THE MOTOR WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18803, 5 March 1923, Page 2

THE MOTOR WORLD.

By Accelekatob. flfems of news—short descriptions nt tours, the stntu of the roads, etc., comment, or inquiries will be welcomed by " Accelerator.”] MOTOR UNION TOPICS. At tho iireeting of the executive of the South Island Motor Union, held in Christchurch on Thursday evening last, at which Mr H. Halliday represented Dunedin, several important mutters wore conaidereo. Loiters were receives.! froqi tho Accident Underwriters’ Association and the Wellington Fire Underwriters’ Association rejecting the union's request that the tire extinguisher allowance bo increased from to 5 per cent A suggestion from tiro Southland Motor Association regarding the sign-posting of principal roads was referred to tho quarterly general meeting of the union. The Union Steam Ship Company -wrote slating that a substantial reduction in the coastal freight on motor cars, and an allowance of 25 per cent, off back freight ou motor oars when accompanied by passengers touring the dominion, had recently been effected. The secretary was instructed to write for a list of charges. Remits from various affiliated bodies to be considered at the quarterly general meeting were received. Tho suggestion of the New Zealand Motor Union that tho South Island Union should support tho northern body’s nominoe for a seat on the Main Highways Board was unanimously turned down by the executive. It was stated that all the South Island Motor Associations had supported Mr J. S. Hawkes’ nomination, and as tho membership of thoso bodies was fully double that of tho North Island Union, the request of the northern organisation could not be entertained. “I hope motorists will take note of phis and vote accordingly at the next municipal elections,” said the president when a letter from the Christchurch City Council was received rejecting the union s proposal that a hy-law should bo introduced making it compulsory for all vehicles upon which tho driver’s view of the rear is obscured to carry mirrors. It was decided to reply lo the City Council, asking it to reconsider its decision. “T ran give you an instance of the necessity for mirrors.” said Mr Halliday (Dunedin). “I was driving behind a loaded motor wagon the other dav. It was in the middle of tho road, and did not move over when I sounded my horn, for the driver could not hear me, lot alone see me. I drew alongside the wagon, and as I was about, to pass on my proper side, the wagon swung over to its loft side, with the result that I was forced into tho ditch, and broke a spring. If that wagon had been equipped with a mirror the driver world have known that I was behind. “Dozens of such instances could be givon,” said tho president. “It makes one wonder what reasonable* men can see m the proposal to object to.” “Your letters were considered by the executive,” wrote the secretary of the New Zeeland Counties’ Association to the Motor Union, and it to resolved to circularise county councils suggesting that when bylaw's are being amended provision should bn made to compel all motor vehicles being provided with mirrors, so that any vehicle approaching from tho rear can be seen. “That is a more sensible letter,” said (ho president, and the communication was received with expressions of gratification. It ■was p.greorl io foT\va.rd a copy of_ tho letter to the Christchurch City Council. “The Halswcll County Council has approved tho proposal,” said Mr R. Maoartnow. “In fact, it has gone further than we suggested —it has recommended that wool wagons should be equipped with penscopes.” . Advice has been received by the secretary of* tho South Island Motor Union from the Comptroller of Customs, shotying the total oiiantitv and value of netrol imported into New Zealand during the past three years. Tho figures are as follow's; — Gallons. £ 1922 16,535,616 1,701,551 1921 ... 19.138,846 2.031,630 1920 ... 