THE MOTOR WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19283, 22 September 1924, Page 4

THE MOTOR WORLD.

By ACCELERATOR.

Motorists desiring Information with regard to mechanical or other car troubles, or on any matter coming within the soope of the eport, pastime, or business of motoring are invited to send inquiries to " Accelerator.” Special efforts will be made to give the most reliable advice on all topics of interest.

A WARNING. The secretary of the Otago Motor Club hoa received advico from the engineer of the Maniototo County Council that one of the small bridges on the Palmerston-Clyde road is dangerous for fast driving, a notice to that effect being displayed at each end of the bridge. The bridge in question is the one immediately before tile Swinburn, on the road to Clyde.

THE ORIGIN OF “AUTOMOBILE’. Asked to explain the origin of the word “automobile,” the Now York Literary Digest says the word, which designates a motor-car, pronounced au-to-mo-beol, was taken from the French, language by persons who were not aware that automobile has been in use in the English language as an adjective for 100 years before the introduction of the modem motor vehicle. This adjective meant “self-moving,” and was pronounced au-to-mo-bil. The term seems to be gradually passing out of use in the United States, where the word “oar,” very often pronounced as if spoiled “cah,” is rapidly superseding it.

THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. Before the dawn of the motor-oar age, a passing motorist picked’ up a farmer who had never before seen an automobile. The farmer was duly impressed and delighted. To impress him still more, the motorist put his foot on the accelerator, and for six or seven miles they tore along like the wind. Then something went wrong with the steering gear, and they ran into a tree. The farmer and motorist alighted unhurt on a bank of moss The car was not damaged. “that was fine,” said the farmer, as ho got, up. “Wo sartinly went the pace. Tell me this, though, hew do you stop her when there ain’t no trees?”

A BADGE LICENSE. Metal badges, as substitutes for the paper driving licenses at present issued to motorists in Autralia, are being advocated by the Royal Automobile Club. Sample badges, which had been specially made for the chib, were forwarded for the inspection of the Minister. These bear all the information required to be recorded on a driving license, and they would cost in quantity only a few pence each. The club is o’f opinion that a metal disc would be far more convenient than a paper license. Car drivers would bo 'less liable to forget a badge, which could bo carried on a key ing or watchchain. it would not become dirty and worn, and it would, as before mentioned, contain all essential information.

ROAD MAINTENANCE. There lias l>oea much discussion in several countries on the subject of financing rood construction with borrowed money, which so far has been a general practice in Now Zealand. The point of controversy is whether or not it is sound policy to raise long-term loans for short-lived improvements. Another form of the same question is: Should tho greater cost of present improvements bo passed on to posterity. The Local Government Board in Great Britain has fixed the maximum terms for road loans for the various classes of improvements. The schedule should be of interest to local bodies in the dominin. The British terms are: Years. Granite, limestone, or slag and tar ... 7 Asphaltic pavements ... ... 10 Soft-wood blocks, not creosoted ... ... 5 Sofbwoodcd blocks, creosoted 1 Hardwood blocks _. 10 Concrete foundations 10 Granite oh concrete 20 Land for widening roads, etc. SO

TWENTY YEARS SYNE. Statements which if made to-day would sound very amusing were uttered by Brevet major M’Nulty, of the A.S.C., in a lecture on “Mechanically-propelled Vehicles for Military Use,’’ before the Royal United Service Institution in 1904. Speaking of tho motor-cycle, he said it raised leas dust than the meet dnstless car, and in tho case of breakdown it oould be pedalled. At a pinch the engine could te removed and. the machine used as a pedal bicycle. Unfortunately, it was not yet perfect, and it was even now (1904 !) no uncommon sight to see a motor-cyclist detained on the road by some temporary trouble. He considered that 20 motor bicycles and 40 ordinary bicycles, accompanied by two cars carrying spares for tho former, would constitute a very mobile force. His idea was that tho motor cyclists should tow the push cyclists.

