THE MOTOR WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19086, 4 February 1924, Page 4

THE MOTOR WORLD.

By ACCELERATOR.

Motorists desiring information with re> gard to mechanical or other car troubles, or on any matter coming within the scope of the sport, pastime, or business o! motoring arc invited to send inquiries to " Accelerator,” Special efforts will bo made to give the most reliable advice on all topics of interest. COMPLETE EQUIPMENT. According to several manufacturers of automobiles, (he 1924 models will have everything on them that the average driver wishes. Bumpers ami spotlights, combination stop and tail lights, wind-shield cleaners of all varieties, cigar lamps, and double tyre carriers are among the things to be carried by some companies. BRITISH CARS FOR 1924. There is a slight change in the fashions 'among the popular type of 1924 cars. Unquestionably the car of 1923, from the popular point of view, was the light family four-seater of 10-h.p. or 11-h.p. But since the evolution of this type of car, prices and running costs have decreased considerably and the most popular car of 1924 is likely to be one of slightly higher horsepower and sturdier build. The smaller cars, however, will still servo as the most economical form of motoring. THE EFFECT OF WATER. A little water in the fuel will cause a lot of trouble. Water is heavier than petrol ; and settles, at the bottom, therefore, when the fuel is low in the lank, any water is likely to be drawn to the carburettor. Stale petrol is the cause of more trouble than most drivers realise. A good grade of fuel 'should test 75 degrees and anything below TO is poor for the lighter spirits have escaped and the denser parts are not so quickly vapourised. PROGRESS IN CARS. British manufacturers are apparently adjusting their altitude towards motorists in this Part of the world (remarks a Christchurch writer). A reasonableness is making itself evident, and motorists here are reciprocating. During the past week I was astonished to see. such a large number of Homeland cars on the streets; not oh 1 cars, but the most modern. Among the recent , arrivals were two Rolls-Royces, three Sunbeams, a Daimler, a 14-h.n. Arm-strong-Siddeley, two Talbots, and an Alvis. All are to be seen about Christchurch. The Alvis is Ashburton-owned. The recent importations in the main have standard bodies of exceptionally lino finish. Some of the cars are open, some closed. COVERS FOR REPAIR WORK. Those owners who take pride in the appearance of their cars, and to whom scratched paint work is almost abhorrent, should carry front-wing covers of some soft material, and use these —or insist upon their being used and kept in position—while engine repairs or adjustments are being made. Garage mechanics are often somewhat careless folk: they lean over immaculate front wings and scratch the varnish badly with the buttons of their clothing, while tools and small parts are liable ■to slip out of their hands on to the wings. But suitablyshaped covers, each secured to one or two points by attached tapes, will prevent blemishes from occurring when the car is under treatment.

WALT. MASON POINTS THE MORAL. “HI give my family a ride,” says J. Terwilligcr Gadzook; “we’ll bowl along the countryside and see the dingle and the brook. T guess I’ve oil enough to spare. I guess I’ve gas to make the trip. ,1 guess my tyres_are full of air, so all aboard and let her rip.” With aunts and nieces in his car. and uncles on the running-board, ho heads_ the bus for points afar, his faith in choosing things restored. At evening, all his casings flat, in some remote, unholy place. I find him seated on his hat, and swearing sadly through his face. And he is out of gasoline, and he is out of oil as well, and weening aunts pervade the scene, and nieces wring their hands and yell. But my old bus is working fine, there is no road she will not roam; and so I get the bunch in line, and take them in. and haul them home. My friend Terwilliger Gadzook will draw no lesson from his plight; he’d .always rather guess than look to see his oil and- tyres are right. , MURIWAI RACES. ■For this year’s, race for the New Zealand Motor Cup, ' to bo decided on Muriwai Beach, Auckland, on March 22, the first prize wall be worth winning. In addition to the handsome silver cup of the value of 100 guineas, a miniature cup, valued at 10 guineas, and £IOO in cash, are to he handed to the driver, of the first car over the line. Quite a number of speedy cars are to contest the biggest event in dominion motoring, and it is understood that Mr Howard Nattras, of Wellington, is entering a special four-cylinder racing model Mercer. It will be remembered that this well-known driver was the first winner of the Motor Cup, with his Cadillac. LONG DRIVE BY A WOMAN. A notable achievement was recently made by Miss Terry, of Inkorman Station, Queensland, who is a motorist of considerable experience. A few weeks ago she set out from her Queensland home, driving a 23-60 horse-power Vauxhall, and reached Sydney eight days later. The total distance covered was 1660 miles, so it will be seen that the excellent average of over 2CO miles per day was accomplished. Miss Terry drove throughout the entire trip, and the oar carried six passengers. The route followed was via Longreach to Morvon, thence to Mungindi, and on through Moree and Gnnnedah to Sydney, by way of the Blue Mountains. During the trip no mechanical trouble of any kind was experienced, and the parly come through without a puncture. THE CAR’S AVERAGE LIFE. Two years ago figures were published tending to show that the average life of automobiles was about 5 1-3 years. A .compilation just completed in America shews that the life of the cars that were manufactured from the fall of 1911 to the fail of 1915 to be about 62 years. The statistics on which this result was predicated may he regarded as fairly accurate. The increase in average age is attributed to the fact that there has been no striking developments in body design or impcrlanlt changes in mechanical features since 1912, with the result that there is a smaller tendency to retire a car before it has worn out. Other causes are: The improvement of roads, the multiplication of repair shops, the introduction of the flat-rate system of car repairing, and the general education of automobile drivers. AN ECHO OF THE NEW YEAR. From the Fiat Press Bureau, accompanied by an artistic card, comes a message, from which I extract The following:— The year 1923 is about to fade into the past, but the flame of hope remains vigorous, full of promises, and we wish to draw from tin's a happy augury. May the year 1924- prove to bo, if not the last, at least a new stage towards that universal order, that perfect harmony so necessary to the complete. development of human activity. May peace reign among the peoples of the earth, may there be unity, may all efforts bo made towards the furtherance of the common good. May the year 1924 mark for the individual, for the family, for the nation, the accomplishment of (heir highest and most noble aspirations. THE GENERATOR. Inspect the brushes and committal or of the generator occasionally. This can be done by removing the detachable end band, and the commutator can be carefully cleaned with a rag soaked in petrol. The. brushes should be detached and inspected for wear and want of proper contact with the commutator. Don’t lot (hern wear down too low; it is much hotter to have (hem replaced than to allow thc» holders to scratch (he commutator, which means the removal of the generator for the commutator to be turned up. The modern tendency is i-o make the brushes softer than the copper of the commutator, and consequently they wear quicker than the old type. See (hat the holders work freely, and that the springs are in good order. Use thin machine oil every ICOO miles. ROAD RACING IN INDIA. A road race in India, over (lie 125 miles of the Queen’s road separating Poona from Bombay, was held a few weeks ago for motor cyeles and all typos of cars, and aroused such enthusiasm that practically the entire length of the road was lined with spectators anxious to see the competitors rush by. Greatest interest centred around tka light cars, because of their

