NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19822, 17 December 1927, Page 12 (Supplement)

NOTES.

The ■world's shortest motoring poem .is said to bo the following:—6o F.W.8., 5.0.5., R.I.P. The consulting engineer of the A.A.A. has suggested that the sieep grades of the Waiwera Hill might Sbe avoided by a detour around the watqrfront. An American car covered with £2OOO worth of 24 carat gold platq made its appearance at the Paris Motor Show. Over 25,000 square inches wore plated and the deposit averaged one grain of gold per square inch. Motor camping parties should take caro that baggago is packed so that it does not overhang the running boards. Last summer touring cars were noted with bulging packages projecting over a foot beyond the step on each side. The speedometer registers only a fraction of the motion of a motor-car. For every mile that the average sixcylinder car runs, the pistons travel more than two and a-half miles in their movements in the cylinders. » ' The A.A.A. commenced distribution of the 1928 maps this week. Orders for 1500 copies have already been filled. The new map details every motor road" in the North Island classified according to metal, allweather, or clay services. A 7 h.p. car running under observation of the Victorian Light Oar Olub broke a petrol consumption record on November 24, when it covered 55.7 miles in an hour on the Motordrome track for the consumption of one gallon of fuel. Experiments with luminous signs similar to that erected in the Auckland Domain are being made on the Hutt Road, Wellington. * The A.A.A. is now considering the erection of an electricallylighted direction sign on the Great South Road. \ i . ■ f- • The Taumarunui Chamber of Commerce has urged the A.A. A. to make representations for the metalling of the gap between Taumarunui and Te Kuiti. The Highways Board has already done good work in this direction, and within two years eight railway crossings have been eliminated. The. council of the Auckland Automobile Association is dissatisfied with the method adopted by somo local bodies of setting traffic traps with a single stop watch. It is considered that it is unfair to prosecute on the evidence of one man. The* North Island Motor. Union, has been askeel to make some recommendation for uniformity. Friend for statistics: "Now, if all the automobiles in the world could be gathered together at one time and placed end to end; allowing about 4in. between the bumpers of each, and all were to proceed at a given rate; say, for example, four miles an hour—" , Pessimist f " It would seem just like Sunday afternoon on the boulevard." Should the ,car become bogged a grip for the back wheels'can sometimes be provided by' setting'the handbrake slightly so that the action of the differential is temporarily upset. This will prevent one wheel from revolving independent of the other and digging the hole still deeper. A sack tied round a slipping wheel will often pull the car out when it has settled where it is difficult to attach the chains. The Auckland Automobile Association will consider a proposal for a road patrol. The secretary, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, is of the opinion that now that the 'membership has passed "the 5000 mark the time for increased privileges for members has come. He has gathered full details of the motor-cycle patrol system, operated in Australia. The association has a handsome "nest egg," and there wil be no difficulty in maintaining the service. The motorist who is undertaking a tour of 600 or 700 miles should remember' before leaving that the oil in the sump will require additions to keep up the level. It is a good idea to carry a quart or' halfgallon can of the chosen grade of lubricant as a garage selected at random might supply an inferior brand. If the car has been run 400 or 500 miles since the crankcase was drained it is wise to renew the oil in the sump before taking to the road. Once away from home there is a tendency to neglect lubrication until the end of the holiday. Over 80 cars visited Muriwai Beach last Sunday. Credit is due to the Waitemata County for the improved road conditions near the beach. Metal has been laid through the greater portion of the bush road and there is now little to fear from rain. One or two drivers who failed to inspect the sand carefully experienced some difficulty in getting off the beach. The ramp constructed by the Automobile Association last year is in good order. A racing machine preparing for the February races made its appearance at Muriwai during the week-end. . Motorists may now drive through to Spirit's Bay. Previously, it was necessary to leave cars at Te Paki and complete the remaining few miles on horseback. The last link in the road was connected on December 2. Most of the work has been done by Maoris. This route makes it possible to take a car to the end of the North Island. Some wild country is crossed and from the road a beautiful panorama of Cape Maria Van Diemen and Cape Reinga is obtained. It will be remembered that before the completion of the road two Auckland motorists drove and hauled a car to Spirit's Bay as a "stunt."