SWEETER RUNNING AT NIGHT

NZ Truth, Issue 1061, 25 March 1926, Page 16

SWEETER RUNNING AT NIGHT

A Pioneer's Interesting Reflections EXPERIENCES W THE GOOD OW DAYS "W.F.H." (Hastings) sends us an interesting letter dealing with our recent remarks on the improved running of cars at night time. ..■',. ■ , .":•;■_ •:'." :

WE should probably laugh at the sight of either of the machines 5 which he mentions, but m some ways the advent of the simple, troublefree automobile has robbed motoring of: much . of ' its interest. ' • The modern car, which starts .up every time on the electric starter, runs consistently -for hundreds of miles w.thout any attention, and m which the controls and adjustments have been cut down to a minimum, does not encourage that seeking after, the finer points of running and driving which delighted the hearts of such pioneers as "W.F.H.". . , ••« - "Your remarks on Wight Drives,'" writes our correspondent, "bring to my mind the closing days' of the last century, when I owned. an,d rode an

English motor- tricycle ••; manufactured under De Dion-Bouton patents. "This machine had a plain box carburetor, with variable air Valve controlled by a screw or ratchet. ■ "It was very sensitive to atmospheric changes and pretty constant adjustment — and m mounting a hill of any length the engine pulled far better if the air supply was reduced, giving a ■•■" richer 'mixture.' :- "if. any fog- was present, the valve required constant' manipulation. ■ "I ' did a lot of motoring- with the owner o£ a Benz car (old style, beltdriven 2-seater of about 4-h.p.).

"We invariably, rjoticed. that both our machines ran far better after about 6 p.m. than;, at any other time. ' ,: • "More than/orice I had pulled up ay an hotel' for tea', my engine running- only fairly — yet .on. starting from cold an hoiir' or so' later I had . to trroltle down even on a rise; the beat of the exhaust was far ; sharper ' than en hour or so earlier, and the machine had more power. ■ . - : . "On the Benz it- was the same thing: she ran far more freely and sweetly m the twilight hours than m full daylight. "I wrote to the 'Autocar' on the subject, but never got a satisfactory explanation about it; arid I never came across it again until I read 'Truth' this week. "Of course, bqth the machines I have mentioned are quite out of date, and I put clown the variation to some imperfection...' that ... was unavoidable through "want of knowledge. "It is very interesting to know that in' these days of -super*- per-'." '■ fection m autos the same thing •seems still to. exist, f'l am. not a motorist nowadays, but follow the latest developments as- far as I can." MODERN EXPERIENCES It is always interesting to, hear of the experiences of early motorists, and wo have to thank "W.H.F." for his letter. .-1. ... :• ,-\ ..-..•■ We -yvonder if any owners of modern^ cars have had similar ex- ■ perienc«s? There (ftave been a/, few cars fitted v/.th'-a dgvicfe to take steam into the induction^. pipe from the top of the radiator, |and we shall be interested tj learn has had. any: striking'* results" from this/ fitting, aa hich is' supposed to produce -conditions similar to those found wh'eit i-j'n'ftingr ' at night time, on account of the increased humidity of the air. .. .