INSTRUCTION FOR DRIVERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20288, 22 June 1929, Page 14 (Supplement)

INSTRUCTION FOR DRIVERS.

A WORKING KNOWLEDGE. The Auckland motorist of to-day is fortunate in tho facilities which are afforded him to acquire a working knowledge of his vehicle. Perfect though it is in comparison with 20 years ago, the new car is subject to many little troubles, which eventually meau a substantial repair bill. The correct' diagnosis of simple defects and an appreciation of the function of all chaSßi? units saves the driver Unnecessary anxiety when ho is far afield, and it may be. the means of avoiding ratheif expensive attention at'/places off .the beaten track. / Tho Auckland Automobile Association has appointed Mr. G. P. Robertson as technical advisor to its members, and appointments may bo made with him at j the association offices,' Mr. F- Cullen, 0110 of the pioneer automobile engineers i of Auckland, has filled this position for gome time, but failing health has necessitated his retirement. Mr. Robertson has excellent qualifications.' He is a New Zcalander, wlici rounded off his experience in tho Sunbeam factory, returning to the > Dominion in 1920. Mr. Robertson was for some time test house superintendent for the Sunbeam Company, and he had extorsive experience with research work. He'was in the factory during tho building of several types of aviation engines, and is himself a pilot. During his seiv vice with this firm, he was associated with the famous racing drivers," A. Divo, Iv. Lee, Guinness, and Captain Rickenbacker. The latter will be remembered ' as the sponsor of the car bearing his name which was produced for somo years. Rickcnbacker is" now ono of the executives of the La Salle organisation. Mr. RobertEon is also principal of the Motor Train-, ing Institute, and, in addition to giving practical instruction with a demonstration chassis, He lectures ort legal matters bearing on motoring.I A .A.A. LIBRARY. The council of the Auckland Automobile Association hajs authorised the touring manager to collect'a reference library deal-j , ing with'early; New' Zealand history fori use in compiling data'for touring information and for use of members and visitors as a permanent record of tha progress of the Dominion. Mr. Champtaloup invites members in possession of interesting books describing the early fighting and pioneering days to make donations to form the nucleus of the proposed library. A.A.A. MEETING AT HUNTLY. --- • ' s , j , - —fr Members of council and the touring manager of the A.A.A. will address a meeting of .members in the Town Hall, Huntly, on Monday .evening. RETRIBUTION. • . /j • '?• A motorist rapped" at St. .Peter's pearly portals and, gaining entrance, St, Peter pointed out the thousands of miles of golden paving which stretched out from the gate across the heavens. " Fine—beautiful highways, St. Peter, but where are the automobiles ?" " Well, my dear motorist," responded the gatekeeper. "I'm sorry to say that you'll find all the automobile's below." " Tough." pouted the "motorist, '' but I'll stay with my c.ar." •Soon ho faced Satan at the other gate within which were parked a score of high-powered automobiles. " Great," he remarked. " Which one is : mine ?" " Take your choice," smiled Satan. He rapidly made, a selection of an attractive roadster and climbed behind tho wheel. ' " This is fine, Satan; now which way do I go and where is the road?" " There aren't any," remarked Satan. That' 3 the 'ell of it." ? NEW BRITISH SIX. The Wolseley six 21-60 h.p. model designed for overseas conditions was put through its paces over rough roads around Auckland this week. It is ono of 10 cars sent by Sir William Morris for trial in Australia and New Zealand. The expense is being met by the factoi'y with a view to assisting dealers to give the car an adequato introduction. The all-steel body is a special concession to Dominion demands, over £IOO.OOO having been invested in , a plant fcr this work. On some locdl hills the top gear qualities of the car.were revealed and gradients of 1 in 10 were comfortably climbed. This gear ratio is 5.33 to 1. The third gear is 7199 'to 1 and on this grades of 1 in 6 are.taken. with ease. On this gear the car climbed comfortably on the steep pinch from Hotel Cargen past the small reserve to the intersection of Princes Street. Second gear is 11.4 to 1 and power is so adequate that drivers fall into the habit of starting in this gear and ignoring fourth, which is 21.5 to 1. With a car of this power a number of drivers would nq doubt prefer the elimination of the fourth ratio and a readjustment of the third. This would fit in with the ideas ol tho thoroughly Americanised motorist There are of course many motorists who welcome the flexibility of four gears, but with a large_ reservo of power such a selection loses some of its utility. • Although the existing fourth might not be required once in 1000 miles it would be no doubt very useful in pulling out of sand or starting ori a very steep grade. The makers-do not advance it as an everyday gear, but regard it rather as an emergency provision. MOTOR TRADE ITEMS. A new French organisation known as 'Automobiles Ford, has commenced operations on the Continent under control from the Ford Motor Company of England. Miss Vuimai Morgan who left Wellington on Tuesday on a fast 1200-milo tour' arrived in Auckland on Thursday afterr.oon. She is driving a new Buick and her itinerary provides for her return to Wellington on Monday. / The move toward mergers in the automobile industry is not confined to America and Great Britain. The Fiat Company has purchased the plant of the Ceirano Company of Turin, following on its acqui- . sitiou of the Spa commercial vehicle firm. The organisation will now bo known as Fiat-Spa-Ceirano. Tho first model of a new type Dennis chassis designed particularly , for 20seater bus bodies has arrived in Auckland. A feature is the low To&d line and exceptionally low centre of-'gravity, A four cylinder engine, undersiung worm drive, and servo-operated brakes are fitted. , A six-cylinder air cooled car is tho latest production in, Great. Britain. It is known is the Scotsman arid the cheapest saloon model is priced/at £495. Tho engines are being supplied to the Edinburgh 'factory by tho Clement-Talbot K' ' plant in France. Their capacity is 1808 c.c. Two of these novel cars have been Pilfered {or the Ulster Tourist Trophy *ace -which is to be held this year and Pgjlormanco against more orthodox