MOTOR v. RAILWAY. “Even though we have a railway running past the factory, motor lorries can cart our produce 12 to 15 miles to New Plymouth -5s a ton cheaper than it can be sent by rail,” said Mir J. Brown, chairman of directors of the Maketawa Dairy Company, at the meeting of shareholders. It was a remarkable fact, said Hr Browp, but it meant a considerable saving to the company, which intended sending all its produce by motor lorry. 'they had frequently been advised that railway freight charges were being revised, but had not yet heard of any reduction. The company had arranged a contract for the cartage of tho coming season’s produce, and the figure represented a saving of 4s to 4s 6d a ton over present railway charges.

NECESSITY FOR SHOCK ABSORBERS. The use of some form of spring damper or shock-absorber is coming to be more generally recognised as an important part of car suspension design. ... If the need of these things has been demonstrated, and we believe it has, they are much more necessary in tho case of the small car than they are in the case of tho heavier vehicle. With tho great reduction in weight of tho modem cor and the more general use of smaller vehicles has come a greater difficulty in keeping the wheels down on the road at speed. We. believe that no form of laminated leaf spring can be so efficient that its efficiency cannot bo improved by some appliance which will check its normal activity.

THE TWELVE-HOUR RECORD. It is cabled from England that a sixcylinder Lanchoster has put up new world’s record figures on Brooklands track for the 12 hours’ record, the distance covered in the half-day being 1148 miles, equal to an average speed of 95i miles per hour. The previous record was 1078 miles 469 yards, to the credit of three drivers on a Sunbeam—viz., Messrs Dario Resta, Loo Guinness, and Chassagne. Strange to say. the first-named famous driver was killed almost at the same time on Brooklands. word being to hand that whilst attempting a record his oar was hurled through the corrugated iron fence along the top of the banking. Resta being killed instantly. Amongst his many successes was the rich Indianapolis 500 miles Track Race of 1916, which he won on a Peugeot.

SATURATION POINT. “We hoar a good deal of talk these days about tho over-importation of motor vehicles, and that tho saturation point has been reached,’’ said Mr P. E. Stainton, president, in his retiring address to the convention of tho New Zealand Motor Trade Association in Christchurch on Tuesday last. ‘My candid opinion,” he said, “is that, providing wo do tho business on sound business, lines, and that the vehicles are bought to increase commercial efficiency, we need not he afraid of this prophesied state of affairs. In fact, lam prepared to make a prophecy—providing that tho Motor Vehicles Bill does not tend to curtail motoring, and providing the improvement in main highways is vigorously prosecuted —that the importation of motor vehicles will continue to steadily increase. Also, I am satisfied that within a reasonably short space of time the closed car is going to bo the popular private car.”

TWO MILES A MINUTE. A speed of two miles a minute has at last, boon achieved on a motor cycle. This fine record was established by an English rider on an English-made machine, tho successful motor cyclist being H. Lo Vnck on a Brough machine, which cornea under

glioma of nows— short descriptions of tours, the state of the toA etc., comment, or inquiries will be welcomed by "Accelerates.”!

the 1000 c.o. class. This fine achievement was put up under the auspices of the Motor Cycle Club of France at the Arpajon speed trials. His mean time, riding in both directions, was 119.74 m.p.h. for fno flying kilometre (1093 yards) and lls.od m.p.h. for the flying mile. His speed m one direction was 123 m.p.h., _ over two miles per minute. With a side-car attached and passenger up, he covered a mile at a speed of 100 1-3 m.p.h. remarkable travelling!

