THE MOTOR WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18721, 27 November 1922, Page 2

THE MOTOR WORLD.

By Accelerator. [■Kerns ot news—short descriptions of fours, the state of the roads, etc., .comment, or inquiries will be welcomed by “ Accelerator.”'] SOUTH ISLAND ’MOTOR UNION. By holding the quarterly meetings of Hie Mol or Union in different centres motorists have a better chance of becoming familiar with its activities. The union Ims undoubtedly been of inestimable value to motorists in the past, and in view of tile necessity for watching the interests of motorists in the future the various clubs and the union should receive the support of all motorists. The meeting of the union in Dunedin on Thursday evening was in every way successful. IGNITION FAILURE. If there is plenty of petrol, and the engine suddenly peters out, total ignition failure may ’be naturally suspected. In that case, if the car is a new model, the course is simple—switch on battery ignition. If that serves, the magneto circuit was somewhat faulty. If the magneto fails it is generally due to the magneto cable being off its terminal at one end. though one need not spend time investigating; the battery will supply sufficient to got the car to its destination. CAR INSURANCE LOSSES. As an instance of the bad time that insurance companies throughout the world are having in regard to motor policies, the Underwriters’ Conference recently held in New York reveals a loss exceeding the amount paid in premiums by £4.500,000 sterling for the past 12 months. _ The report states that “many of the claims have been crooked.” and the underwriters are making efforts to protect themselves by not only inspecting the condition of the cars more carefully, but by scrutinising the record of the owners. ENGLAND’S PETROL CONSUMPTION. Figures taken by the Motor from the Board of Trade returns for August continue to reveal big increases in the importations of motor spirit. During August England received 2.162.485 gallons more than in July, and 7.950,517 gallons more than in August of 1921. In the eight months of 1922, compared with the corresponding period for 1921. the increase is 54,015.675 gallons. When the fixtures for the eight months of. this year are contrasted with those for Kl2O. the extraordinary increase of 99,036,739 gallons is revealed. * SHOCK ABSORBERS WHICH DON’T ABSORB. Shock absorbers are rather curious things to play about with. It is, perhaps, unfortunate that in the general run of stuck absorber advertising these fittings are claimed to bo cure-alls for all sorts of unsatisfactory and unsuitable suspension systems and all sorts of bad roads. Universal claims of this discription are only ridiculous. Every car should be fitted with a shock absorber of some type, but as there are several different types bn the market, and also tens of thousands of cars, each presenting an individual problem in suspension, the actual selection demands a little careful study. THE WORLD’S MOTOR CARS. A question often asked is, “How many automobiles are there in use throughout the world?” According to statistics the number is 12,649,793, and of the total number five-sixths of them are carrying United States licenses. This means that more than 10,500.000 cars are owned in America. The British Isles come second with 497,582, and Canada third with 463,448. France is in fourth position, with Germany, Australia, and Argentina next in order. Monrovia boasts of three, while Iceland has forbidden the importation of automobiles, possibly because they are useless in a country where snow is generally quite deep. This is from an American newspaper. “What, about New Zealand?” asks a writer, and the reply is: “We’ve got 37.500 oars, one person in every 35 is a motorist. Australfa has one in 67, and Great Britain one in 96. AS THE BOY VIEWED IT. The following gem was found by a reader (says a writer in a' contemporary) on the table of a public reading room. The spelling. etc., has not been faked, but is exactly as written: ■' In a fourstroko engine it is consisted by a stroke. In the cilinder its a piston. This piston has four stroke. The first stroke is called a sucking stroke, because when it goes down it sucks. Is the bottsal and air. which is a gass. When the piston up, it pushes up the gass, but its still stopping. The cilinder because the way with which it comes has boon closed. The pis- , ton pushes up the gass until it is in but but a small space then. The second stroke is called a comppression because it is preesed together. Third stroke is caller exorst. And the fourth stroke is a, firing stroke. By a firing stroke I mean it is inflamabldi By in flam able I mean it will easily take fire.”

