MOTOR AND CYCLE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8364, 26 February 1913, Page 9

MOTOR AND CYCLE

Paul Didier, a well-known French racing cyclist, has succeeded in flying a distance of 10 feet on a bicycle fitted with planes. Didier accomplished his jump—over a rod eight inches off the ground—in public at the Parc des Princes track, Paris, and thereby won a prize of £BO offered by the Peugeot Company. His achievement is a long way the best yet accomplished towards flying on a bicycle, but it is one thing, however, to leap through the air on a cycle that has no propelling force on losing contact with ground, and another matter to sustain the machine in space at will. , Sir Hiram Maxim, the well-known inventor, is one of the oldest investigators of human flight, and when interviewed after Didier’s flight, expressed the opinion that “a cyclist will never fly by his own power.” The reason given is that no human being is physically strong enough to cope with the enormous muscular strain that would bo necessary before a man could develop sufficient power to keep himself afloat in the air. It is interesting to note that Sir Hiram, who is seventy-two years of age, has been a keen cyclist all his life, and that it was only last year that failing strength compelled him to give up the wheel. In view of the six days’ cycle race to bo held at the Melbourne Exhibition track next month, it is interesting to note the mileage recorded for each twenty-four hours at the recent event' decided at Now Yorx, when Messrs Rutt and Fogler (the German-Ameri-can team) won with a total of 2661 miles. At the end of the first twentyfour hours 632 miles had been left behind; at forty-eight hours, 998 miles; at seventy-two hours, 1445 miles; at ninety-six hours, 1874 miles; and at 120 hours 2299 miles. The Australian rider, J. dark, finished third in this event, only a length behind_ Rutt. Other Australians in at the finish were Hehir fourth, and Grenda, fifth. Many motorists in this country expect too much from the tyres fitted to the driving wheels of their cars, especially when the conditions of the roads are taken into consideration. On the fine English roads from 3000 to 5000 miles is considered to be about the average life of driving tyres, ranging from the former figures for heavy cars, and the longer mileage for light oars. In a recent tyre trial which came much before the English public, four sets of well-known makes of tyres were driven to destruction on English roads on a heavy car, and the grooved Dunlop tyre came out on top with a mileage of 3789 miles. The next best figures were 3272. Taken right through tyres caw hardly be expected to average out as good a mileage in this country as in England, and anything oyer 3000 miles should be deemed satisfactory. Of course a lot depends on the road conditions, load, speed, and, not least, ihe driving. In some cases owners of cars are at a loss to account for the rapid wear of the back tyres. The probability is that this is solely due to unskilful use of brakes and clutch. Gradual and easy action in these details is essential. A remarkable feature ,of Jack Gunn’s Sydney-Melbourne motor-cycle record [beaten on Saturday by Bolger] is that it beat by seven minutes the time taken in the recent relay ride between the same cities, in which a number of the best riders in Australia each rode a small portion of the distance, of course, on different motor cycles. This means that Gunn on his B.S.A. machine was able to cover the whole distance of nearly 600 miles at a greater speed and with less trouble than the relay riders were able to, for comparatively short distances. Gunn rode the same machine that holds the Australasian hour record, a standard 3 h.p., 8.5. A., and in his own words, he “never opened the tool bag” during the entire 25 hours’ ride.

One of the unique features of the recent motor car exhibition, in Paris was a. small model Cadillac just large enough to carry two children, but none the less, a real motor car. The little model is a reproduction of the largo Cadillac roadster, except that its power plant consists of the Delco electrical cranking device, which is a regular feature of the big car. With the power of this cranking device the little machine will travel some fifteen miles on one battery charge. _ The miniature was made under the direction of F. S. Bennett, of London, and upon the return of the baby car to England it was purchased by her Majesty Queen Alexandra. It will hereafter be conspicuous around Buckingham Palace, guided by the children of the royal household. By far the most important business transacted at the recent meeting of the International Association of Recognised Automobile Clubs held in France was the decision to offer a cash prize of £20,000 for the best fuel, other than petrol, capable of being used in existing ' internal-combustion motors. The International Association represents practically the whole of the motor movement of Europe and America, the nations represented at the Paris gathering being France, Great Britain, America, Germany, Belgium,, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Austria, Holland, Hungary, Russia, Switzerland, Roumania, and Egypt. It is evident, therefore, that the petrol crisis is not confined to any one country. The big prize will_ be obtained by international subscription, the national clubs represented at the conference undertaking to raise their respective proportions. Before the regulations of the competition are made public an assurance will be obtained from the various Governments that the new fuel will be free from taxation, or, at any rate, will not have applied to it more than a moderate tax. It is evident, too, that the fuel must be of such a nature that it cannot be cornered by national or international trusts. It not infrequently happens that motorists have to drive over stretches of crushed stone and other material used in making new roads or in repairing bad parts, and the treads of the tyres are likely to suffer from small cuts unless great care is taken to drive slowly

or “coast” over the repaired parts of the road. These cuts, unless properly cared for, will proVo injurious. Dirt will work into and under the tread, raising blisters and separating the rubber from the carcase of the tyro,.while moisture will attack and rot tho fabric. Once the fabric is affected, disintegration will follow rapidly. The easiest way to avoid this trouble is the proper and timely use of Michelin Mastic. Immediately the cuts are discovered, they should be cleaned to their full depth with petrol, the edges being kept apart by a match. All dirt or other foreign matter should bo removed with a stiff brush or a splint of wood covered with rag. Bo sure that no dust or grit remains in the cut. Allow the petrol a few moments to dry, then smear the interior of the cut with a moderate amount of ordinary solution. When this is dry, knead some mastic with tho fingers and completely fill the cut with it, leaving no empty space whatever. Compress the cut with the fingers for a few moments so that the mastic may set. Dot the repair dry for five or six hours before using the tyro again. Michelin Mastic can be obtained from any of the leading garages.