17,970,995 U 845.000 The values shown represent the fair market values in the countries of export, plus 10 per cent. AN AUSTRALIAN INVADER. M O. F. Sanderson arrived from Sydney by tho Ulimaroa with his famous 30.93 h.p. Vauxhall car, which has done a lot of hard racing, and holds most of the inter-Stato records. Mr Sanderson has a reputation in Australia as a crack driver, and it shows goixl sportsmanship to bring a big car across the water juft to have a shot at the New Zealand Cup. At one time the Vauxhall held the coveted iSydney-Mel-bourno record, but lost it to the 18.9 h.p. Essex. TORQUE ROD RATTLE A rattle which constituted' a mystery for quite a long while on a car which passed through an Auckland writer's bands recently may quite possibly be reproduced on other oars. The car in question had a* triangulated tubular torque member suspended at tho front end hi a, swinging, bracket by moans of a ball joint; to provide some degree of cushioning effect in the drive tho sockets of the sphere had a still helical spring above and below them, Tito cause ol the rattle in question was that ono of those springs had broken so that on rough roads the spherical end of tho torque member was free to shake up and down 1 violently in its suspension bracket. DRIVERS’ LIABILITY. An interesting point as to the driver’s liability has just bean decided by tho English courts. The facts are thus stated by an English paper; Hastening in her car to purchase sausages a lady driver, Miss Williams, overtook the article in the life. The pig died the result of the collision, ant if that had been all the damage done the accident was trivial As a matter of fact, the impact brought a lot of trouble in its train, for tho passengers were thrown out and seriously injured. An action for damages ensued, brought by tho passengers on the score of negligence by their Iriend Miss Williams. It was alleged tliat the speed was excessive, ami in this the jury concurred, awarding £2200 damages. It is not every motorist who realises Ids responsibilities lo his friends, whom ho takes abroad on the highways. It is as well that ho should do so. MOTOR CYCLE RACING. Tho second annual race meeting of tho Auckland Motor Racing Club waa held at 'lakiipuua racecourse on Saturday week, before 9000 spectators. Good fields and keen finishes helped to make a splendid afternoon's sport. The riding of P. Coleman was a revelation, his effort, in the flying mile clipping 1 2-sseo oft' the old record. At trie speed recorded ibis represents an improvement of over 160 ft. His time was 48sec. y. Whitehead gave Ids usual splendid display, and although beaten put up some very fast times. In tho fourth lap of tho Great Northern Handicap Coleman had a spill, but as he was on a corner and travelling between 60 and 70 miles an hour, which is comparatively slow ior him, ho escaped unhurt. Whitehead had a spill in tho same place during practice before the races commenced. MU'ready ran wide and hit the feme on the same turn, but no serious injury resulted. Stratton’s machine backfired at tho post in tho Groat Northern Handicap. A few handfuls of earth were sufficient to extinguish tho flames. At the conclusion of the 16-miles Heavy Weight Championship of Now Zealand, which Coleman won in the world’s record time of 12rn.ni 29sen, ho was carried shoulder high by the other riders in front of the grandstand, where he was presented with the championship cup and ribbon by I Mrs P. A. Mitchell. With tho exception i of the one mile flying record, Coleman's 1 best performance was in the President’s ; Handicap, in which ho covered tho six miles in 4min 49soc. , “MASTER DRIVER OF THE WORLD.” Barney Oldfield's famous Los Angelos-lo-Phccnix record, tho record that carried I ho title of “Master Driver of the World,” has l>ecn shattered at last. This record j was made eight years ago. The race thou I was Ixitwcen Cliff Durant and Barney over | a distance of 671 miles. The time was I 25hre Imin 2-srec. Young Waddell's time I on a tour-ay lindor Durant was 22brs 44min. | Waddell drove the entire distance of 671 I miles without, leaving his seat. | The Los Angeles Sunday Times gives | the palm lo a noted driver in the foilowl in.t terms : - - I jimmy Murphy, the only American to ! win I he French Grand Prix, added lo his , laurels at Beverley Hills speedway, in tbo | final champion event of the A.A.A. of j America for the year of 250 miles cham- | pionslnj:. | Eighty thousand spectators witnessed this big event, which had boon postponed since Thanksgiving Day because of rain. Murphy, 1 who had won such fame on his Dusenburg. drove a Durant six-cylinder Special, instead < of lus Murphy Special with a Dusenburg

