THE MOTOR WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20431, 11 June 1928, Page 4

THE MOTOR WORLD.

By ACCELERATOR.

SOUTHLAND MOTOR ASSOCIATION. The annual report and balance sheet of the Southland Motor Association reveals a healthy state, showing an improvement in the financial condition of the association and an increase in membership, which now stands at 1150. The activities of the year have been varied, and the accomplishments of the association have been many and of value to members. Members are asked to note three points:— 1. If you know of any direction or danger signs required in the district, the executive would be pleased if you would give particulars to the secretary. 2. If you know of any road sign not erected in the correct position please advise the secretary. 3. If you have a motorist friend who is not a member of the association please let the secretary know his name and address. QUESTION EVENING. Acting on the suggestion of Mr J. L. Passmore, a “ question evening ” is to bo substituted for the usual lecturette at the monthly meeting of the Otago Motor Club to be held on Tuesday next. Questions relating to faults in the mechanism of a car. liability in accident cases, obligations under the new regulations, etc., are invited. The innovation should be both profitable and interesting. THE PROPER WAY. In starting up by means of the crank handle there is always the risk of a backfire, and consequent injury to the wrist. The risk is minimised if the handle is held in the correct manner, that is, with the fingers and thumb together—not with the thumb and fingers curled separately around the handle. Better appreciation of this point would materially help' to decrease the number of cases of injury caused by backfire. TOLL BRIDGES. At the beginning of 1928 there were 233 toll bridges in operation in the United States according to a recent report by the United States Bureau of Public Roads. Of these, only 42 were owned by the States or other political divisions, and the remaining 191 were privately owned. Twenty-nine toll bridges are now under construction, of which 20 are privately owned. Another 163 are proposed for construction, of which 100 would be built by private capital. EXHAUST GAS PERIL. “ Under any circumstances the discharge of an automobile exhaust into a roofed enclosure should be regarded as a hazardous act. The greatest danger to life is unquestionably in the small private garage containing one or two cars," is the statement made by the United States Public Health Service in a nation-wide analysis of carbon monoxide peril. _ Keeping the doors open while working in the garage, When the motor vehicle is will prove an excellent rule, at all times. Remember that a little care may prevent fatal termination to well-meant efforts. BATTERY FUMES. Many batteries are placed in such a dark position beneath the floor-boards that it is very often necessary to bring a light to bear to examine the water level in the cells. It should always be remembered, however, that the hydrogen fumes which emanate from the battery are highly inflammable, so that there is some danger attached to the use of a naked light. The wise motorist will always use a portable electric light or an electric flashlight. SAFETY OF CHILDREN. Instructions in street accident prevention is compulsory in seven States in America. The American Automobile Association summarises the State laws as follows: “In New Jersey each teacher is required to devote 30 minutes each two weeks to the instruction of ways and means of preventing accidents. Under this law the Commissioner of Education is required to publish a booklet on accident prevention, and place it at the disposal of the teachers. “ In North Carolina each teacher is required to bring to the attention of the pupils once a week a digest of the traffic laws of the State. In Ohio teachers are required to give 30 minutes’ instruction each month on the subject of accident prevention. “ In Pennsylvania the statute requires that training in ‘ safety first ’ methods be given. “ In Virginia each teacher in the public schools is required to devote 30 minutes each mould) for the purpose of instruction in ways and means of preventing accidents. “ In Winconsin the teacher is required to give 30. minutes’ instruction each month on accident prevention. “In Wyoming the law requires that each teacher in the public schools devote 60 minutes each month to the teaching of ■accident prevention.” MOTOR FATALITIES IN U.S.A. It is estimated that 11,765 persons were killed in the United States during 1927 in accidents caused principally by motorists. Fatalities caused principally by pedestrians are placed at 11,367, and those resulting from accidents caused principally by physical conditions at 3486. In estimating for tabulation the ' various causes for these accidents, the American Road Builders’ Association has used a progress report issued by the National Automobile Chamber of Commerce for 100 cities in 1926. The table follows: Fatalities Caused Principally by Motorists.

