A.A.A. ACTIVITIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20366, 21 September 1929, Page 12 (Supplement)

A.A.A. ACTIVITIES.

HIGHWAYS BOARD FUNDS.

The touring manager of the A.A.A. visited Wellington on Tuesday for a hurried discussion on several important matters. lie represented Auckland motorists on a deputation to the Prime Minister, concerning interference with the funds of the Highways Board. Conferences were also held with the Comtnusß.uer of Transport, the South Island Moun Union representatives, tho chairnit(ii;?of the Main Highways Board, consignposting. Tho A.A.A. considers that the regulations can lie considerably improved to standardise signposting.

On September 30, tho touring manager will inspect the bad section of tho To. Kditi-Mahoenui main highway, and on the following day a conference of North Island Motor Associations will bo held in Wanganui to arrange for a programme for continuity of signposting. Between Ocjober 2 and 4, the Wanganui-Raetihi, OHakuno-Waiotiru, National Park, and Tokaanu-Waiouru roads will be inspected and camp sito3 will bo visited in the Taupo and National Park districts. Data will be gathered fo- a new map covering Taupo, Wairakei, and Tokaanu, which will be published in October. The ensuing programmo is as follows: October 10: Visit Ilawke's Bay and Waikaremoana for inspection of tho new road on the northern shores of the lake; 15th. meetina ot motorists at Gisborne; 16tli, to 19th, confevenco with county councils regarding roads, bridges and siens in Gisborne, East Coast; 20th to 24th. return through Bay of Pienty and Wajhi; November 1 to 14th, tour of North Auckland.

The signposting truck of tho A.A.A. is also starting shortly to attend to signs on popular touring routes between Mataniata and tho Kaimai Hills, the Conmandcl Peninsula, and Te Kuiti to National Park.

MUNICIPAL MOTORS

Tho report of a special committee, which investigated the uso of motor-cars by tho Auckland City Council, shows that 28 cars of 11 different makes were in use. Of these 21 were owned by the council and soven wero tho privato property of officials used under various arrangements. The committee recommended that two of tho council cars bo dispensed with. Tho investigation hus forced recognition of the fact that standardisation should lie the aim of the council in future additions to tho fleet. Tho cars which aro owned by tho council cover a great range, from tho mayor's eight-cylinder sedan to the cheapest four-cylinder car on tits market. The car used by the mayor and committees, has about 27,000 miles to its credit. It has been recommended that 14 of the council cars should be housed in a city garage. The number includes five light British cars. Tho traffic department operates two cars in addition to motorcycles. One is an American six and the other a small British air-cooled twin.

' POWER PROM VACUUM.

With the general, uso of front-wheel brakes, the braking power available to drivers has been greatly increased, In the old designs of roar-wheel or gear-box brakes it was comuaratively easy to get good, if harsh, braking. But the addition of front-wheel brakes meant a further distribution of the actual power applied by the driver. Joints, rods, and so forth had co be doubled. Again, the speed of citf3 has greatly increased. Tho brake designer and the makers of brake linings have now to think in terms of braking down from 50, 60 or even 70 miles an hour. Braking efficiency, however, has advanced adequately with increased general motoring efficiency. Cars that will do high speeds to-day are as safe to handle and in many cases actually safer than the much slower vehicles of 10 years ago, largely on account of the speed and smoothness with which they can be pulled up. But it is more than tho average driver can do to get the-best out of the modern type of brake without mechanical assistance. * " ti . .

There are now a number of different types of mechanically-assisted braking systems in use. In England and Europe the system most in use is that in which the engine assists the driver in tho task of putting on the brakes. In the United States the popular method is to apply the brakes with tho assistance of hydraulic power. The Dewandre vacuum servo system makes use of the latent power of the vficuum in the induction pipo. In tho induction pipe of, say, a 20 h.p. 6-cylinder engine. wlien it is merely ticking over at. from 200 or 300 revolutions a minute, there is vacuum power sufficient to raise a man of 12st. to a height of 10ft. in less than five minutoa. It is this energy normally wasted thi.t is utilised in the Dewandre system. Jts application is ingenious inasmuch as every ounce of pressure op the brake ;.edal applied by the driver produces its proportionate assistance from the servo mechanism. Makers of brake lining 3 have also kept abreast of tho time 3. Though the work their material has to stand is far fiercer owing to the increase in the speed of cars, the brakes oi to-day last longer without need of relining. At one time the job of relining the brakes cropped up every 10,000 xniles or so.' The ndvninco in wearing qualities of brako linings is due largely to racing tests.