THE MOTOR WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21569, 15 February 1932, Page 2

THE MOTOR WORLD.

By ACCELERATOR.

FIXTURES OTAGO MOTOR CLUB. (Motor Cycle Section.) February 16. —Monthly meeting. February 20. —Acceleration test. March 5. —Secret trial, March 15. —Monthly meeting. March 19. —Sports afternoon. April 2. —Speed judging. April 16. —Club run. April 17. —Monthly meeting. April 30. —Gymkhana. May 7. —Treasure hunt. May 17.—Monthly meeting. May 21. —Club run. June 4. —Trial. June 18.—Sporting trial. June 21. —Monthly meeting, UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP. The driving championship of the Contest Board of the American Automobile Association has been won by Louis Schneider, who was first in last year’s 600-mile race at Indianapolis. The championship is awarded for consistency during the racing season. Second in the list was Fred Frame, with Ralph Hepburn, Russell Snowberger, James Gleason, and “ Shorty ” Carlton next in order. A RUBBER SUBSTITUTE. According to reports from the United States of America, the big DuPont chemical organisation has succeeded in producing a rubber substitute. For many years past experts the world over have been striving to produce a synthetic rubber, but have not succeeded in doing •so on a commercial basis. The DuPont product is a substitute rather than synthetic rubber, and the claim is made that it will be suitable for application and use where real rubber is not at its best. The new substance, known as “ Duprene,” is stated*'to resist the action of oils, kerosene, and other solvents which destroy rubber. It is vulcanised by heat alone, not requiring sulphur- in the process, as does rubber. The product is described as a milky latex, the primary raw material being acetylene, which requires for its production only coal and limestone. DOGS ON RUNNING BOARDS. Dog lovers are divided in their opinions whether it is dangerous for dogs to ride on the running boards of motor cars—a subject which was discussed at a recent meeting of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals at Christchurch. Mr A. Boon, whose dogs always ride on the floor of his car, condemns the practice. “ I wouldn’t let a dog of mine ride on the running board,” he declared to a Christchurch pressman. “It is a cruel way to carry a dog, and should be prohibited. My three dogs are trained to ride on the floor, and if they try to climb on the seat they get a sharp cuff. A few rebukes like that and they soon learn.” Mr Boon said that the possibility of a dog falling from the running board was not the only danger. He once knew the owner of a splendid setter, which rode on the running board of the car. He warned the man of the danger, and % the animal was later killed in a collision with another car. The running board was a dangerous place for a dog to be in the event of a collision. Dogs which travelled in that way usually had eye trouble also. “ I don’t see any harm in it,” said Mr L. A. Shand. “ There is one motorist I see nearly every day. He drives along Papanui road, Christchurch, while his dog runs beside him, occasionally leaping on the running board for a ride and then springing to the road to run again. I have never seen a dog fall off when riding in this fashion. I suppose they do sometimes, but something like that is happening all the time. Even the man in the street is likely to get a bump with a bicycle.” , Mr Shand added that in the country sheep dogs very often rode on the running boards of cars, where they remained in any circumstances, just as if they were glued there. SMUGGLING IN GERMANY. Professional smuggling by means of motor vehicles has assumed such proportions that the German Government has been forced to adopt particularly eevere measures against it, especially in view of the fact that of late smugglers have frequently taken recourse to arms for their defence against the police. There is, however, not the least danger of bona fide motorists being in any way molested if they stop immediately an official signals, them. At night the officials carry red lanterns, with which they give the signals by waving. After being allowed to pass such an official it is advisable to continue for some distance at a slow pace, for farther up the road a wirecable may be stretched across the fairway —undoubtedly an effective, if dangerous, way of stopping the criminal. This, however, will generally be easy to see, for affixed to its centre is a redbordered flag with five black spots and a number of ‘ cat’s eyes.” Also, officials in civilian clothes may be met. These have a green armlet with a brass plate, which they will show on demand for identification purposes. THE TUBE AND TYRE MILEAGE. The cause of each tyre trouble is due to the failure of motorists to discard old tubes when they are no longer dependable, savs a tyre expert in the Goodyear News. Old tubes do not hold the air as they should, and a loss of 31b in a balloon tyre will cause premature tread wear and injury to the body of the tyre, thus reducing its mileage. To get the greatest service from a balloon tyre the motorist must keep the pressure at the minimum recommended for the size of tyre he usee. If his tubes are old, and will not hold the air at the right pressure, he is well advised to replace them with new ones. Such tubes will pay for themselves by the extra mileage he will get out of his tyres. A SURPRISE IN FRANCE. Recently a member of the French Cabinet offered to preside at one of the most important motor banquets of the season, a gathering uniting the heads of the motor industry and a number of distinguished delegates from the four corners of the earth. When he rose for his speech the audience naturally expected a eulogy on the motor car as a civilising agent or as a source of material welfare. To their intense amazement the Cabinet Minister told them that motor cars did not pay for the roads they used, and that the services they rendered were as nothing compared with those given by the railways. The fact that the monopolistic railways could not make ends meet and were asking for further subsidies, which would be obtained by increased taxes on motorists, appeared to this member of the Government to be the most natural thing in the world. For the first time since that historic French banqueting hail has existed there were heard, just for one brief second, some of those cries usually associated with political meetings. Then the audience collected itself and listened in grim silence to a recapitulation of all the benefits obtained from the railways and of all the multifarious misdeeds of the motorists. Naturally, such an attack could not be allowed to pass unchallenged, and the reply is a most comprehensive document issued by the international grouping of car manufacturers, showing that last year the French Government received £29.823,800 in car taxes, and that the total amount spent on roads, both national and local, was £24,563,000, leaving a by no means negligible not profit to the Government of £5,260,800. THE LAND SPEED RECORD. After having successfully attacked the world’s 10-mile land speed record, under extremely bad conditions (writes “ Focus ” in the New Zealand Herald), Air Norman Smith is now awaiting a perfect beach before attempting to improve upon the present figures for the five and one-anile events, in which a considerably higher speed is necessary if he is to be successful. Altboueh. when tho conditions under

