The Motor World

NZ Truth, Issue 606, 27 January 1917, Page 12

The Motor World

♦ . (By "Crank.") . . The light car owner can seldom pick and choose exactly when to wash his oar, yet it is nearJy as important not to wash it when the bonnet is really hot after a run, as it is not to wash It m full sunlight, for spotting will inevitably result. On the otheT hand, when washing In cold, damp weather, a good tip is to run the engine for a few minutes afterwards, with the car m the shed and the doors shut (providing there is adequate ventilation for the exhaust gases). Any water, which has entered the radiator or got under the bonnet, etc., will be dried up, and the air of the shed somewhat warmed up. » ♦ v - • There were nine starters m the 100---mile beach cycle race at New Brighton the other day. The beach was m good condition for the first 50 miles, after which large quantities of kelp, mode speeding risky, • • 's. ♦ In the 100-mlle beach race at New Brighton (Christchurch), E. F. C. Hinds, on his 7-8 h.p. Indian, cdvered the distance m 97min. 16 2-ssec, securing first place, fastest time, and piling up a new Australasian record. '* ♦ • There being only one "Indian" m the New Brighton 100-mlle beach race, and that one dishing thTee other makes, should please the "Indian" agent. • • • "Indian," "Triumph," and "HarleyDavidson" finished m that order after 100 miles on the beach at New Brighton. • ' ' • ; • -*Petrol is considerably more expensive to "buy than either milk or beer. If things go on at this rate it will presently be worth while to begin ordering a dozen or two at a time of Old Scotch to eke out the English motorists' permitted quantity of fu»L '••■■ • • A recent patent declared void m Paris was a recipe for motor fuel, m which a mixture of petrol or benzine "with sulphuric or other ether, and a small quantity of a solution of white phosphorus In carbon disulphide" was added to alcohol. After all that. It was no -wonder that "a few drops of essence of peppermint" wero to bo added to disguise the odor! f • • • Just before Constanza (Roumanla) was taken b>» the Germans, 180,000 tons of petrol were stored there. This did not fall into the hands of tho enemy, for Russian sailors burnt It. • • • The ponotration of damp to the tyro, either by way of the bolt and valve holes, or through bad cuts iv tho cover, should bo carefully guarded against. •* . • In order to obtain the best results i and to avoid trouble, keep tho tyres ! properly inflated. Experience proves that more than half tho tyres m uso aro badly noglocted In this respect. An uneven road almost doubles tho pressure and strain upon tyres. Do not. therefore, be satisfied merely with the appearance of tho tyres when the car is stationary, H&vo 601 b. pressure on tho rear and 50 to 55 Jn tho front. Naturally, tho heavier a enr id loaded the greater should bo tho degree of inflation to give the necessary support. Air is tho llfo of a pneumatic tyre, and it is safer to over than under

inflate. Every motorist should frequently test the air pressure m bis tyres. A ■ • • * *v A common, cause of springs breaking, especially the front, is that the "U" bolts have become loose. This is brought about through the action of the springs causing the metal to stretch. This can -be remedied by screwing up the huts of the "U" bolt so as to bring the spring firmly down on top. of the axle. This will prevent a lot of broken springs. •#:••■ •■ • '•The very latest fitment for commercial motor vehicles is the recordograph. The instrumest records the time the car Is started, trip mileage, the time each trip Is started and finished, the number of stops, the duration and exact time of each stop, the speed of travel at any time of day, and the total day's mileage. The instrument is a dock arrangement with a tape marked off m 36 hours of fiveminute periods, and each hour marked O. In width the tape is divided into eight parts, each representing a quarter of a mile. In operation a' straight line drawn by the pencil lengthwise of the tape reveals the fact that the vehicle has been standing still; an oblique line shows that the. vehicle was moving, and the pitch of this line gives the actual speed m miles per hour. Tho instrument la driven from one of the front wheels very much after the manner of the speedometer on a motor cycle. •* . * Great interest was evinced m a Spanish motor cycling road race held recontly, over a course 162 kiloms. m length. Five competitors started, the winner being Q. Herrora, mounted on a New Imperial machine.' The other machines represented, were; Zeido), Condor and Alcyon (two). Herrera, who had one slight fall In mounting, finished the course m 71 minutes, and was awarded the first prize of 100 pesetas, which he handed over to the press for V division amongst several charities. • ' • • An enterprising motor char-a-bana owner at Nottingham (Eng.) has adopted his vehicle to the use of ordinary coal gas, owing to his potrol supply having been "cut out." A large collapsible gas bag is attached to the roof of the char-a-banc, holding 450 cublo feet of gas. This suffices the vehicle for a 13 miles circuit on each refill of bag. The coal gas, it host been found, is v long way cheaper than running on potrol, the cost being a halfpenny per mile as against threepence for petrol. •• ■ • Two South African motor cyclists undertook for a wagor to beat tho tram service between Johannesburg and Durban, tho time usually taken by the trains between the two cities being 23hr 22 mln. The attempt was quite successful, tho motor cyclists beating Ufa train service by approximately five hours, tokinyiShr 2-i mln over tiw Journey.