THE MOTOR WORLD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18577, 8 December 1923, Page 10 (Supplement)

THE MOTOR WORLD

BY FOCUS.

A S-ISHIN'G MOTOR TOUR.

Holiday makers who like to indulge their propensities for trout-fishing will no doubt be interested to learn that some exceptionally fine catches of raintjow trout have been made in the Waikato River a few mil 3 above Arapuni, where the big vdro-ylectnc works are to be constructed to supply power to Auckland City. The best route is via Hamilton and ie Awamutu, where a turn-off is made through Kihikihi and Pukeatua. Up to here the metalled road is really good, but afterwards motor-cars will traverse about eight miles of clay formation, that is splendid in normal weather. The - return trip can be made by crossing the W.iikato at a bridge near Arapuni, then nine-miles by good road to Putaruru, thence via Tirau and Cambridge back to Hamilton. Or, after leaving Putaruru, the trip could be made to Rotorua, Atiamuri or Taupo. The route via To Avvamutu and Arapuni is recommended for motorists visiting liotorua during the holiday -season. It- provides a pleasant change from the more ■familiar route through Cambridge. HAMILTON ITEMS. Car salesmen in Hamilton report that business has been particularly brisk in the Waikato during the last few- months, and judging from the number of new cars to be seen on the streets there is ample evidence in support of their claims. I here seems to have been a keen demand for the lighter type of car of moderate price, for these have been sold readily. — The tourist motor traffic through Hamilton does no't appear to have set. in yet, although Sunday 'trips by motor buses to Waitomo. Raglan, Cambridge, and Ohaupo have been frequent lately, and have been well patronised by Hamilton residents. The roads throughout the district are consolidating, and should be in good order to withstand the heavy througn traffic to be expected at Christmas and in January and February. The taxi-drivers of Hamilton are experiencing hard times, judging front the remarks made by them when questioned and bv the hours of idleness many of them spend on tho stands. he motor cars for hire trade has been overdone in Hamilton, and there aro far more cars available than there is business offering at the present time. The taxi charges are considered by many to be too high. The regular charge of six shillings to convey a fare from the Hamilton station to Claudelands is said 'to be excessive when compared with the charge of sixpence requested for the journey between 1' rankton station and the chief post office, Hamilton, bv car owners on the regular service ran. ' If the taxi-men revised their scale of charges, the chances are they would do better business. The motor traffic in Hamilton appears to be generally badly conducted, although if 'the position were analysed it would probably bo found that the carelessness and the indifference towards the rights of others shown by a few motorists reflects on the whole body of users of automobiles somewhat unfairly. Victoria Street is probably one oi the most dangerous streets .in New Zealand. It is well paved and a wide thoroughfare but the number of streets and rights-of-way leading into it and the neglect of some .motorists to observe the by-laws makes the street a. menace to pedestrians and , others. The town has been without the sfcrviceS'fof » traffic inspector for some month!:" The - police force is understaffed* a^.