engine. Murphy was hard pushed all the way. Only three car lengths separated the first three care. The 250 miles was covered in 21ir lOinin 53sec, an average of 114.6 miles per hour, or 3.4 miles faster than Murphy’s record, made at than Francisco last year. Murphy nor or lias been headed since ho beat Tommy Milton, last year’s champion. Murphy has the title now of champion driver of tho world. SYDNEY TO MELBOURNE RECORD. One of the most coveted Australian records is the 655 i mile course Sydney and Melbourne. It is a great test of man and machine, and is keenly sought after . As the history in figures which I publish below show that great improvements have taken place in motor cars and road construction, while the respective drivers’ skill is doubtless greater than in when the record was first established. The times now established is faster than that of the express train between the two capitals, 'iho following is a complete record of tho great performances on this road. ilolbonrnf-Gydney.—C. B. Keßow and ami 11. B. James (Talbot), lC>hx 40min; January, 1008. M,' ]bourn- -Cyfhiey.—C. G. W hit-- and F. Custonco (Talbot), 21hr lOinin; December, 1009. £yflncy-Melbourn&.—Syd. Day (Vinot), 30hr lOmin; February, 1910. Sydncy-Melbourne.—C. G. White and F. Custancc (Talbot) ,10br 47min; March, 1010. Mclbourne-Sydney.—(American) lOhr 2min; May, 1013. Melboume-Sydney.—Boyd Edkms (Tauxhall), 15hr 55min; Maridi, 101 C. Melhounie-Sydney.—A. T. Turner (Dclage), IGhr 47rain; November, 1922. Syduey-Melbonrne.—N. Smith and E. Croysdili Melboume-Sydney.—S. C. Ottoway (Yauxhnll), Mhr 43min; January, 1033. Melboume-Sydney.—N. Smith and E. Croysdili (18.0 Essex), 14br28min; February, 1923. Sydney-Melbournc A. Y. Turner and B. W. Ninon (25 h..p Sports Model Delage). I3hr 47min; February, 1923. Commenting on those two latter performances, Bede Carroll, himself a fine driver, says:— “Mr Norman Smith, driving an 18 9 Essex car, with Mr K. Croysdell as mechanic, starting from Melbourne, and finiehimr at this end, covered the 565 rniioa ill 14hr "Srnin, thus improving upon Mr S. C. Ottoway’s previous record ir. a '£-98 YauxliaJl by Ismin. Mr Smith left tho Mlebourne G.P.O. at 5 a.m. and arrived in Sydney at 7.28 o. This was Mr Smith’s second successful attempt on the record in the same car. Tlie performance is a remarkably fine one for a car under 20 h.p , and would have been improved upon 'ml; for bad luck. Mr Smith took a wrong turning, and lost a considerable amount of time, while ivre troubles through picking up nails .also fast some time. The performance of tho Essex is one that the driver and the agents may justly bo proud of.” The Essex was an ordinary stock model. ■ “Mr Smith’s fine record between the capitals only stood for a day. Mr A. V. Turner, starting oof from Svdnov at. 520 a.m., arrived' at Melbourne G.P.O. o,t 7.7 p. covorins- the course, in 13hr 47min. He drove a 25 h.p. Sporting Model Dclage. the same car as be lowered the record with a few months mro, when a good deal of bad luck went his wav. He lowered Mr Sinflh’s record by 41 min. A couple of punctures caused a little delay, otherwise the record breakers had a fine run. The drive is an exceptionally fine one. but those who know A. V. Turner, charoP’on amateur cyclist just a few years ago, who went into the motor business early, always expect something exceptional when Ibe tackles anything in the record breaking line. Me is a slashing driver, without taking risks.” .TOTTING?., Over £4,000,000 of rubber tyres of all kinds were imported by Great Britain during 1922. It is stated that the police authorities at The Hague have supplied their traffic regulating men with luminous gloves to allow signals to he distinguished in tho dark. A small electric lamn is fixed in ...e centre of the palm, and the light which shows when the constable’s hand is raised is switched off, when the hand is lowered. In granting substantial damages to a taxi-cab driver for injuries to his vehicle in a collision and for loss of profits, Judge Ruegg ,of Hanley, Staffordshire, said that in his view a vehicle coming from a side road must wait until it could safely turn into a. main road. If had no right even to inconvenience traffic in a main"road by making it stop suddenly or by diverting if; from its course. A thoroughly commonsense view. Sometimes when an engine is not anxious to start for any reason you may see two friends co-operating, tho one winding the handle whilst, the other does auxiliary work with the starting switch. Theoretically, the starting handle should disengage automatically as soon a« the engine starts, but in practice two or three very nasty knocks may bo received whi'st applying this dodge io a recalcitrant engine. In all nrohability 1923 will prove to be a year of tost in several directions. For ono thing, the principle of breaking on all four wheels will bo tried out. Then overhead valves for the purposes of the ordinary motorist will have a considered verdict.. These and other features in modern car design are tending to make motor cars too complicated and troublesome for tho convenience of the owner-driver.