SECOND HAND CARS. In bis address to the convention of the New Zealand Motor Trade Association m Christchurch on Tuesday. Mr P. E. Staniton (New Plymouth), the retiring president, touched on the matter of second-hand cars. “We, in New Zealand,” ho said, are being confronted with the same trading difficulties that have confronted, and from reliable advices, have been successfully overcome by traders in the United Sttaes The foremost of these difficulties is the trading in second-hand cars as part-pay-ment for now cars. Lot me ask you. Is it sound business to encourage this second-hand-dealing? To-day, as you are alt a ware, the public hag been educated to expect absurd prices for second-hand junk, and it needs no prophet to predict that unless wo immediately benefit by the exDortence of other countries and take effective measures to deal with this question, we will! find it will bo the undoing of many apparently prosperous businesses of to-day. *‘There are some of our who say that everything will come right if we give it time. It may bo my shortness of vision, but. I cannot see any conceivable way by which this question will come right if we leave conditions exactly as they are at, the present moment. Personally, I am satisfied that this is an association problem which I trust will receive the attention it requires at this conference.”

THE .FRENCH GRAND PRDC The Blue Riband Road Race of Europe, Ihe French Grand Prix of 1924, was won by Guiseppe Campari on a straight 8-cyhnder Mfu-Romeo. A private cablegrom was received to this effect. This year’s classic was decided over the Lyons circuit (14.3 miles to the lap), the total distance being 500 miles. Twenty-two cars were entered for what promisee! to be one of the most strenuous contests yet associated with this great event. No time was given in the cable referred to above. The winning oar’s engine has a bore and stroke of 61 x 85 millimetres, the cylinders being separate steel forgings water jacked in pairs. Two overhead valves only wore used to each cylinder, and only one plug per cylinder placed centrally in the combustion chamber. A supercharger was used. Running at 5000 revolutions per minute this two litre engine developed 130 horse power. As the Lyons circuit is a winding and hilly one the probabilities are that new records were not established. Last year’s race was won by H. O. Seagrave (England) on a Sunbeam, his time for 497 miles being 6 hours 49 minutes.

TO MAKE BETTER. TRADESMEN. “The scheme adopted at the last annual meeting has teen put into practical operation, and it is hoped to have it working in at least three of tho main centres dining tho present year (states tho annual report of the Now Zealland Motor Trade Association in dealing with the technical training of apprentices). A strong class has been formed at tho Auckland Technical College, which is run on the lines laid down in the scheme adopted by tho association. Since the close of the year £IOO has been paid over to the Auckland Technical College from the funds in hand for that purpose. The Auckland branch of the association contributed £25 from its funds, and with tho Government subsidy the Auckland Technical ’College authorities have a sum of £250 to spefid on special equipment for this class. The general application cannot yot be brought into operation until the position of the motor trade in respect of tho Apprentices Act is definitely settled. This will not be until after the next Wellington sessions of the Arbitration Court in November, when it is hoped that an agreement will be arrived at which will enable the association scheme to be carried out ns part of the necessary training of apprentices in the motor trade supported by the Appentices Act.”

AMERICAN ENGINE DESIGN. An announcement concerning the regulations tor the Indianapolis Race— tho great international motoring event of America—for 1926 has already teen made Tho regulations lay down that there will be a limit of engine sire of 914 in, which dimension has obviously been adopted because it is the nearest approximate size to the internationally recognised 1500 c.c. limit for the light car. the actual maximum cubic capacity being 1499.5 c.c. This decision is on© of very great significance, and we may be quite sure that it has not been adopted unless a reasonably large number of American manufacturers are definitely producing cars with an engine size very much smaller than that hitherto prevailing. It means, in short, that America is going seriously into the question of producing small cars having engines within the limit of size recognsed as the maximum in Europe for tho light car classification. There is nothing very_ extraordinary in this; it is really astonishing that America has not previously appreciated the popularity of small oars in Europe and endeavoured to provide similar vehicles of its own manufacture