^ereThe practice ofw owners in : leaving their cars standing a car's width and more from the kerbin-t and for hours at a time unattended is becoming very fwquen and calls for strong action by the local authority. MAIN ROADS. Te Awamutu to Whabataiie. Practically 11 the roads radiating from ie j Awamutu are reported to be in excellent , condition for the coming holiday season. Improvements have been effected to most , of them recently. The road, to Kawhia is in places in the hands of contracting ' gangs, but their work should be practic- j ally completed bv Christmas . time there j is only one kngth of about six nfcles nn- j metalled. This is on the inland side of j the range, and should riot present any j difficulties except during or after heavy j rain. The climb up the hill is all metal- j led, presenting a. splendid surface, per- j mitting most cars to go to the top on j top gear. There is a project afoot m , this neighbourhood to enlist the interest j of the Main Highways Board in having ; the Kawhia road included in a coast-to-coast main highway. It is contended j that a good bitumen sealed road from Kawhia to Whakatane, passinge en route j through To Awamutu, Arapuni, Putaruru i and Rotorua would act as a valuable | feeder to already established lines of railway, while its strategical importance for possible military purposes must be admitted. Practically the only stretches j not at present metalled are six miles between Pirongia and the foot of the hills separating Te Awamutu from the coast, and six miles from Pukeatua to the Waikato River at Arapuni. While the Main Highways Board has not yet become an operative body attention will be devoted to inducing the local bodies to pay some heed to the project. Matamata-Tauranga.Motorists using the road between Matamata and Tauranga report it to be in very good condition. A motorist in Auckland described the road this week as being in better order than at any time during the past six years. Within the past few weeks the road has been freshly graded and it is now a good, smooth route.. The run between Matamata and Tauranga occupies about two and a half hours. DANGER IN THE EXHAUST. The Engineering Department of the Automobile Assomt'on yives a wed of warning against the danger of running an engine ; stationary for any length'of time within closed premises. Ideal conditions for combustion seldom obtain, with the result that the exhaust gases contain a certain amount of carbon monoxide (C.0.); or, to put it in another way, if there is an insufficiency of air in the mixture, the hydrogen portion of the fuel will burn first, and then a certain amount of, the carbon will burn to carbon dioxide (C02),-and the rest to carbon monoxide, which is an invisible, insidious, and poisonous .gas. It frequently happens that a super-rich mixture is employed at closed throttle positions for purposes of easy starting oi- to obtain good " idling" of the engine. When an engine is running stationary in the garage, carbon monoxide is likely "to bo present in the exhaust gases, and it is desirable to have proper ventilation either by keeping the doors open, or by fixing an extension to the end of tin? exhaust pipe to conduct the products of combustion out of the building. Asphyxiation and death have been caused by neglect of this precaution. Moreover (it is pointed out), passengers when travelling in covered cars with the windows closed are often affected by exhaust fumes percolating into the interior, causing _ headache and dizziness. The remedy is to have ventilators fitted, and to make any necessary repair to the exhaust pipes or silencer to prevent the gases entering the body. READERS' TROUBLES. J.S., Opotiki.—There are foir or five Set at tir rking in - the Auckland S for the stelmvoV I®' . d *' has been \e™s, v? m colonies of them wi'iPbo Tn i bUt + T oubt ITlorc as the makers n.r« m t - near future and lighter mode'! taking smaller Motoring Causerla Pago -to ~ if,*:-.! ntfHh.-

