The Motor World

NZ Truth, Issue 604, 13 January 1917, Page 12

The Motor World

(By "Crank,")

\ It is not so very long back that a sensation was provided throughout the motoring world by the late Percy Lambert, when he negotiated 103 miles ' 1470 yards, m 60 minutes on a Talbot on the Brooklands Trade, England. Now this wonderful speed is exceeded m competition with a number of contestants on the track. When J. Alt-, ken, on a French built Peugeot: recently won the Hackness Trophy on the Sheepshead Track, New York, he covered 100 miles m 56 minutes 37 seconds, equal to 105.9 miles m the hour. The intermediate times afford a fair idea of the remarkable speed maintained through the contest. The first 10 miles took 5 mlnutso 89 seconds, 20 miles 11.5, 30 miles 16.28. 40 miles 21.52, 50 miles 27.22 (equal to 109% miles per hour), 60 miles 53. 49, 70 miles 39.33| 80 miles 45.16, and 90 miles m 50 j minutes 54 seconds. Had Aitken been pushed towards the latter end of the race, he would certainly have beaten J. Chassagne's world hour record >of 107 miles 1672 yards, which he only missed by the narrow margin of 7% sees. • • ■ • In England a law has been passed making it compulsory that a light shall be carried m front of any animal or animals on the roadway. If the herd exceeds more than 20 head of cattle or 100 sheep, a second lamp must be provided. If similar provision was made m this country, it would add to the safety of travelling on our roads during night hours, and be greatly appreciated by motorists and cyclists. . . .. - ' . • • . • • After making a new record run from San Francisco to New York, as mentioned m these columns a few weeks back, the six-cylinder Hudson car with the same three drivers, was driven back to the Pacific Coast. Tho car remained m New York fourteen hours and twenty minutes, and the return journey was made In nice days eevenI teen hours and thirty-two minutes. The record run had' taken ten hours less, but a longer road, had to be traversed going West owing" to bad roads. Tb© mileago was 6952, a dally average of about 700. • • • The Canadian Government is actively engaged m formulating plans for dealing with the many and Intricate commercial problems that will inevitably arise when tho war has ended . As a step m this direction, the DepartI mont of Trade and Commerce has in- < vited leading business man throughout the Dominion to forward suggestions for discussion at a great trade congress to be held shortly at Ottawa to consider the question of the development of the export trade . • • • Lord Northcllffo, writing m the "Times" on his recent vsit to Spain, mentions that at tho principal garago In the town of Oviedq there was an assemblage of motor cars of the first rank. "Not one of them was German, but Rolls-Royce, Renault, DolaunayBellevllle. Daimler, and, of course, the HJapano- Suiza." « • • In London tha police somo time ago adoptod tho expedient of carrying red lamps on tholr belts to obviate the danger of being run down wuiio engaged In traffic regulating duties m tho darkened streets. The Birmingham authorities appear, however, vo nave Improvod upon tills device, and will carry small red lamps on tho tops of their hohnote. Although the idea has, it is said, oc-

cosloaed a certain amount of merri* ment tn the city, there is really a. good deal to be said for v on practical grounds. The necessity for some measure of precaution Is only too obvious, and hy placing the light on the top of the helmet the utmost possible protecton is assured inasmuch as it can be seen from all sides, and not. I from- one only, as ia the case wh»n ' carried on the belt. \ '•.•••■ • -,■ ■ v The enormous development thai ham recently taken place m the foreign trade In American motor tyres may b« gathered from the fact that the exports from the United States .during the seven months ended with July last attained a value of £2169,590, as com-* pared with only £858,590 and £420,420 m the corresponding periods of 1814 and ISIS respectively. , • ■•■--.•. . • It is interesting to note that, despite the war, increasing numbers of Britten motor cars are finding their way to the United States: thus tho official import returns of that country show that during the seven months ending with July last thirty-one British cars, valued at £13,618, were imported, as compared with \ only twenty-five and £18.640 re-* specthrely m the corresponding period of last year. ■■■'.• • • • \ A new spring lock, instead of the tiresome split pin, has been introduced by the Industrial Development Corporation, of Chicago. It has the advantage that the nut can be placed and held at any desired point on the bolt, which can only be attained with a split pin by tho aid of washors. It consists of a plate, which, when bent over, will have the two holes through which the bolt penetrates not quit© m alignment, and the spring of the m^frl keeps £b» not fastening m position. • '" • ■ • There are certain threads about the car given to sticking demanding more than the usual amount of force to start them when they need to bo undone. On practically ail cars it will bo found that tho valve caps, the sparking plugs, and the various nuts and bolts on the exhaust pipe and silencer connections are prone to give trouble. All such threads will bo found to give much better service If they are thoroughly cleaned and then treated to a good coating of plumbago or graphitegrease, or mercurial ointment. The grease will be very effective In the case ' of such as are exposed to damp or weather conditions, while m places where there is much heat, although the grease may be burnt out, the plumbago | will be unaffected. It Is worth know- ! Ing that m the case of valve caps, | which are usually of brass or phoaI phor-bronzo, tho fino threads can bo I made to work much more erpeditloosly if they have squirted over them' some paraffin oil, which has both a AtwiT^ng and a lubricating effect. • • • In view of the discussion upon ths possibilities of using ordinary coal gaa In the usual petrol carburetter, it is Interesting to note that a covored-in char-a-bancs is actually running at j Booston, Nottingham, on gas supplied from a huge balloon carried on th« roof. • • • "The public ia demanding more and more In tho way of indviduality tn tho motor car, 1 ' says Mr. Paul Smith tn a recent paper read before the American Society of Automobile Englnoers. "The buyer must bo allowed just as mud) as the price field will permit In tho carrying oat of individual taste." This, coming from tho land of extreme standardisation, Is interesting, but already a tendency is evidenced to give purchasers a choice of color and other detail* on mmc recent American cars.