{ltems of news—short descriptions of tours, the state of the roads* etc., comment, or inquiries wiU be welcomed by “Accelerator. 1

importance to tho Indian market,and it was here that the host sport was witnessed, the winning car being Mr Harwood’s liat 501, driven by Williams, who was followed home after a keen struggle by a sister Fiat driven by Baker. Third place was captured by an Ansaldo.* The first race over this road was held a year ago, when the fastest, irrespective of class distinctions, was Hyland on a biat 501, who by his fine performance secured possession of the Dunlop Cup. ' AEROPLANE ENGINE COMPETITION. Cash prizes totalling two million francs are offered by the French Government for an aeroplane engine competition to bo held during tho year 1924. The object of the competition is to encourage tho construction of aviation engines of 350 to 450 horsepower capable of running fop long peirods with the minimum of attention and thus giving the maximum guarantees of security in tho air. After preliminary tests in the air and on the bench, tho engines will have to undergo a 240 hour brake test, iu periods of eight hours, during which all involuntary stops will be penalised.. Fuel consumption will be controlled throughout the trials, and will bo taken into consideration in making the final rewards. lire total number of engines entered for this competition, which is the most important of its kind in the world, is 12. With the exception of Fiat, which entered at the last moment with one engine, all the firms are French. HIGHWAY LIGHTHOUSE. A very interesting ceremony took place at Mordialloc (Victoria) on January 17, when the first “highway lighthouse” was lighted and dedicated to the use of the travelling public. It is installed on what is probably the most popular motor route in Australia, its exact location being on the south side, of the overhead railway bridge at Mordialloc. There is- a dip to the bridge, which, having centre piles, ah'd being on a slight curve, has always been a more or less dangerous spot. The “lighthouse,” with its warning notice—“ Caution ; Curve”—and its intermittent amber-coloured light showing night and day, will bp signal to road users of the need for cars approaching the bridge. .It is quite an innovation in the way of warning road signs. The beacon was erected through the instrumentality of the National Roads Association (Victoria branch), and is lighted by compressed acetylene of a capacity that will need renewing not more frequently than quarterly. It has been installed without cost to the municipality or the public, and will be maintained by means of a motor fuel advertisement which appears on the pedestal. The Mordialloc beacon is the first of its kind erected in any part of the commonwealth, but similar lighthouses are to be installed on many other roads in the State and also in all cities throughout Australia. A RIDER’S LAMENT. A rider’s lament to his fond mount after a mysterious stoppage : I do not know what is tho matter with you. I have done all I can, I have looked into your tank, pressed your -tyres affectionately, inspected your belt, tested your wheels, flooded your carburettor to reckless overflowing, stroked, our magneto, poured oil into your troubled gear-box, and kicked your starter until my leg has ached and well nigh dropped off. But you have not responded. You do not seem inclined to respond. A sickening fear gnaws at my very soul that your magneto has contracted a form of paralysis. This is beyond me. But you are not interested, I see. You look bored, dreadfully ill, and cold. Why don’t you shiver?