[ltem* of news—short descriptions, of tours, the state of the roads, oto., commeut, or inquiries will be welcomed by " Accelerator.’J

which the attempt was made are taken into consideration, Mr Smith’s speed fertile 10-miles record i s extremely creditable, it gives no indication as to the capa-t bilities of the racing car, the Fred. H. Stewart Enterprise, which was never fully extended, and completed the greater part of both runs on something less than half throttle. The difficulties under which the driver was racing are indicated by the very wide margin between the speeds registered in the two runs. It happens usually that when such attacks on world’s refcords are made, the speeds for the two runs vary only slightly, but there was a difference of approximately 28 miles an hour between Air Smith’s two runs, indicating that the conditions prevented him from maintaining anything like an even speed. In fact, both runs at the Ninety Alile Beach last week were really a series of spurts, the driver making an effort to see through or round the windscreen, which was almost entirely obscured by sand and water.

Spectators noticed that the Enterprise was not maintaining an even speed, and it was obvious to even the most unpractised eye that the second run was considerably faster than the first. After the attempt Air Smith said his speed had varied from 80 miles an hour at one stage during the first run to about 225 miles an hour on the driest portion during the second run. The few people near the course also heard the engine firing irregularly at times, and imagined that some defect had been the cause. Air Smith explained, however, that the backfiring occurred when he released the accelerator, as he was frequently forced to do, on account of the extremely bad visibility. It is no wonder (concludes the writer) that the Australian driver has announced he will not race the car again until the surface is perfectly dry as well as smooth. THE MOTOR CYCLE OTAGO AIOTOR CLUB ACTIVITIES. At to-morrow night’s meeting of the Otago Alotor Club (motor cycle section), through the courtesy of Kodak N.Z., Ltd., some interesting films will be shown. There will be views of Wanaka and Hawea, and also some beach racing and broadsiding pictures. ¥ ¥ ¥ Although the weather was decidedly unpromising, it did not deter a fair number of club members and friends from attending the evening run. The hills were hidden in mist when the party made its way through Alosgiel and along towards Whare Flat. Part of the road is under repair, and some of the newly metalled portions caused the front wheels to jazz about in a manner most alarming to the passengers. Everyone being willing, it did not take long to gather some wood and start a fire. Nearly everyone had forgotten a “ billy,” so when supper time came the tea was served out very carefully. Then a good singsong round the fire, and dancing and games were indulged in with gusto. “ Auld Lang Syne ” around the glowing embers finished a most happy evening. Volunteers for putting the fire out were called, and two of the boys responded; the rest were preparing for home. At last, all having sped away through the damp night back to town, the clearing was silent again. DOMINION TOURIST TROPHY. The success of A. Matson, Auckland and Dominion cinder-track champion, in the second New Zealand Tourist Trophy Race, held at Waiheke Island on Anniversary Day, came as a surprise to many people who were unaware that Alattson combined skill on the road with his ability on the cinders. The race was a particularly good one, competition being keen throughout. Superior skill won the event for Alattson, whose cornering gained him a considerable distance each lap. He approached the corners fast, changed down some distance away to steady the machine, and did not use his very efficient brakes until within a few yards of the actual bend. Alattson tpok each corner very slowly, but, being in second or low gear as the case required, he was able to accelerate very fast out of the