Motors and Motoring.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11305, 2 September 1922, Page 8

Motors and Motoring.

Trade and Other Jottings.

(By

“Torque-Rod.”)

VICTORIAN ALPINE CONTEST

A REMARKABLE ENTRY. Nominations for the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria’s WOO miles motor-car trial, which is to be held in November next, closed with 84 entries —a particularly fine response by private owners ind the trade, it san astounding entiy when one considers the severity of this mountainous tost, but evidently the great success achieved by last year's event has whetted the appetite of motorists for more. Undoubtedly the scenic attractions of the route selected, plus the sporting nature of the competition, have added considerably to the nominations. A striking feature is the fact that 45 different makes of cars figure in the ea.rants, amongst which, are several makes lew to Australia. Owner-drivers have osponde.i well, 28 having* nominated fof that section of the contest. Last year i.ero wore 35 entrants for the trial and ,1 starters, but it is hardly anitiepiated that such a big percentage will face the darter in November next, in fact if 60 ,-ars compete it will he more than ample to tax accommodation along the route, it is now a certainty that camp equipment will be essential at many of the light stops to supply the necessary deeping, accommodation. When this alpine trial was first mooted it was predicted that its attractions rorn a scenic and spoiting point of view vere such that the contest would develop nto' one of the groatest in the world, ind this year’s huge entry certainly mints that way. The 1922 trial will comprise four sections, viz.: —Dependability, petrol condimption, hill climbing (3 contests) and speed and acceleration. Prizes will be allotted for the three i-ontetsants scoring highest aggregate mints in the whole competition, - whilst rophies will be awarded to those scoring iest in the four sections. Appended is v list of the entrants and cars nomin\ted.s —

LIST OF CARS AND DRIVERS. E-. L. Bannister (Fiat), A. Barber, junr. Lancia 85-h.p.), H. J. Bean (Arrol Johnon or Essex),}J. M. Buchanan (ChonardValcker 15.9-h.p.), C. Chaleyer (ChenardValcker 15.19-h.p.), T. H. Channon Studebaker), F. Daunton' (R-. Enfield, dickers 8-li.p.), C. A. Hallam (Swift 11.9i.p.), H. B. James (Wolseley 26-28-h.p.),i 1, Joseph (Fiat 35-h.p.), C. Judd (Ehrl)J f. T. Lennon (Buick or Studebaker), G. .V. Lewis (Dodge '23-h.pt), S. E. Lough Buick 27-ti.p.), C. C. Moore (Crossleyj 15.8- A. Pardy (Fiat 10-15-h.p,), W. VI. Pearson (Fiat 25-30-h.p.), W. M. Pear-1 son (Fiat 25-30-h.p.), T. G. Pizzey (Fiat), W. L. Podmore (D.F.P. 12.1-h.p.). R. H. Richardson (Gregoire JU-20-h.p.), T. E. Robbins (Overland 18-Kp.), A. W. Searlti| Lancia. 35-h.p.), Q. J. Byrne, A. J. Teriick (Essex 18.9-Rp.), Miss K.- - Watson Fiat 10-15-h.p.). W. F. Peigall (Renault 13.9- F. Wilkinson (Oakland 15-20-H. 0.). Omen event —AjUenby Hawthorne Pty.,Ltd. (Wilton 11.9-h.p.), A. G. Bar‘ow (Vauxhall 30-h.p.), Bevan Bros, and linker Pty., Ltd. (Swift 12-h.p.), D. AV. Bon (Chevrolet), L. J./Bottomley (Galloway 10.5 h.p.), Bevan Bros, and Tubker Pty., Ltd. (Lorralne-Dietrieb 15-h.p.). E F. Boult (Wolseley lOJh.p.), . Brodribb Bros.’ Ptv., ltd. (Templar 18-23-h.p.). El ,W. Brown (Renown 20-hlp.), A. T.' Bul!en (Vemorel), Canada Cycle and Motor Co. Pty., Ltd. (Dodge 17 r 24-h.p.), Canada Cycle and. Motor Co. Pty.,, .Ltd. (Dodge 17H24ih.p.y, Cheney M-oitorA.l Pty., Did. (Chevrolet 21-h.p.), Cheney Motors Pty,, Ltd. (Chevrolet 21-h.- v H. L. Claphn.m; (Cleveland 21.6-h.0.). H. T. Curtis (CitJ reeri 11.4-h.p.), Dalgety and Go., Ltd., ’Hnpmbbile 17.1-h.p.l, Dalgety and CoJ Ltd. (Wolselev : 15.G-h.P-), Dupont Sty., l Ltd. (Chenard-Waloker 15-18-h,p.), Dupont Pty., Ltd (Panhard-Levassor 8-h.p.), J.