STARTING HEAVY AUTOMOBILES. The use of the electric starter has hitherto boon confined to light automobiles, in which it now forms an essential part of an up-to-date equipment. Its advantages are. however, so great that a British company has been led to adapt the electric starter to heavy automobiles. In this adaptation the starter is independent, and is designed for use in garages where a number of heavy vehicles have to be started up in succession. An electric motor of six-horse power is mounted with a special gear on a twowheeled truck, which can be quickly run to the front of the vehicle to be started, Bv pulling a lever the operator lifts the truck off the wheels and places it firmly on three legs. Another simple operation engages the gear with the starting handle, and a third starts up the motor, which runs at 2000 revolutions per minute. The gearing reduces this speed to 130 revolutions per minute at the* starting shaft—this being the most effective speed for starting-up - purposes. The same appliance can be used in the garage for pumping up large pneumatic tyres and other purposes. It has proved itself very efficient in operation, and is likely to become a recognised part of the equipment of large garages.

COMMERCIAL VEHICLES. . A recent issue of the English Commercial Motor gives comprehensive details of tho new type of commercial vehicle the, British military authorities are proposing to adopt as standard for future use.:. Ibis is a 30cwt chassis fitted with pneumatic tyres, and it is apparently now coraingAo ho recognised as the essential truths that transport is more economically and more efficiently handled by a light-weight pneu-matic-tyred vehicle than by the heavier types which have in tho past teen extensively used. The general trend of opinion at Home at the present time is undoubtedly towards a lighter type of vehicle; of the 30cwt ami 2-ton capacity utilising pneumatic tyres, and (his opinion has been endorsed by the British Government in selecting 30 cwt vehicles as their standard for military purposes, and the fact that this typo of commercial vehicle is being adopted, which for military use would necessitate (ho running over oven worse tracks than our colonial roads, seems to bo indicative of tho fact that future development both in the colonics and at Homo will be with the lighter vehicle.

design of tyre treads,

Tho ability of a motor tyre to hold to the road witiiout spin or skid is principally a matter of tread design, and some- of tho experiments conducted by experts in a search for the most efficient tread may prove interesting to the car owner who is the. beneficiary. Tho engineers of the Goodyear Tyro and Rubber Company put every now tread that is brought out on tho market .to a critical comparison with tho famous All-weather Tread, and in nil of these tests the value of the tread with the diamond-shaped block has been emphasised strongly. The layman can readily understand that forward motion must be assisted by the tyro tread, and that this same tread must offer a resistance to side thrust, to tendency to move oil the road at an angle. Years ago (ioodyonr met these requirements with the All-weather Tread, in which tho diamond blocks lay down a gripping, safe track for tho wheel, sending the car full distance ahead with every turn of the wheel and effectively overcoming any tendency toward skidding. As this tread makes a uniform, unbroken contiiet with the road, wear is considerably less than in treads having a rough, unequal surface.

THE SMALL GAR VOGUE.

The small ear bids fair to remain popular in England for at least another year, although a stabilisation of industrial conditions will likely bring about a demand for heavier earn. The Manchester Guardian, in discussing the subject, says the small oar, in addition to its relative cheapness, has been found entirely satisfactory to owners. They