The night is falling now. It will probably rain. I will cover you with my coat and walk to the nearest town and return in the morning with skilled help. MOTOR CYCLE NOTES. In 1919 there were only six or seven motor cycles in Cyprus, but now the number has increased to 60 or 70. It has now been definitely announced that H. Lqyack has won the 1923 Brooklands ■Aggregate prize with 154 marks, this being the second year in succession he has gained the award. In spite of the success of 500 c.c. motor cycle engines in aeroplanes, an engine of not less than 1000 c.c. will probably be inoe popular because of the slightly greater lilting powers enabling a passenger to he carried. Ihe results of th 0 Hawera Motor Cycle Clubs reliability trial held on January I and 2 from Hawera to To Kuiti. and back wore announced during the week. The winner of Class A was L. Wann, Stratford, who put up a particularly good performance on a 7-9 Indian reduced by remot-hm-one cylinder to under 500 c.c..- The side-car class was won by Lighthand, Stratford. L Coleman (Eltham) received a special prize tor his splendid ride on a 21, Vollocetto whose meritorious performance gave some indication of what the light-weight, the machine of the future, can really do. SPARKS. tr,yr e w f lhi toN&ate on the Waitara-Te Kuiti road collected £64 a fortnight ago--"fXihZgC™;i ng ,h ° Italians have invented a water-cooled engine of the radial type that is operated by heavy fuel and weighs less than 21b for each horse-power developed. A process in which two gases are used Has been developed for vulcanising ' raw rubber m about half an hour at a temperature that permits the introduction of colourmgs. Automobile owners should watch their radiator hose. Many times it looks perfect from the outside, but when inspected thoroughly is found to be rotted away on the inside, causing the circulation to be blocked. The first car to run on the streets of Christchurch was a Benz. This make of car is still being produced in Germany. A modern Benz arrived in Christchurch recently, and may be seen on the streets. New taxis in Paris, when fitted with fourwheel brakes, have a notice to that effect painted on the roar of the oar lust above the number plate, in order to warn the drivers of cars following of the necessity for caution in case of being suddenly pulled up in traffic. Saw a conscientious or perhaps ultracareful motorist about town the other day (remarks “ Chassis ” in the Christchurch Sun). Something had gone wrong with the honker, and the man at the wheel drove with a whistle gripped in his teeth. At each corner he whistled shrilly. Seemed to work all light, but what if a driver coming round the corner thought that it was only a postman?

" In other words, it means that when you buy a motor vehicle you buy a road, too I think the tailgates are the fairest system, but I don’t think Now Zealand will ever Rave the tollgates,” said the Hon. J. Q Coates when addressing the executive of the. Now Zealand Farmers’ Union in Wellington. “I fear a petrol tax would be abused,” said a, member of the Farmers' Union in Wellington last week. “ Abuses will creep in and will be very difficult to detect, and two forms of taxation will be difficult to collect.” These remarks followed a statement that stationary engines, milking machines, etc., would be exempted from a petrol tax. It sometimes happens that the lens of the headlight keeps up an irritating chatter while the car is going over rough ground A simple remedy for this is to fold one or two thicknesses of friction tape round the rim of tbo lens. The tape, of course, thanks to its adhesive qualities, will not readily come off.

’ I’ll get oven with you one day, Mr Policeman,” threatened a young woman who had been arrested last March in Brooklyn by a motor-cycle cop for speeding. She. did. The social columns of the Now York newspapers recently carried the story of a fashionable wedding in which the cop and the young woman were the principals. Mr I-I. Groeott, of Hamilton. Waikato, has written as follows to Mr J. S. Hawkes; “ My membership to the C.A.A. during mv four in the South Island has been a good proposition. Apart from the general advantage of membership, the hotel concessions amounted to oyer £6. I cannot understand any motorist in the South Island not becoming a nicmfer of his local association, as tho advantages are so many. Thanking you for the favours which have been extended to me.” The wanton destruction of signposts in the Southland district is eauing concern to (he Southland Automobile Association, which has written to Mr P. R. Harman, secretary of the South Island (N.Z.) ’Motor Union on tho matter. It is asked that the quarterly meeting of the union should consider the matter of asking; tho Minister of

Justice to amend the Police Offences Act to make it an offence for any person to wantonly destroy road signs. A common cause of excessive fouling of the plugs is due to their not being long enough to project well into the combustion chamber. Hence the plug points are shielded by the walls of the spark plug screw socket, in the cylinder wall, and thus tend to accumulate a great deal of carbon. The remedy, of course, is to substitute plugs of adequate length. Already there is talk of the need for permanent traffic officials and speed traps on tho ITutt road as soon as tho surfacing is completed. Tho present legal speed limit on that highway is 25 m.p.h.. reduced to 12 m.p.h. through Kaiwarra and Nirahauranga, as indicated on the notice boards A curious suggestion has been made that when the road is surfaced the speed limit should be reduced to 15 m.p.h.. the ground for this extraordinary proposal being that the motorists will exceed tho speed limit anyhow!