FRICTION DRIVE

W. Flood (Itala 17-30-h.p.), J. W. Flood (Itala), French Auto Co. (Peugeot 6.2- , h.p.). French ‘ Auto Co. (Peugeot 6.2-h.p.), French Auto Co. (Peugeot 6.2-h.p.), J. Hanrsihan (Fiat 10.13-h.p.), H. I. Harrison (Buiok 18-h.p.), A. Hoette (Itala 14-20-h.p.'), A. I* Joubert (Delege 11-h.p.), Kel-low-Falkiner Pty., Ltd. (Talbot 8-h.p.), Kellow-Falkiner Pty, Ltd. (Renault 13-9-h.p.), Kellow-Falkiner Pty., Ltd. (Packard 27-34-h.p.), Kellow-Falkiner Pty., Ltd. (Minerva SO-h.p.), Kellow-Falkiner Pty., Ltd. (Columbia 45-h.p.), K. T. Lane (Buick 25-h r p.), W. H. Lewis (Oakland 18.9-h.p.), C. F. Mason (Lodge 23.8-h.p.), G. McCarey (Bentley 15.9-h.p.), F. McOwan (Morris Sports 11.9-h.p.), G. A. Mitchell (Star 11.9-h.p.), Neal’s Motors (Overland 18-h.p.), Neal’s Motors (Essex 18-h,p.), Olympia Motors. Ltd. (Durant 244i.p.), Olympia Motors Pty., Ltd. (Dutant 24-h.p.l, Olympia Motors Pty., Ltd. (Durant), J. N. Pass (Essex 18-h.p.), Preston Motors Pty., Ltd. (Citroen 5-h.p ), L. A. Sallman (Morris-Oxford 11.9-h.p.), Robt. Scott (Oakland 18.9-h.p.), M. Shmith (Fiat 10-15Jh,u.), Turner Bros. (Studebaker 23-h.p.), Turner Bros. (Studebaker 23-h.p.), Turner Bros. (Studebakp--23-h.p.). Turner Bros. (Studebaker 23h.p.), Walter Whitbourn (Dort). DUNLOP ROAD PACE. Intending contestants in the Dunlop Rubber Co.’s biar road race from Warrnambool to Melbourne (165 miles) are reminded that entries close at the company’s office, 108, Flinders street, Melbourne, on Friday, September Bth. Special nomination forme and other particulars relating to the big event set down for decision on October 14th are now available at any of Dunloo Co.’s depots, or may be had by application through the post.

USE OF SMALL CAES. At a time like the present, when the construction of smaller types of automobiles is emerging from the nebulous stage and is settling down to follow accepted lines, the question whether friction drive has or has hot a future is pertinent, says the "Light Car" (England). The system of transmitting the power of the engine to the road wheels through two friction discs so arranged that the speed ratio can he varied, possesses one outstanding advantage in that the 6e-called "gear change” can be made with absolute ease and certainty no matter how inexpert the driver may be. Against this we have the undeniable facts that friction drive is apt to be noisy, the discs occupy valuable chassis space, for of necessity they are large,'and again there are the eve’r-present possibility of rapid wear, resulting in .frequent adjustment and the probability of f'lp when it is least desired —i.e., on bottom gear. It will be admitted that those manufacturers who have standardised friction drive have largely overcome these difficulties, and there is no gainsaying the truth that friction drive gives most efficient gear reductions, so that the hill-climbing abilities of the cars so equipped are markedly good. , The oft-repeated tag. of "infinitely variable’’ friqtion gear needs , due consideration, for it must be realised that most friction-driven cars . have their "gear” levers so arranged that four definite forward; ratios are afforded, with,-of course, a’ reverse, so that four speeds only are available at any one time. Wp ourselves are (inclined to think that the possibilities of friction-drive are hot yet fully explored, that it will always find, a place on certain types of. economical family cars; and that its simplicity of operation w’ll always make it of strong appeal to a certain section of the motoring pub-