bends, gaining ground on other competitors who tried to negotiate the corners in top gear, or who had delayed their change-down until too late. The performance of L. Perry, one of the most promising of the younger riders, who fell and snapped the top from his gear-lever on the twelfth lap, and had in consequence to cover the remaining 13 laps in second, has- been recognised by an anonymous donor, who has forwarded the 19-year-old rider a cheque for £lO. Perry did extremely well to finish fourth under conditions, especially as his mount was a 2J h.p. competing against a number of 500’s. NEW ZEALAND REPRESENTATIVES. The New Zealand Auto Cycle Union is inviting nominations from riders who wish to represent New Zealand in the next International T.T. contest, to be held on the Isle of Afan in June. The offer to the Dominion is approximately the same as that of last year—free travel, second-class, for two riders, from their homes to Liverpool and back, and free transport both ways for two machines cadi, with £1 a day travelling expenses each, when their fares do not include sustenance. Nominations closed last week, and the executive of the A.C.U. has promised to announce the names of the i Dominion representatives within the next fortnight. It is generally understood that the choice will be decided by the showing put up by riders in the Dominion T.T. event at Waiheke on January 29. SPARKS The London traffic controlling police number 1278 and cost £450,000 per year. ¥ ¥ ¥ A South London coroner recently appealed for more automatic stop signals as a safeguard for pedestrians. ¥ ¥ ¥ Twenty-eight new members, making 264 this year, have joined up this month with the Canterbury Automobile Association. This advertisement appeared in a Sydney daily:— Car, going order, given away to buyer of tyres, etc., £6. Can you beat it for frankness? * ¥ * As showing the increasing popularity of Alorris cars, it is interesting to note that H.R.H. the Prince of Wales has purchased a Alorris Isis. The Prince has used the car extensively, and, as with all ether models, it has given entire satisfaction. The car is finished in dark blue, and will be used mainly for private motoring. ¥ ¥ ¥ In the United States a very interesting development of white lining roads is being tried. Double lines divide tbe roads into three lanes except at curves and on hills, and passing is allowed only in the middle lane. ¥ ¥ ¥ The Italian Government has conferred tho Order of the Crown of Italy upon four famous drivers. G. Campari has been made a Commander of the Order and I’. Nuvolari, Ernesto Alaserati and A. Varzi become Officers. ¥ ¥ ¥ Although no definite plans have been made for an American attack on the land speed, Harlan Fengler. a well-known racing driver, has high hopes of constructing a car. The projected record-breaker is to be powered with 16-cylinder 1500 h.p engine. ¥ ¥ ¥ It was recommended by tho Canterbury Automobile Association last week that the Government be asked seriously to consider using the unemployed on roads other than main highways, and also upon the maintenance of same, as it is considered that this would be a useful and practical method of absorbing unemployment.

Now consideration for the “ back-seat ” driver is shown in the construction of new models of a well-known make of car which has a special instrument board built into

the rear of the front seat. A speedometer, clock, and stop-watch enable the passengers in the rear seat to know just now fast they are going and when they will get there.

“ I saw a car 12 months ago tipped over up against a ‘ Danger—Go Slow ’ sign in the Greta; that shows you what notice is taken of some signs,” said Air J. S. Hawkes at the meeting of the Canterbury Automobile Association last week.

“Of the 240 miles between Christchurch and Dunedin 100 miles is of dustless road.” said Air A. Tyndall, of the Alain Highways Board, at the meeting of the Canterbury Automobile Association last week. “ Not enough,” retorted Air F. W. Freeman, tbe chairman.