RELIABILITY OF MOTORS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20863, 4 May 1931, Page 6

RELIABILITY OF MOTORS.

TRIAL THIS MONTH. ( ONE-DAY EVENT PLANNED. CONDITIONS FOR COMPETITORS. Arrangements ;ire now well In hand for the one-day reliability trial being organised by tho Auckland Automobile Association for May 23. Tito vouto decided upon is from the city, through Henderson, Ktimeu, Rivcrhead, Albany, Birkenhead, Northcote, Milford, Albany, Waiwera, White Hills, Kaukapakapa, Helensville, Waitakero, Swanson and back through Henderson. This route, a distance of somo 1125 miles, is over an allweather metalled road, but if fine weather prevails a clay hill section may bo included. The trial will bo divided into four tests:—General dependability of car, 500 points; keeping to time schedules, 400 points; petrol consumption test, 250 points; observance of traffic regulations, 50. Cars will bo expected to start in thorough order in respect to brakes, springs, steering, chassis and transmission. All competitors must bring an observe?, whose name must be in tho entry form, and who must agree to be transferred to any other car c t the discretion of the starting officials before the commencement of the trial, which is confined to financial members of the association. Controls and Time Schedules. Competitors will go straight from tho starting point to the weighbridge in Freeman's Bay, where the car will bo weighed fully loaded with passengers and any extra benzine that may bo carried. At all controls drivers will bo allowed two minutes' starting time in which to flood carburetters, but tho engine must ho started by the self-starter only. The penalty for failing to move off the word will be five points for every minute or part of a minute, the maximum number of points to be lost on any one occasion under this penalty being 25. Each competitor will. receive a card showing mileages, stipulated speed and the time due at each control, and this card must be signed-by the official in charge at controls. Each failure in this respect will entail a loss of 25 points. Competitors should be careful to check their watches with tho official time at every control. Drivers will be allowed to arrive either two minutes before or after the scheduled times at controls and time checks. Cars must run in ordinary touring conditions, efficiently silenced, no cut-outs to be used and no alterations made from the standard silencer. Mudguards of regular touring type and steps must be fitted, alio hood and windscreens. Windscreens must bo carried in position. Except where a definite penalty is provided, breaches of any of the conditions of running shall render a car liable to disqualification or such penalty as the committee shall decide. Particulars of Entries. It must be stated on each entry form whether a car is a stock model, and, if not, in what respect it differs from a stock model. In the open event, stock models only are admissible, and the definition of a stock model is as follows:—A stock chassis of a given year as is regularly supplied by the manufacturer to the New Zealand importer in the usual way of trade and as regularly sold in the usual way of business, without alterations, except tuning of carburetter and ignition timing, but not any alteration to springs, valve cams, gear ratios, pistons, compression, ignition, carburetter, petrol feed arrangements or adjuncts, cooling system or attachments to secure fuel economy, except extra air. .For competitive pin-poses the hood, body, screen, valance, tyres, lamps, air valves, speedometer, spare rim, wheel or bracket may differ from manufacturerrs' stock design. Any deviation from stock model not otherwise specified will lead to disqualification.

Each competitor will lie credited at the start with a total of 1000 points. At the conclusion of tho contest, points lost in any section will he debited, and the competitor with the largest number of points to his, credit will l e the winner.

The first prize will be a silver cup, while gold medals will be awarded to the winners of tho petrol consumption test in the owner-drivers' section, and also the petrol test in the open event. Certificates of merit will be awarded to all cars entered by the trade obtaining 100 per cent, in the reliability tests, smd certificates of merit will be given to all competitors obtaining 80 per cent, of the total possible points. Entries close at the offices of the association oa Slay 9, the fee being 10s.