NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20426, 30 November 1929, Page 12 (Supplement)

NOTES.

Traffic signals swung from cables aro used at all tlio important intersections in Berlin.'

The new Nurburg motor track in Germany has 170 curves and hair-pin bends in 38 miles.

Tho value of tho motor productions of the German motor industry increased from £25,000,000 in 1926 to £45,000.000 in 1927, and approximately £50,250,000 in 1928.

Sir Henry Segrave has been presented with tho medal of tho International Association of Automobile Clubs, in recognition of his world's record land-speed of over 230 m.p.h.

Tho automatic traffic signalling system has been long in coming to London. It will first be tried in Oxford Street, and if it proves a success, will gradually be introduced in other places.

The most famous of all long-distanco rallies, that organised by tho International Sporting Club of Monaco, and known as the Monte Carlo Rally, takes place between January 29 and February 2, 1930.

A German inventor is experimenting with a " rocket" car, in which, instoad of the exploding rocket, he employs a liquefied gas. Three cylinders of gas are fixed behind tho driver, and, on opening the valves, gas streams out with sufficient pressuro to drive the car at 40 m.p.h.

In 1905, when the first motor-car was introduced in tho Fiji Islands, the natives regarded it with superstition, claiming that devils formed the means of locomotion. ' To-day the native superstition has been entirely overcome, and registration in the islands numbers more than 1070 cars, as compared with 100 in 1918.

According to a London newspaper, Lord Mowbray and Stourton dislikes motor-cars, because (1) they are defiling the countryside; (2) they are antagonistic to field sports; (3) the 'evil smelling " machines have almost des- • troyed the market for horses; and (4) they exercise a demoralising influence.

With the recent completion of an improved highway from Rio de Janeiro, the Brazilian capital, to Sao Paulo, capital of the Brazilian State of that name, it is now possible to drive by motor-car from Rio to Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, a distance of approximately 1200 miles. The only section of this road that, is not built is an 80-mile stretch off the coast of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, where the motorist must use the beach at low tide.

Kaye Don, who plans to challenge the world's motor speed record at Daytona Beach next year, recently broke the world record for ono mile from a standing start at Brooklands, England. He drove a Sunbeam, and averaged 100.77 m.p.h. The previous record , was 98.67 m.p.h., made by Thomas, in " Babs," in which he was later killed. A 1000 h.p. car is being built at a cost of £25,000, for Kaye Don to regain the British title, in case Sir Henry Segrave's record is beaten next February.

FRONT WHEEL TREAD WEAR. Wheel irregularities of motor vehicles, such as a wheel out of balance, loose bearings, wheel loose in studs, uneven brake action or excessive " splay " of the front wheels, sometimes develops a peculiar tread wear on the tyres, known as "spotty" wear. Ihe Dunlop Pcrdriau Co., explain that rubber being an elastic substance, each individual stud forming the tread pattern is displaced or " piled up " immediately in front, similar to a bow wave in front of a ship. When the front part of the stud is released from load, it will spring back to its normal position, owing to its natural elasticity, dragging with it the rear part, which, being still in contact with the road, is thus scraped over the road surface and subjected to additional abrasion. Wheel irregularities exaggerate this " piling up " and, when under-inflation is present, tho lack of air support results in very much greater tread wear. It is therefore, advisable to test one's wheels and steering frequently.

RATTLING DOOR HANDLES. On the less expensive types of car it happens sometimes that the door handles become rather loose and set up an annoying rattle. This can be cured by fitting a washer cut from rubber-inser-tion jointing material between the removal handle and the lock face. _ The washer need not necessarily be pierced with a squaro hole to fit the square spindle of the handle, the only essential being that the washer is- the correct thickness to be compressed slightly when the handle is replaced 'on the spindle, and tightened up with the securing nut. It. will* be found that the washers last a considerable time and, in' any case, can easily be renewed. Rubber-inser-tion, incidentally, is very much more satisfactory for the purpose than any harder material.