MURIWAI MOTOR RACES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22098, 2 May 1935, Page 18

MURIWAI MOTOR RACES

EVENTS FOR SATURDAY TWO REDESIGNED CARS The final race meeting' of the season of the New Zealand Motor Racing Drivers' Association will be held at Muriwai Beach on Saturday, when some exceptionally fast speeds should be recorded. There will be eight races, comprising an open championship and ono for light cars of under 1500 c.c. capacity, three handicap contests, a race for touring cars, and two motorcycle events. The straights will be of ono mile, which should enable the cars to reach their maximum speeds. The open championship will be of ton laps, and should prove ono of the finest races yet witnessed in New Zealand, as at least three of tho cars are capable of over 100 miles an hour. A special single-seater l body lias been fitted to Lieutenant R. H. A. Kidston's Mercedes-Benz,, which will bo a competitor in this event. This machine has achieved speeds in the vicinity of 110 miles an hour in recent tests at Muriwai. In striking contrast to this car will bo the tiny supercharged Austin, which also is capable of speeds of considerably more than 100 miles an hour. A determined bid for supremacy will be made by G. Mathicson with his Miller.

The New Zealand Light Car Championship for tho Automobile Association (Auckland) trophy, last contested in 1931, when it was won by G. Paul driving the Thomas Special, will bo revived on Saturday. The cup will remain the property of the Automobile Association. Several very closely matched cars have been entered for this event, including the Thomas Special, which will bo driven by its new owner, A. F. McGrucr, the Brooklands Riley, which has been redesigned by R. A. Dexter, jun., and is now fitted with a single-seater body, the Bugatti of C. Edwards, and the two supercharged Austin Sevens. , This event will be of 25 miles, and the winner alao will be presented with a cup donated by Mr. A. Burr, of Hurtpai, to bo won outright. The appearance of R.'M. Griorson in competition at this meeting will add interest to the races, as' he will bo driving quite a fast car. In the Open Championship points will count for the Auto Parts Cup, the points already gained by the various drivers being:—G. Mathieson (Miller) t 6; G. Smith (Austin Seven) and C. Edwards (Bugatti), 2 each; R. A.-Dex-ter, jun. (Riley), and L. ' McLeod (L.M.C.), 1 each. As this cup will'have been won after this race, Mr. W. S. Miller has presented a handsome trophy for points gained at a series cf races commencing with this race and continuing next season. In the open handicap points will be gained for the 11. Robinson Cup. This event will be of five laps. The position of contestants' at present is:—L. McLeod (L.M.C.), 4 points; R. A. Dexter, jun. (Riley), and K. C. Wormll (Rover Meteor), 3 points each; T. Cooper (Essex), 2. The opening race on the programme will bo for the Moller Cup, to be presented to a driver winning' two events at succeeding meetings'or three events at intervals. T. Cooper already has one win to. his credit. For a handicap race for all cars, the Eden Motor Body Company has donated a cup to be won outright. j CHEAP CAR PLAN MINIMUM OF EQUIPMENT There was much talk at the Berlin show of tho possibility of producing a really cheap small car to appeal to the masses. As this idea emanates from Hitler himself it is being given very serious attention, and one suggestion is that such a car sho ikl be of a very simple type, with the minimum of equipment, but so designed that it can be improved by the owner himself as his finances allow. Thus the bare car might consist of little more than the chassis and body shell, with, of course, tho lamps and other fittings required to be carried by law. Seats might bo of a rudimentary nature, but so designed that they could be improved by the fitting of more comfortable cushions and squabs. This should - bo feasible with a seat frame of tubular construction, which at first might be supplied, with a simple cushion and squab of hammock type, these to be jettisoned later on when tho owner is willing to pay for a more comfortable cushion and squab. Again, no starter would be fitted at first, the starting handle alone being provided. A starter motor, so designed that it could bo fitted and connected up very simply, would be available as an extra to be fitted at any time when the owner could afford it. Luggage accommodation, too, and a spare wheel and tyre, would also be available as extras, the original design having provision for their easy fitting. The idea is interesting, although whether it is practicable is a different matter.

BATTERY MAINTENANCE

It is very important to keep tho top of a battery dry, as the presence of moisture, especially if it contains any acid, will quickly cause corrosion at tho terminals, and if not attended to may even cause a short circuit between the cells. Tito stoppers of tho filling holes should always bo screwed down firmly on their rubber gaskets and the terminals themselves should be coated with petroleum jelly or with anti-corrosive grease. The actual terminal lugs and busbars will not corrode, as they are made of lead, but the connectors and their clamp bolts, except in a few special types of battery, are attacked by acid. An effective and safe way of removing any corrosion which may form is to soak the parts in a strong alkaline solution made by dissolving wash-ing-soda in warm water.