point to the fact that motoring has become a business, and unless the business depression is removed it is unlikely that buyers will want to sink large sums in more expensive machines. A number of these light cars weigh, complete for the road, about 12001 b. and are equipped with two-cylinder air-cooled engines similar to. those employed on motor-cycles, those rating at 6 to 8 horse-power and running as high as 50 miles per gallon of fuel. Perhaps nothing, will so clearly indicate . the . character of those ears as the statement that, in most road events organised for “fight cars.” the “tin ilzzie,” which in America is regarded as the light car par excellence, is barred ; It is. not a light car within the intent of the contest. AN INVERCARGILL AERO CAR. Invercargill can probably lay claim to having produced the first “aero-car” made in New Zealand (states the Southland News). Imbued with the idea of making a very light oar with no gears or differentials. a youthful enthusiastic mechanic, L. Taltersfield, son of Mr J. H. Tatlersfield, garage proprietor, set to work,, and after painstaking experiments was successful in carrying his idea into effect. The body of the car is an ordin-ray plain, light, wooden chassis, with steering gear, and built on four motor-cycle wheels. The “motor” force is derived from a four-bladed propeller, driven by a twin-cylinder motor cycle engine, both of which are attached to the rear end of the car. The propeller, which is made of New Zealand birchwood, was built by the young inventor. The whole structure only weighs 2cwt, and,' carrying two passengers, can reach a speed of 45 miles an hour. The machine, when completed will be marketable at a price which will compare more than favourably with an up-to-date motor cycle and side-car. CONTINENTAL CONSUMPTION TEST. , At the consumption, competition organised for September It) at Stockholm by the Aftonbiadet newspaper, 27 competitors took part. The trial, reserved to series built cars with full load and divided into categories in accordance with the charge of the cylinder, took place on a route of 145 kilometres length, the ground being very bad owing to several days’ continued rain. The competitors had to keep up an average speed oscillating between 29 and 31 kilometres per hour. In the category up to 1900 omc. a Fiat driven by Sjobom, covered the entire distance consuming 9.4 litres, which equals 6.4 hires per 100 kilometres, whereas the second classified, a Citroen driven by Brambeck. consumed 12.5 litres. In the category up to 2500 cmc., Liden on Overland consumed only 12 litres. . Stamm, on Oakland, with 12.3 litres, was classified first for the 3000 cmc. Gisiko won the category 3400 cmc. with 12.6 litres on a-Willy-Knight. Kindblom, on a Dodge, and Ohlsoii on a Yoisin, obtained respectively lirst places in the category SoUO and 5000 cmc.. consuming, Kindblom 14.6 litres and Uhlsou 12.8 litres, THE LEFT-HAND DRIVE. Mr John W. Andrew, who has just returned to Auckland from the United States and Canada, says; “America has always had left-hand drive, and tiliey drive on the right-hand side of uie road. This seems very awkward to us who have been used to driving on the left side of the road. In my first experience in America I pictured an accident every car we met. “Since January 1 last the whole of Canada turned: over to the left-hand drive, the same as America, 'ibis included the changing of street oars and all other traffic, to my mind it is the proper- thing. “’The biggest part of the world have adopted it, .and it is only Great Britain and tne dominions (pot including Canada) that have tlie ■ right-hand drive, and turn to the left, while the rule, of pedestrians and ships is to go to the right. “It would simplify things a lot for the motor cur manufacturers building cars in quantities, not to have to make righthand drive cars to suit one particular trade, which is comparatively small compared with left-hand oars, in fact, some makers refuse to make the change.’ “I know it would be difficult to get our people to give way, and it might cost a lot, but it would be for our good in the finish; we could buy cheaper motors, and trade anywhere.’’ MOTOR CYCLE NOTES. Wheels out of alignment are a common cause of premature wearing of tyres. The Peugeot bicycle factory at Beaulieu, 1* ranee, is said to be the largest bicycle factory in the world. Drastic action is being taken in various parts of England to deal effectively with the open exhaust nuisance.Motor cycling for ladies is becoming popular in England. It is a wonder more New Zealand girls’ are not keeping up with the times. < Few riders appear .to realise the strain a machine is subjected to by cornering at speed. Tliis is especially pronounced when a side-car is attached! The year 1923 promises to bg a great camping and touring season (remarks a northern writer). Wherever one goes one hears plans being discussed and information being asked for re condition of the roaos, etc. The Motor Cycle Club de France has again secured permission to use the Avenue des Acacias, Paris, for speed trials. This is one' of the most fashionable thoroughfares in the city, and it speaks volumes for the motor cycling authorities that this concession has been granted. SPARKS, Timing gears, worn or meshed too tight, will cause a humming sound. The average life ot an automobile in the United States is estimated at five years When starting the motor, never flood'the carburettor by working the choker too much. During 1921 over £20,000,000 worth of motors wore stolen in America, and only a- small percentage recovered. Nearly 250 cars, representing 57 different makes, were shown at the exhibition of closed cars held recently in Now York. Subdued colours ruled, and very few brilliant or so-called sport colours, were seen, No open cars were exhibited. The recent decision by the magistrate at Kawakawa that the Bay of Islands County By-law imposing a local tax on motor cars is invalid makes the eighth case during the past year in which the A.A.A. has been successful in the defence of its members.

We are told, (says an Auckland authority) that the New Zealand Cup will bo attacked this year by Boyd Edkins, the Australian, with his famous racing Vauxhall. It is not a high-powered machine, and is rated at only i 4-20 h.p. Nevertheless it has captured, all the fast events in Australia ‘.since 191$. .This .should.!create a good deal of excitement, and cause the New Zealand racing men do look to their machines, or the New Zealand Cup may be taken across the water for a term.

For tho second time in one week Fiat won a big international race when Pietro Bordino, the dashing Italian, flashed over the finishing line on tho Monza speedway, near Milan, on September 10, after covering 497 miles in ,shr 43min 13s’ec, or at an • average speed of 86.89 miles an hour. By this performance Bordino won the Italian Grand Prix for two-litre cars, with a cash prize of 100,000 lire, and among other trophies a crown having belonged to the Royal family of Italy.