MOTOR NOTES.

Popping back at the carburetter ;is exceedingly dangerous if the carburetter has just been primed and if there is much of a leak.' Every operator of an automobile should have some knowledge of first-aid methods and carry as a part of his equipment a small case of first .aid materials. Under a reciprocal arrangement the Chris'tchr-.rch City motor inspector has received from Dunedin and Auckland a list of drivers whose licenses have been cancelled. The motorist who uses too rich a mixture is filling his crankcase with antilubricant, cheating himself on his gasoline bill, and wasting a fast disappearing natural resource. They have run out of numbers for auto licenses in California, now that the 1,000,000 point has been passed, and so they resort to symbols. Thus*7 stands for the license number 1,000,007. Among the unique proposals to relieve the traffic congestion in New York City, it lias been suggested that automobiles with even numbers on registration plates be allowed to operate % three week days and odd numbers the other three days. On a dry pavement, if a sudden and unusual stop must be made quickly, throw out clutch, apply foot brake with full force, and assist 'with hand brake. Keep your wits on your job. No time to get excited and lose your head. A teacher was describing life in the East to a class of small boys, with the aid of pictures. " Here,'' said the teacher, pointing.. " you see a ford at the Jordan;" " Garn," protested an observant pupil• " that airn't a Ford; that's a camel !" Automobile horns are not to be used in " calling husbands down," is the latest order of Chicago traffic officers, especially directed at wives who come for their hubbies at the office buildings. The honking is confused with the police signals. Should the engine hesitate or not run steady, the cause may be frequently traced to the small vent hole in the gasoline tank filler cap. If this hole becomes clogged with dirt the gasoline will not feed properly to the vacuum tank. Occasionally run a fine wire through this vent. Automobile activities in the Irish Free State are recovering from past years of depression. The number of motor vehicles now in use is estimated at 21.000 of which 10,500 are private cars, 5500 commercial cars - and 5000 motorcycles. Garages number about 452. A simple way to find the firing order on the engine is to open the priming cups or remove the spark plugs and paste a piece of paper over each opening. Then crank your motor. By noting the rotation in which the papers are blown off you will get the firing order of the engine. Motor cars belonging to King George have no number plate. When His Majesty is on a ceremonial tour his car : is distinguished by the royal standard badge, which, is fixed in front. * This badge is superseded by a small bluellight on the canopy above the chauffeur's head at night. Dr. W. B. Needles, president of the northern Illinois College of Optometry, advises rythmic movement of the eyes of automobile drivers to exercise eye muscles. He claims that slow eye movements are the cause of many motor accidents, and a fraction of a second may mean life or death to the operator. There are over 70 motor-car salesmen in Christchurch, and they are making an ! effort to form a socicty or association for j their • mutual benefit. The idea was evolved out of a social function held at ■ the conclusion of the Motor Olympia. A j meeting of , salesmen is to be held,' and lit is expected that the organisation of a ! salesmen's circle should result in benefit jto all concerned. BREAKING STRAIN. It is quite a common occurrence to find I cars laid up with broken axles or stripped | gears 'in transmissioncrown or drive | pinions in differential. Such mishaps take i place generally when the full power of | the motor is suddenly applied to the driv- ; ing wheels through the . lowest gears, i when the machine happens to be in a j difficulty driving position, such as deep I sand, pot-clay, etc. A clutch fierce in the take up, with a powerful engine in front of it, can throw a tremendous strain on the rest of the transmission, and when the critical limit of resistance is reached some part, the weakest, is bound to give way. A broken axle or a sheared key is usually the result. Almost invariably some gears in the transmission will be stripped when the car is coasting in one direction and the change gear lever is wrongly engaged in the opposite direction. These serious breakdowns could be almost entirely eliminated if a safety device, or rather a safety coupling, could be inserted somewhere in the driving mechanism for its protection against sudden and destructive over-loads, just like a fuse cr circuit breaker is placed in an electrical equipment. For obvious reasons, that coupling should be very easily attached or detached, the removal of not over four bolts being necessary. Also a supply of three or four extra couplings should always be carried in the car for emergencies. These safety couplings should be so calibrated in strength as to give ample protection to the driving parts and yet De resistant 'enough to handle every case of moderately severe application of power. When a safety coupling gives way, the motorist should, of course, immediately realise that the driving mechanism is be--i ing strained, and that before starting on a fresh coupling, he should " ease 'er up a bit," according to the circumstances, that is, dig around some, if stuck in the sand, or remove part of the load if climbing' a steep hill. A logical location for the safety coupling would be just behind the gearbox, because it is the most accessible place on most cars- and trucks. Perhaps a combination safety coupling and universal joint could be made into one member and thus serve a double purpose. The material most likely suitable for the coupling is leather or some special rubber composition.

MOTORCYCLING.