MOTOR CYCLE RELIABILITY TRIAL The enterprise of the Southland Motor Cycle Club in organising the first motor cycle reliability trial to be held in Southland was rewarded by 'large entries, including two from Dunedin. From start to finish the event was an entire success, and the King’s Birthday trial can be looked for as an annual fixture in Southland. Messrs M. M. Macdonald and R. T. Burt, who were responsible for the organisation, and the marshals, observers, and other officials deserve great credit for the success with which the trial was conducted, and for the fact that every detail of the organisation ran through without a hitch. Of the 45 entries which were received for last Monday’s event, 38 started. Twenty-four competitors checked into Invercargill at the finish, and only three of these lost marks for condition of their machines. Competitors were checked in at the Crescent at 8.10 a.m., and the first rider left at 8.35, according to schedule, riders being despatched at intervals of one minute, and the last man leaving the Crescent at 9.19 a.m. They would, of course, in order to avoid penalties, have to arrive back in the exact order in which they started. Rain was experienced going out the East road, though the road itself was in good order. The sidecars followed the Hedgehope road to Mataura, but the solo machines were sent along the main road to Dacre and then took the St. Rowan's road, which was not considered to be suitable for the sidecars. The solo machines found the St. Rowan’s road very rough going when about 25 miles from Invercargill. Portion of the road is

[ltems of new* —short descriptions, of tours, the state of the roads, oto., comment, or inquiries will be welcomed by “ Accelerator. ]

being formed, and heavy carting and rain, to say nothing of frosts, made the surface very bad. Other parts were plain grass and clay. At Mataura all competitors had to cross the river and take the road up the east bank to Gore. The first man was due at Gore at 10.39, but did not appear. A few minutes later No. 10 (A. J. Anderson. 596 Indian) checked in 2Jmin ahead of his time, thereby sustaining a penalty. Others followed at irregular intervals. It was interesting to note that No. 13 (W. A. Cameron, 349 A.J.S.), who arrived Bmin behind time, considered it might be necessaray to retire on account of partial seizure of his engine, and removed his cylinder to examine the piston. After slight repairs, he decided to keep on, but was disqualified as a result of fitting engine parts which had not been carried with him from the starting point. Although a great many competitors were late at this check, 33 arrived. They were timed to have a 25min stop and were then sent on the second stage to Balfour. The route turned in towards the hills at Mandeville, and followed the upper plain road, where there were several stretches of particularly greasy surface and a number of water splashes. The solo machines had a good deal of trouble in keeping their balance, and scarcely & solo rider came through without a spill on that section. The majority soon lost count of the number of times they left their machines. W. A. M'Dowell (989 Harley) made a great recovery of lost time on this section. He checked out of Gore 14min late and was the first competitor to arrive at Balfour, where he came in 31 min too early. Unfortunately, he overdid his .recovery and was penalised for arriving before time. Balfour was the dinner stop, where Ihr 15min was allowed. The competitors were now reduced to 30. Special mention must be made of J. G. Miller (989 Harley and sidecar), who had already had three punctures and arrived at the Balfour check only BJmin before he was timed to start off again. In spite of his late arrival, he checked out within the COsee allowed. The route then led into the Hokonuis and up the Glenure Hill, the greater portion of which is a one in five grade and is very rough and greasy, the steepest corner having a grade of one in three. The large boulders carefully strewn upon the track proved the undoing of at least half of the competitors, and failures were numerous. The hill was officially observed, with 30 marks allotted; speed did not count 'in the climbing, and the object was to make a clever ascent. Only five competitors came through this test without loss of marks, the best performances being made by the following:—A. W. Parsons (596 Indian), A. M‘N. Wyllie (493 o.h.v. 8.5. A.). A. J. Anderson (596 Indian), C. E. Elley (493 8.5. A.), T. Palmer (497, Ariel), and F. P. Sizemore (349 A.J.S.). The last-named failed near the top, after having made a wonderful climb on the lower portion. All the sidecars stopped, though one was due to a baulk and one overturned. From the top of the hill the route led down the Caroline Valley through a wet and greasy portion where spills were frequent, trouble being caused also by mud clogging under the mudguards. At Dipton there were only 28 competitors in the running, but they included all the sidecars. The final section from Dipton to Invercargill followed the main road, and the speed to be averaged was 25 miles per hour. . , One rider who was travelling on his left side of the road was run into by a car which swerved across and hit his back wheel. He was thrown on the bank, but, fortunately, he was uninjured. The car did not stop. . . A feature of the trial was the precision with which some corilpetitors arrived at various checks dead on time. In several cases also they were less than five seconds out, and at the finish two-thirds of the remaining riders checked in within the free minute allowed either way. W. Carter (498 A.J.S. and side-car) was unfortunate in having tyre trouble coming into Invercargill in the morning, which made him 11 minutes late in checking in at the start. Had it not been for this setback he would have gained a higher place. The results of the trial were as follow: — Class A (Solo machines under 400 c.c.). A. Tapper (349 Harley), 880 points .. 1 R. H, Woodfiold (349 A.J.S.), 855 ■ points .. R. A. Dunnage (349 Rover), 790 points 3 Class B (Solo machines 400 cc and over). A. W. Parsons (596 Indian), 935 points 1 A. J. Anderson (596 Indian), 895 points 2 C. E. Elley (493 8.5. A.), 860 points 3 Class C (Side-cars, unlimited.) H. S. Jones (989 Harley), 950 points 1 S. Fraser (1204 Indian), 930 points 2 T. W. Stewart (744 Indian), 915 points 3 Team Results. Five teams, each of three 'Competitors, entered, but only two completed. The placed teams with the marks secured, out of the possible 3000, were: —

