THE LAMP POSITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20076, 13 October 1928, Page 10 (Supplement)

THE LAMP POSITION.

RIGHT HAND ENFORCED. Hundreds of Auckland motorists have Ignored tho now regulation requiring tail i lamps to bo attached to the right-hand I aide of tho vehicle. Convictions have already been imposed in Christchurch for this omission. Unlike its fellow regulaji tion dealing with red reflectors, this rule is really quite reasonable. Most drivors lave experienced difficulty in estimating tho clearanco to pive an overtaken vehiclo i; on a thick night. Some close shaves are attributable to poor visibility and a lefthand lamp. Less objection can be taken j to the fitting of tho lamp in the centre of the sparo wheel, but it was necessary to itandardise on one of the three alternatives and in countries where traffic keeps to the I left tho obvious location for tail lights \ fa on tho right within a foot of the I outermost part of the car. In tho United States where the rule j of the road ke:eps traffic to tho right, tail ! lamps aro compulsorily on thu left, i Since Now Zealand has been free and ! easy about this matter up to tho present, :] many American factories liavo not made tho alteration on cars intended for export. Tho result is that while steering wheels jj and windshield wipers aro changed over to the right-hand side of the cars destined [j lor overseas, tail lamps have remained jls though the American rulo of the road applied. The removal of tho tail lamp to the right can be effected with a screwdriver j • in nine Cases out of ton. In a few inetances it is necessary to drill holes and tho wire from, tho switch may prove too Bhort. With a single wire system it is » simple matter to insert a short length of cable under the floorboards. Adhesive tape should bs used and tho cable secured with staples ;so that thero is no pull on tho joins. In somo cases it is not wiso to join a length of insulated wire to the end of the existing cable. This may bring the join immediately over tho petrol tank *■ and taped joins have been known to come loose and cause an " earth" on tho !' petrol tank. A few sparks in this vicinity might cause disaster in tho event of ■eepage or overflow.

MOTOR RACING. Mr. G. Hennmg states that the Mangere Speedway is being laid out to provido two dirt tracks, one being a circuit of 1£ miles unci tho other being a halfmile loop. Tho work on tho speedway is costing nearly £6O a week and the track will be greatly superior to many ■which are flourishing in other parts of the world. A company for which the name of Jluriwai Races Ltd., is proposed, will organise a beach meeting next year. ROADING PLANT. Mary local bodies have taken advantago of tho scheme under which the Main Highways Board provides road making plant nndcr hiro purchase. Tho system has made it possible for bodies with small inr, come to acquire modem machinery. The board has now over £75,000 worth of plant out undei hire purchase agreements, about on'e third of which was distributed during the last. year. The machinery | supplied to local bodies for the year ended 1 March 31, last, included 12 power graders, six ordinary graders, three motor lorries, 10 tractors, seven crushers and one bitumen sprayer, In addition the board has purchased plant valued at £BOBO for its own nso. A NOVEL BUS. Front wheel drive omnibuses have made their appearance in Berlin. They have double deck bodies with a capacity of 60 passengcris. The engine is a sixcylinder unit developing 100 h.p. at 1900 revolutions. The power plant is placed in front of the front axle, overhanging it completely, and driving directly to the wheels which are independently sprung. Tho engine, transmission, and front axle is thus a compact unit. The remainder of the chasjus is conventional. Front wheel drive practically eliminates the possibility of skidding owing to tho fact , that tho weight is pulled along instead of being pushed. Double deck buses are increasing in popularity in several cities in Great Britain. An Auckland company which operates a large fleet of buses has been considering the introduction of double-deckers, and enquiries bave been niado to ascertain whether the omnibus regulations will permit tho licensing of •ix-wheel double-deck passenger vehicles. PENALTY OF FAME. _ Captain Malcolm Campbell, for a short ilime holder of the world's record with a speed of 20(4 m.p.h., had an amusing experience while practising for tho Ulster Tourist Trophy road race in August. He was running over tho 13£ mile circuit to familiarise himself with the peculiarities of the route. After passing through a .Tillage at ba-ely 10 m.p.h., tho famous driver saw open road ahead. Tho accelerator went down and tho car flashed into its stride. Suddenly a gigantic Irish constable loomed tip. He had apparently been aware that Campbell was out for a run antil with outstretched arms insisted on halting the machine. With visions of disqualification for speeding out of authorised hours, Campbell gave his name and address Tho constable took tho particulars without tho flicker of an eyelid and Campbell drove disconsolately back to his hotel. Ho was cheered up greatly .when ho heard later that an enormous policeman had boasted in a local taproom that ho had spoken to the British champion after a patient wait for tho honour.