion of lubricating oil passing by the piston rings, deposit a certain amount of carbon in the combustion chamber. That portion of this carbon which does not pass out with the products of combustion is baked on the cylinder heads, piston, and valves by the heat of the explosion. It is necessary, in addition to carburetter adjustment, to be absolutely sure that there is no obstruction in the ox haust passage, or the silencer, which would set up an excessive back pressure. The ignition should take place at the correct point. If the machine is usee with an over-retarded spark, ignition takes place too late, and the explosive mixture does not have time, to burn up cleanly, causing excessive carbon deposit and overheating.

Some people think that carbon is caused almost entirely by the lubricating oil. This is not true. If the correct oil is used in correct quantities, it will burn up cleanly and pass out of the cylinders, leaving no perceptible deposit of carbon.

A LITTLE REPAIR. Many of the annoying litie things that happen and may he expected to happen in connection with the mechanical side of motoring can turn out to be interesting and indeed invaluable in experience it properly diagnosed and remedied by the owner-driver. A case in point happened recently when the electric horn of a car run by an owner-driver threatened to go out of commission. It is the only horn on the car. and the operating push button is attached to the interior, of the car on which should be the fourth door. Its working was becomirg irregular, and finally it happened that the ordinary pressure of the finger had no result and the button had to be forcibly struck by the driver's hand before tbe horn vmH act. Experts whom the driver consulted —he being desirous of getting some data, before opening up the circuit—said that the horn occasionally, and only occasionally, went wrong, and the best thing wag to dissemble it and not the switch ! The. owner thought otherwise and dissembled his switch. His investigations revealed a curious state of affairs.' The press button has inside a little metal disc about the size of a threepenny piece, and the pressure of the finger or thumb on the button brought this in contact with two screws to which were attached two electric wires. The button itself was a loose fit and could revolve and owing to this looseness dust had gathered inside it and settled on the face of the metal disc, and this dirt had become pressed hard by the constant rts» of the horn, and had formed an insulating material. That was all the trouble. It should be said tb<« this dust was so hard that only by vigorous use of a fine edged screwdriver could it be removed so that the metal contact was restored.

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