SPARKS. It' is officially estimated that motor tourists in Canada spent £55,000,000 last year. • • • “Pump me? ” says the Big Tree Pump. “ I’ve only one secret and that puts more power behind your piston.”—Advt. * * * Italian car manufacturers may now import petrol and oil free of duty for testing purposes. •. # • Following experiments with a few 75seater omnibuses, the London General Omnibus Company has ordered 75 of these double-deckers. * * * Ambulance Surgeon: “What brought on the fit?” Neighbour: “The poor fellow’s new car had just been delivered, and when he came out he saw a butterfly tramping over the paintwork.” • • • The Oil of inspiration. Big Tree Motor Oil inspires your car to do the better things. Use it always.—Advt. ‘ * To remove the spark plugs from many makes of cars is quite a job with an ordinary spanner. Drivers would be well advised not to attempt it without the use of a good-fitting box-spanner. The job is half as hard, and you will not knock any skin off your knuckles. A man staying at an hotel wakened in the morning to find a chambermaid putting his tea tray on the table at his bedside. “I didn’t hear you knock!” he remarked. “ No, sir, of course not,” she retorted. “I’m Ethyl!” • * • Dont let pleasure interfere with business. Big Tree is good business that puts pleasure into Motoring.—Advt. * * • The total number of registered motorboats in America at the close of 1927 was 220,455. This represents an increase of 12,418 over 1926, and 21,819 over 1925. Since 1919, the first year in which figures were given, there has been an increase of 128,676 boats. These remarkable increases are undoubtedly due to the congestion on the roads in America, especially at week-ends, and it is proved that where seaside residences are maintained by a family the motor car takes the family to their week-end residence, and there a speed-boat is kept to enable them to enjoy the pleasure of the sea.

Total killed In 1927 .. Inattention 32 p.c. 3765 Speeding 23 p.c. 2706 Traffic violation . . . . 20 p.c. 2353 Intoxication 9 p.c. 1059 Miscellaneous 16 p.c. 1882 Fatailitles Caused Principally by Pedestrians. Total killed in 1927 . Children playing in the street or crossing in violation of traffic re11,367 gulation 32 p.c. 3638 Adult Jay-walking 27 p.c. 3069 Inattention 16 p.c. 1819 Confusion 14 p.c. 1591 Other causes 11 p.c. 1250 Fatalities Caused Principally by Physical Conditions. Total killed during 1927 3,486 Fog, snow, or rain 37 p.c. 1290 Delect in vehicle 19 p.c. 662 Skidding . . .. 16 p.c. 558 Road defect 11 p.c. 383 Strong lights 7 p.c. 244 Poor street light . . . . 7 p.c. 244 Confusion in dimming 3 p.c. 105

1st, Indian Team. A. W. Parsons (596 Indian) .. A. J. Anderson (596 Indian) .. T. W. Stewart (744 Indian e.c.) 935 895 915 Totkl 2745 2nd, Gore Team. W. M'Ara (494 Triumph) J. J. M'Gill (989 Harley) W. D. Milne (494 Triumph) .. 805 770 610 Total 2185