FIRST MOTOR TRAFFIC LEGISLATION. It is necessary to go back to 1898 to find the first effort made by the Now Zealand Parliament to regulate motor traffic by means of legislation. The pioneer measure was a private Bill, and, ultimately it went on the Statute Book as “The M‘Lean Motor Car Act, 1888.” At that date it was even doubtful whether the motor had any right on the road. The preamble of the Act reveals how cautious legislators of tho day were in dealing with this new method of locomotion. “ Whereas it is doubtful whether in the existing state of the law, motor cars can bo lawfully used on the public’ roads and streets, and it is expedient that such power should be given, be it therefore enacted that .... in this Act the following expressions shall have tho meaning assigned to them respectively.” The definition of a motor car was ” anv vehicle propelled by mechanical power which unladen is under throe tons in weight, such vehicles being so constructed that no smoka or visible vapour is emitted therefrom except from some temporary or accidental cause.” The Act provided that “every motor car shall carry a bell or other instrument capable of giving audible sufficient warning of the approach or position of tho motor car.” Also that “no motor car shall travel along a public highway at greater speed than 12 miles an hour, or than any loss speed that may te proscribed by regulations.” In the schedule of regulations it wa a provided that motor cars were to bo capable of being guided by a person sitting thereon. The tyre of each. wheel had to te no less than two and a-half inches in width. Provision was made for a brake for every two wheels, and the limit of the width of a car was fixed at 6ft 6in. For the purpose of identity every car had to have painted conspicuously on its right side a registered number or mark, and also its weight.

By ACCELERATOR.

SPARKS. Ho who hesitates is safe—at level crossings. The United Kingdom has 400,000 motor cycles. Automobiles increased over 100 per cent, in the last 10 years. Nearly all the 2500 autos in the Dominican Republic have been imported in the last three years. Up to tho end of April only 625 cars were exported from Germany this year, as compared with 1855 in the same period a year ago. November 9 to 15 next is the date fixed for the twentieth annual Automobile Exhibition in Now York, while that in Chicago is to be held during tho last week of January, 1925. Most of the variety of license tags in the United Stales have white numerals on a coloured background. Eleven States are using black backgrounds with white numerals.

An English amateur motorist, E. A. Eldridge, recently put up a remarkable road record in France aboard a ZOO-h.p. Fiat. Ho covered a kilometre (1093 yards) from a flying start at a speed of 146 miles an hour. The speed attained was the average of two drives in opposite directions. Ho covered the' flying mile at 145 i m.p.h. Drivers, when approaching or entering a curb, highway intersection, or junction, or coming to the top of a hill, if roadway is obscured, should use sound signal effectively and go slowly. As a natural result of the abandonment of a tariff on imported cars and motor cycles, many foreign manufacturers are investigating the British market with the intention of establishing agencies for their goods in England. A special traffic patrol officer has commenced duty in Christchurch City by arrangement between the City Council and tlie Police Department. This officer’s duties will consist of trying to educate a considerable section of the public to a reasonable appreciation of footpath by-laws. Vehicular traffic will also come .within tho scope of his work. Motor cars and motor trucks to the number of 78 were registered with the traffic department of tho Auckland City Council during the past week, compared with 74 for the preceding week. Motor cycles totalled 27, as against 30 during tho previous week. The number of motor cycles registered during recent weeks has been uniformly high. Good progress is being made with the new building of the Royal Auto Club of Victoria. The complete building will be one of eight storeys and a basement and, as a whole, will not bo out of the contractors’ hands before tho end of the club’s financial year, which closes on February 28. It is being erected in reinforced concrete, and will bo a fine edifice, an acquisition to the city’s architecture. The Royal Automobile Club of Victoria will give £250 as first prize for the projected motor race from Port Darwin to Adelaide, providing reliability is hold conjointly. An effort is to bo made to raise £IOOO for this purpose by circularising the members. As there are 5000 members on the roll, a subscription of 5s each would suffice. There is also a prize of £IOOO, given by Mr C. B. Kellow. MOTOR CYCLE NOTES.