Some exceptional sates in motor-cycle tyres are reported to have been made in November. The Sports Motor-cycle Club will he id & run on Sunday next, December 16, loafing the Central Post Office at 10.30 a.m. The hill-climbing championship of Auckland, an annual event of the Sports Club, will be held early in the new year. The Sports Motor-cycle Club will hold a general meeting in the A.A.A. looms Durham Street cn Tuesday evening 8 p.m. Woodman has again upheld the reputation of the A.J.S. by winning, last week at the Marlborough meeting, the lightweight championship of New Zealand. The Hawera Motor-cycle Club are holding a reliability trial on January 1 and 2, from Hawera to Te Kuiti and return. Full particulars appeared in Thursday's issue of the Herald this week. Very few of the motor cvctc firms wiil be exhibiting at the Agricultural Show to-day most of them holdi.ig (iff until tne big Motor Show next February. Among the machines represented are the Indian, Chief and Scout; and the B.S.A. 61i.p. twin. Inner tube? should be carefully examined and all patches that show a tendency to lift must do replaced. The recent hot weather has been playing havoc with old tubes in many cases, owners finding it more profitable to discard the old article and replace with a new one. The Harley-Davidson Touring Club intend holding a hill climb on Saturday next. The course selected is on Captain Coulton's property, St. Heliers Bay, and is the same as that used by the Sports Club last month. The event is to be called the Provincial Championship of AucKland. Riders are reminded that entries for the Opotiki Motor-cycle Club's race meeting to be held at Opotiki on Boxing Day close to-day. Accommodation should be arranged for at once. Special concession fares have been granted by the boat and motor services for both riders and their mechanics. The Harlev-Davidson Touring Club at a meeting held in Messrs. Merson Bros. garage last Monday decided against the amalgamation of motor-cycle interests in the city. The Sports Motor-cycle Club will therefore continue to represent the riders of machines other than the HarleyDavidson. In the recent English eastern centre open speed trial, G. Dance riding a Sunbeam motor-cycle, led all his opponents a merry dance in seven events, in five of which he gained premier awards on a 4.92 c.c. Sunbeam and two firsts on a 3.47 c.c. Sunbeam, as follows: 350 c.c. sidecars, open, 600 c.c. sidecars, unlimited sidecars, 350 c.c. solos, 500 c.c. solos, 750 c.c. solos and solo unlimited. There was no one-stepping in Dance's dance. Results of recent South African speed tests are:— West Rand Club H. Scott, 2* A.J.S. 70.03 m.p.h. The nearest competitor waa E. Murray 10-12 h.p. Harley-Davidson 3-ssec. slower. Natal M.O. Club : Cohen 2| A.J.S., 71.43 m.p.h.; Loader 3£ Norton, .74.33 m.p.h. The times go to prove the claims of British manufacturers and the wonderful development of the small capacity engine. In these columns on November 24, I made the first public announcement of the probability of Paul Remelay, an American road racing star, visiting New Zealand. This is now oonfirmed and Remelay will represent Indian interests at Takapuna next February. His latest performance, the U.S.A. Coast to Coast record, was also mentioned in these columns some ] time ago. The Heavyweight Australasian Championship to be decided at Takapuna'! will therefore include Remelay, U.5.A.,; Indian ; Coleman, New Zealand, HarleyDavidson; Managh, New Zealand, Indian ; Managh on his showing at Avondale last month should be a hard proposition to beat and Indian enthusiasts keenly look forward to his tussle with the popular champion P. Coleman. It appears as it the arrangements to bring an Australian rider cross for February may fall through as it is probable the conditions will not be acceptable to the New Zealand authorities. Kennedy has been mentioned as a visitor but no definite news of him has been received. A COOLER MOTOR-OAR. A cooler motor-car in hot weather may be had by applying aluminum paint to the under side of the top and a white reflecting paint to the upperside: The ordinary black automobile top absorbs about 90 per cent, of the solar heat which reaches it and a large part of this heat re-radiated on the under side. The effect is about the same as that which would be reproduced by having a ,hot water radiator in the top. The application of the two kinds of paints 'named should reduce the temperature inside of the car to that of natural shade such as is had under a tree. It was found that while paint is a better' reflector and a poorer 1 absorber of sunlight tlian aluminium paint, but the latter is far better for preventing the passage of long heat waves off at lower temperatures. AUTOMOBILE'S AVERAGE LIFE. Two years ago figures were published tending to show that the average life of automobiles was about 5 1-3 years. A compilation just completed in America shows the life of the cars that were manufactured from the fall of 1911 to the fall of 1915 to be about 6| years. The statistics on which this result was predicated may be regarded as fairly accurate. The increase in average age is ; attributed to the fret that there has been no striking developments in body design or important changes in mechanical features since 1912, with the result that there is a smalled tendency to retire a car before it has worn out. Other causes are: the improvement of roads, the multiplication of repair shops, the introduction of the flat-rate cvstem of car repairing and the r/eneral education of automobile drivers.