THE SUMMER TOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18897, 20 December 1924, Page 30 (Supplement)

THE SUMMER TOUR.

• 'NECESSARY EQUIPMENT. SOME USEFUL HINTS. v BIT T.il.H. * Perhaps the most important part-of a motor tour is perfect freedom from worry, and this is quite possible, if the motorist v ill bestow the proper fore--1 thought upon his equipment before commencing the journey. On any tour it is highly probable that some bad raids will be met with, and in addition to having good tyres and tubes, i a set of proper chains is essential. BeJ cause you have bought a set of chains which are sold as the correct thing for I your make and model of car, don't go j i nap on this. Ascertain for yourself, by I jacking up a wheel and fitting a chain on, and then make sure you have a. set. The Tyres. j The tyre and tube on the spare wheel [ ,or rim should be as good as the others | and fit to do the work on a driving wheel. I i I mention this because too often any old | thing is carried as a spare, and although j it might get you home from town to the ! suburbs, it is useless when touring. Carry ! an extra tub? and a patching outfit, and then you are sate in the rubber departI ment. The Tools. The set of tools supplied with the average car is all right as long as the unexpected does not happen, but in order to be ready for anything your kit must bo considerably augmented. A few more pounds weight is nothing to the car, and might save you from spending a hungry ; night on the Rangiriri Hills. It is not ; often that a water-hose clamp carries away i but this happened to me once on •j a lonely road. There was not a spare i I clamp in the car, but there was a small sheet of 24 gauge galvanised iron, a pair of tinman's shears and some pincers, so it took just five minutes to make a new one. Another time it was necessary •to make a key on the roadside, and I found > a hack-saw, vice and file all useful in shaping it out of a piece of £in. square steel. On one memorable trip to Waikato, in the days when cars were decidedly unreliable. T set out very, early one mottling in a machine which my friends predicted "would. never get me there." However, I was determined that I , would get itthere, and the outfit of tools, and gear carried on that car would have rivalled the collection in the village blacksmith's shop. All went well with the exception of a few minor troubles such as two punctures, a cracked spark plug, a hot axle and a broken fan belt, so that by the time old Sol was starting his day's march, We' were on ,top of E.azor Back. We . considered this quite a performance, and were grateful for our home-made canvas bucket with which we tilled up the radiator more than once. There was not. a great deal of mud on the Rangiriri Hills, but some awful holes, ■ and deep water-worn gorges. It took great care to straddle these, but we thought wo were doing splendidly until we struck a submerged, log and .with., a .gasp the engine stopped dead. Our fuel supply pipe had broken and the precious liquid . was.runpjng. on.to. the. groundOnce again the workshop was opened for business, and while I disconnected the damaged parts my chief mate kindled a fire upon the road side. We* soon had a good heat on our soldering iron, arid in less than half an hour the job was completed and the cheery cough of the exhaust rang out in our delighted ears. I mention this little trip just to show what may be done under very adverse conditions if you are properly ■ prepared. It is so easy to carry everything you want and everything you might want. Necessary Sundries. Before stalling a journey look well into the condition of your tools, be sure that your tyro pump will pump, for there are many that will not. If likely to meet bad ! roads take a, spade and a wood chock or two, also a couple of boards about two or three feet long. These arc very useful in jacking the car out of mud. 'Have a few bolts, spring washers, split-pins, copper wire, small wire rope, engine packing and asbestos twine, magneto spanner, spark plug, spare lamp bulbs, and flexible electric wire with connection. It is not much trouble to fit up a two gallon tin to carry benzine. Always carry a piece of light rope. In addition to having your car wellfound, it is necessary to study the com- j fort and possible requirements 'of the passengers in order that .the journey may be a pleasant one. Always travel as a self-contained unit, and be in a position to have a meal wherever you may happen' to be.. An Improvised Stove. The good 1 Id camp fire is all very well, but it is so ir isy to carry a primus'stove, which has many advantages. Mv outfit consists of a. benzine can open at'the top, and hole in or.e side 6in. x 3£in.— l£in. from bottom, with the primns standing inside. The pump can be operated through the door which can be closed if it happens to be windy, and you can boil the. billy at any time in '.en minutes. A light "iron cover( which- acts as' a wash-up basin) fits over the top to keep out rain when travelling. ,\ square., folding-handle and some black enamel add to the convenience and appearance. . The best, way to carry this is in a box 20in. x 10in. x Sin. (inside which also takes the. billy etc., and if lashed well forward on the running-' i board will not interfere with the opening lof the doors. . The. supply of food ran be arranged I according to the ideas of those who are l to partake of it, but I might remark that j appetites are. usually good, and if you do ; nut lake enough the first time you will , have learnt a good lesson for the next j trip. Water is generally plentiful on the ! road, but it is easy to carry a couple of j gallons with. you. The Luggage. There are various methods tor fasten- | ing luggage on the running-boards, and a ; tent can be ce. lied here too, but do not, have a lot of baskets and packages in the car as they all hands uncomfortable. Do notgjovercrowcJ your car—four I adult:, are in an ordinary fiveseater when lolring. It is quite pfijsible some motorists may consider my ide'ts are faddy. I learnt my lessons long before the day's of motor-cars, (it. i ; , over 40.years since I first drove over Kangiriri hills) and I know by experience j that it is belter' to be a bit 'fussy before you start than to find yourself fussing on the road. • • , ATIAMURI. I The new telephone was not actually installed at •Uiamuri until the 12th 'inst. Motorists * .'ho have- occasion to use the Putaruru- T.-upo route— and they are numerous .luring the touring season—will welcome this news. Incidentally, I hear that the trout fishing there is quite good this season. It is an excellent little spot for a quiet holiday, and there are numerous picturesque camping places. The mosquitoes are not, perhaps, so troublesome as in other places, but it is generally, a question of the locality of the camp.

*Ma\.o* every road a boulevard"