An American six days’ trial, similar to the English trials, was recently held in the Cleveland district. ,At tho Scottish speed championships the Norton won the S'i-h.p. event, and the A.J.S. secured honours in the 2|-h.p. The Northern Motor Cycle Touring Club will hold a social and dance on tho Saturday following their opening run of next Sunday. Alex. Bennett has added to his lonu list of wins by _ annexing the Belgian Grand Pnx on a Norton, at an average speed of 61.3 m.p.h. ihe new model, Indian Chief, has a much improved front fork springing. Designed more after the style of tho Scout, the new fork should prove very strong and comfortable.

The 2g h.p. Rudge climbed Screw Hill, Liverpool, in 2min 16 4-ssec. Half a mile with a rise of 600 feet and six hairpin bends was accomplished in this time with a lOst passenger in the side-car. There appears to be a considerable demand in the United States for motor cycle side-ear outfits, equipped as first aid 'fire engines. In a country of large distances and widely-spread suburbs such speedy outfits are doubtless of great value. The latest engine design of an unorthodox nature has a cylinder and piston which, for want of a better term, are described as elliptical in shape. The design enables larger overhead valves to be employed with greater cooling space between, and in the case of four-cylinder power unit rod permit of a much shorter crankshaft. Tests of au experimental model are claimed to have resulted in unusually cool running, and particular freedom from pinking. The following is a copy of a cablegram received last week;—“A.J.S. trade team (J. Stewart, Alan Bruce, and Alan Congress) won outright teams 24 hours’ trial, Victoria’s classic reliability one point only lost.*’ The course was over 450 miles of rough roads, eight teams competing, all makes and horse-powers. The A.J.S. team comprised two 7 h.p. combinations and one 2J h.p. combination. Over 600 class—day speeds, 25 miles per hour; over 600 class — night speeds, 22 miles per hour- under 600 class —day speeds, 22 miles per hour; under 600 class—night, speeds, 19 miles‘per hour. No points lost for mechanical defects. One point lost represents one minute late at control. The contest was run under Victorian rules, and all machines were examined for defect-; at finish.” The proposal of tho recent local bodies conference, held in the city, to make an annual tax for motor cycles of up to £3 30s, is being vigorously opposed by riders. The originator of the scheme probably is in a position to pay any fee that may bo decided on, but were he to change places with the average motor cycle rider, he would realise that such a proposal is not only more than owners can afford, but is also one that would seriously affect the number of machines sold. One of the best known of Brookland* riders who was largely responsible for instituting the recent “strike” against th*» silencer regulations states that it is “impossible to silence a super-efficient engine ” by which he presumably means it is im possible to silence it adequately without a considerable power loss. Unsilenoed engines, however, are of no use apart from racing purposes, and our own opinion is that the new regulations should do much to direct effort to a very important aspect of design that has been sadly neglected in the past. Increased power at tho expenses of noiselessness is not what the public want*. The New Plymouth Motor Cycle Club held a petrol consumption test and sports at its course on Mr Ansford’s farm, Omata. recently. The petrol consumption test was won by H. Rowe (A.J.S.), who covered 8.7 miles on one-sixteenth of a gallon, which works out at the average of 139.2 miles to the gallon. B. Simmons (A.J.S.) was next with 8.4 miles to one-sixteenth gallon (134.4 miles to the gallon), and J. Crockett (Norton) was third, averaging 118.4 miles per gallon. The next in order were A. Ross (Norton) 116.8 m.p.g. ; T. Waters (Reading), 76.8 m.p.g.; B. Wilson (Norton). 62.4 m.p.g.; C. Allen (8.5. A.), 57.6 m.p.g.; A. E. Kretschmar (6 h.p. Douglas and side-car), 416 m.p.g. A very difficult hill was selected for the climbing contest, wheih gave promise of some fine riding, but the test .was spoilt by the previous day’s rain, which made tho grass s& slippery that the wheels of tho machine would buzz uselessly over the surface without gripping at all. B. Simmons, on his A.J.S., succeeded in reaching the crest in 8 ' 4-ss’ec, despite the greasy surface, a very creditable performance. H, Rowe, also on an A.J.S., did a slightly different course in 12 l-ssec.