NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20300, 6 July 1929, Page 14 (Supplement)

NOTES.

Neither ur>o nor ornament, and yet no motor-car runa without it—noise! Tho programme of soino of the American motoi factories only aliows for 3 per cent, of .open cars. In liorlin a noisy machine is confiscated by the police and fitted with a silencer at the owner's expense. The Main Highways Board advises that from information r ) far available, it wilt cost £IOO,OOO tn re.-,tore main roads damaged by the \\ est Const earthquake. The National Automobile! Chamber 'nf Comr'erco has .made a survey of tho American industry, which shows that nearly £400,000,000 was invested in tho. motor-car and truck • factories ..operating 111 tho United States .in 1920. Tho Auckland harbour, briclgo scheme has a parallel in England, where there is 0 stlong agitation for bridging tho River Humber. Tho cost of a structure lias been estimated at £2,000,000, and iccently the alternative of a tunnel has neon considered. During 192", 5,198,167 motor vehicles wero produced in tho world. America supplied 33.5 per cent.; Canada, 4.7 per cent.; France, 4.2 per cent.; England, 4 per cent.; Gormanv, 1.7 per cent.; Italy, 1.2 per cent.; and other countries, 0.7 per cent. The smallest quota came from Denmark, which is credited with an output of 200 cars in tho year.

On Juno 4 the Main Mighwavs Board held an examination for road foremen and overseers. Of tho 48 candidates for tho paper 011 general road construction and maintenance 16 passed. For a paper on bitumen and concrete road construction 12 of the 48 candidates were successful. This examination system is doing much to raise the standard of reading. It enables candidates to become familiar with tho Highways Board's ideal, and in the future some uniformity should bo rellectcd.

Tho introduction of moderate-priced, eight-cylinder cars is not confined to American and British manufacturers, One German firm, which has specialised in fours, has suddenly announced an eight, skipping the six-cylinder design entirely. As fast as British manufacturers aro announcing

the replacement of fours with sixes American factories are introducing eights in place of sixes. It appears that within fivo years tho eight will bo in the position held "by tho six to-day.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS. The Belgian Grand Prix, a 24-hour event', will be run tliis week-end. Cablegram results are expected on .Monday. Last year an Alfa-Romeo won tho ovent, covering 1592 miles at an average of 55J m.p.li. This broke all records for the Belgian classic. Chryslers wero first, second and third in the over three litro class, a Lancia was first in three-litre class, and tho 1100 c.c. Aries won in tho small car category. On July 14 tho Grand Prix of all nations will bo" run 011 Ujc Xurbu.g Ring, Germany. Last year a Mercedes won tho 313-mile event in 4h 54m. 'lho Dublin Grand Prix takes placo on July 12 and 13 in Phoenix Park, 011 a circuit of about 4£ miles. Tho courso for tho fastest class entering will bo 301 miles. This is an entirely new raco for sports cars, and about 15 entries have been assured.

The Spanish Grand Prix takes place on July 31. A Bugatti won last year, at 80 m.p.h. On August 17 the R.A.C. 410inilo Tourist Trophy race will be run in Ulster. This race was inaugurated last year, and Kayo Don won in a supercharged Lea Francis, at 64 m.p.h.