POWER WITHOUT FUSS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20402, 2 November 1929, Page 14 (Supplement)

POWER WITHOUT FUSS.

MORE SILENT CARS. - When the endurance flyers landed it .fcras found that they had become deafened by the constant noise incident to flying day after day." j This familiar extract from practically every news story of tho endurance flights which havo been held this year is striking proof of tho advancements inado by automobile engineers in eliminating tioiso from their product. : Tho noise in aeroplanes is chiefly created by tho exhaust of tho engine and tho terrific rush of air caused by tho propeller. •Mufflers are not usually used on aeroplane engines as they add to the weight, and slightly retard engine efficiency. 'J ho motor-car has many moro potential noise sources. It has tho saino potential engine noiso and the rush of wind while .travelling at 60 m.p.h. or more. In addition it is operating over a solid road which creates a certain amount of tyro noise. In spite of all this, it is possible to "converse without difficulty in the better made cars whilo travelling at high speeds hour after hour. • Noiso reduction forms no small part of tho work of research departments and of tho tests on proving grounds. Devices to measure noiso havo accordingly been evolved. The factory building a wellknown American six uses a mechanism consisting of two instruments which aro placed, in tho interior of tho car. They somewhat rcseinblo radio receiving sets. One contains a loud speaker apparatus which magnifies all sounds within the car and transmits them to an ear phono connected with tho left ear of tho tester. Tho right ear phono is connected to tho other instrument in which noiso is artificnlly created and its volume controlled by a dial. e When the noise striking both ears of tho tester reaches an equal intensity, tho reading of the dial on tho second instrument gives a measuro of tho noiso created by tho car when travelling at that specified speed. By means of this measuring stick, engineers were enabled to try various means of reducing tho noise and hnvo s a reliable test of the results in each case. THE ULSTER GRAND PRIX. The' fastest road raco in tho history of the sport., and one of the finest, was the recent L T lster Grand Prix. * r lho finishers > constituted only 25 per cent, of the. starters, but the gruelling pace imposed an acid test, whieh fully tested tho qualities of the various machines. Graham-Walker (Rudgo-Whitworth) won the 500 c.c. race at 80.63 m.p.h., tho course being 246 miles—twelve laps of 20j miles each. The detailed results were:— 850 c.c—F. A. Longman (0.K., J.A.P.) 67.2 .m.p.h 1 850 c.c.—L. Davenport (A.J.S.), 76.23 ' G. P Rowley (A.J.S.j, 74.65 m.p.ii. .. 2 • "B. Corry (Velocette), 73.65 m.p.h. 3 POO c.c.—G-. "Walker (Rudgo-Whitworth) ,80.63 m.p.h. .. •. 1 • P. Hunt (Norton), 79.45 m.p.h. .. 2 S. "Woods (Norton), 79.16 m.p.h. .. S STANDARDISED CONTROLS. Last February the Standardisation Committee of the British Manufacturers' "Union issued two recommended systems of controls, one for lever operation and the other for twist grip. These recommendations have been approved by tho Manufacturers' Association. It seems certain that all the leading manufacturers will incorporate the new system in their 1930 models. A scrutiny of .the-two control plans shows, that the standardised arrangements form quite a good compromise. Naturally, present-day motorcyclists have their own particular prefer- • ences, but* even those who never change the make of tlieir machine generally find that the control system of the new model differs from that of the old one. The chief benefit will, of course, arise in years to come, when almost every machine, new or old, has the same system. With the recommended standards the throttle, air, and ignition controls open inward, the front brako is operated by the, right-hand inverted lever, and the left-hand inverted lever is for raising the exhaust valve or the compression release. Alternative methods of- clutch operation are given: (1) by lever mounted on tho left handle-bar, and (2) by toe-pedal mounted on the left of the machine. For rear brake operation there is a right-hand toe-pedal. In the, case of the gear control, a lever mounted beside the tank is proposed, the bottom gear position being right forward and top gear position right back. Riders will, perhaps, question the desirability of standardising this form of control, particularly in view of recent developments in foot-operated gear changes. However, the systems appear sound, and if all manufacturers adopt them many of the dangers of individual control -will be overcome. MOTOR TRADE ITEMS. Tho Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Company, recently established its own sales and distribution organisation in New Zealand with Mr. J. 11. Blakeney as managing /director Owners of Clvno cars will be interested to hear that tun whole of the jigs, tools, drawings and goodwill of tho Clyno Engineering Company (1922), Limited, havo been purchased by Mr. 11. 11. Collier, of R. H. Collier and Company, Limited, Coventry lioail, Xardloy, Uimnngliam. 'At the moment it is not Mr. Collier's intention to resuscitate the car, his object being to supply the best possible servico to Clyno owners* and to members of the motor trade interested in this make of car. ]n the near future there should be a full stock of spare parts available. It is just possible that a scheme may materialise to put into production onco more tho 9 li.p. Clyno. Work in connection with spares and service will be carried on for the next few months from the late Clyno Company's works in Wolverhampton.-