THE MOTOR WORLD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23686, 19 December 1938, Page 3

THE MOTOR WORLD

A WORD IN SEASON This week and next the roads will be carrying their heaviest traffic for the year, if every motorist will exercise a little more care, this year-end might, be made the safest for any similar period in years. At the meeting of the Executive Committee of A.A. (Otago) on Tuesday evening Mr A. E. Ansell, chairman of the' Safety First Committee, offered some timely advice. In the hope that it will receive the attention it merits I have pleasure in reproducing it. "All automobile associations in New Zealand are combining with the Transport Department in an effort to make our roads free from accidents during the coming holiday season," said Mr Ansell. "This appeal is directed particularly to residents of Otago, soliciting their assistance in this worthy objective. Our roads this season will carry a greater volume of traffic than every before; therefore, a greater measure of care is essential. Motorists: Statistics show that a large percentage of accidents occur at road intersections. Such accidents may be substantially reduced if motorists would remember that they must reduce their speed when approaching an intersection It may be that they will be called upon to give the right of way to a driver coming in from their right, but whether or not, they should be ready for any emergency, not forgetting the possibility of an error of judgment on the part of some other motorist. Therefore it should be remembered that a reasonable speed when approaching an intersection is a safeguard against ricci dents* "Occasionally motorists are placed in an emergency when a tyre blows out. When this happens great care and skilful driving are necessary to avoid trouble. If a blow-out occurs, steer—do not think of anything but steering. When you are sure you have your car under control, then and then only use your brakes. If the car jerks about when the brakes are applied, release the brakes at once, let the car run a little further, then apply the brakes lightly. If your tyres are old or weak, do not drive at excessive speeds. Do not attempt to pass another vehicle on or immediately approaching the crest of a hill. "See that your windscreen is clean and gives perfect visibility; if dusty or spattered with rain, stop and clean the windscreen thoroughly before proceeding, so that you may have a perfectly clear view ahead. Before starting out on your trip, see that your headlights are in good order and properly focused. Have your brakes thoroughly tested and make certain that they are efficient. Do not rely upon your warrant of fitness as a guarantee that your brakes are in good order. If you have good tyres, good brakes, and good headlights, you are well equipped to play your part in the campaign for greater safety on the roads. "There is no cure-all for accidents." says Mr Ansell in conclusion, " no one has picked up a magic wand to wave over highway fatalities and eradicate carelessness and tragedy from the road. Nowhere has anyone found a quick, easy way to get over the formidable accident toll, and so we are forced to the conclusion that all road usersmotorists, cyclists, and pedestriansmust accept their personal responsibility for accident losses, and in that conclusion we make this appeal to users of our highway to join in the campaign for a substantial reduction in the toll of the road." SAFETY GLASS IN CARS Investigation is being made by direction of the Minister for Transport in Victoria (Mr Hyland) into the suitability of safety glass for the side windows of motor vehicles. Technical experts of motor firms are beingc onsulted, and manufacturers of safety glass have conducted demonstrations to show the manner in which, different types of glass break in varying circumstances. It has been suggested that, owing to the difficulty of breaking safety glass, there would be a risk of passengers being trapped if doors and sliding windows jammed in an accident. Difficulty had been experienced, Mr Hyland said, in obtaining evidence of the real force of this contention, and in determining a means by which to meet the objection if it is upheld, and at the same time to avoid the dangers which must arise from the use of other than safety glass in motor vehicles. Further tests were being made, he added, in collaboration with the transport branch of the Police Department. BATTERY CARE How to loosen a badly corroded battery terminal is a mater that causes concern to motorists who, through neglect, fail to keep the terminals on their battery clean. An effective and easy method to soften the corrosion is to treat it with dilute ammonia. After thoroughly cleaning the terminals, if they be well coated with vaseline, there should be no recurrence of the trouble. The sulphuric acid in the battery does not weaken or lose virtue by ageing, nor does it evaporate. It is only necessary to add acid after the electrolyte has been spilled from a cell. Add distilled water to keep the top of the plates covered when required, but never add acid. SOLID PETROL? "Will the day come when solid petrol will be used in cars? " is a question asked in many quarters, It is quite possible. Indeed, solid petrol is no longer a theory, but a fact, for it has been made and used, though it is not yet available for commercial purposes. Everyone knows that petrol is still a dangerous servant. There is no knowing when it will explode or catch Are, doing tremendous damage, a menace to the car on the road and the aeroplane above the clouds. But a chemist in New York University has found a way of taming this unruly spirit. He is Dr Prussin. and he has spent the greater part of 20 years trying to find a way of making petrol safe to handle—so that you may pick up a block of it, throw it about, leave it near the fire, and be sure that there will be no frightful consequences Success nas attended Dr Prussin's researches. He has now a solid petrol which will run a motor, and yet is vastly different from liquid petrol. If it is held in a flame it burns slowly and evenly, and if it is merely close to fire it does not burn at all. A block of this petrol may be fired at, and even if the bullets penetrate it. it will not burn or explode. It seems only reasonable to suppose that one day this tame petrol will be widely used, thus minimising the danger of explosion and fire PASSING OF A PIONEER The man who built America's first gasoline buggy, and led the way by virtue of his work for many others to follow, recently passed away. He was Charles E. Duryea, who died in Philadelphia at the end of September in his seventy-seventh year. For many years a controversy raged as to the actual origin of the first American automobile, and Mr Duryea died in the firm belief that he designed and built the first automobile actually to run in America, also that he sold the first car in that country, that he did the first automobile advertising, and won the first two American motor races. The honour was also claimed by the late Mr Elwood Haynes, and a Haynes car was accepted by the Smithsonian Institute as the first. Subsequently, Mr Duryea's car was also placed in the national museum and credited to him.

By ACCELERATOR

Items of news—short descriptions of tours, the state of the roads, etc., comment, or inquiries—will be welcomed by Accelerator.

His first car was actually built in 1893, and in 1895 the Duryea Motor Wagon Company was formed to market his products. He built cars from 1892 to 1914, since when he had acted as a consultant. He was honoured at Springfield in 1927 and again in 1937. ROAD SAFETY Quite a lot of people feel that they have heard, read, and seen enough on this subject. We have passed the special Road Safety Week, but are entering weeks of greater danger because of increased traffic Every mode of conveyance will be invoked, and everything that moves on streets or roads is a potential hazard of accident. Some are greater than others, and the thoughtless cyclist is not the least—neither is the motor cyclist—and the careless pedestrian runs everybody close for first place. There is no doubt that the regular driver is taking more and more care, and he is ever on the lookout for the casual and careless, not to say reckless, man or woman at the wheel. Sometimes air these undesirable qualities are found in one person, but the casual driver may be defined as one (sometimes one of a party) acquires a more or less 'old bus" for holidays or week-ends The careless or reckless may be found in any class and there is a doubt whether those who compose it read or give any consideration to advice, however timely, wise, or necessary it may be Here are some cardinal rules from the New Zeaiand Motor World, the mastery of which will make good drivers better drivers, and help everyone to qualify for the title of a gentleman of the road in preference to other well-known terms applied in extreme cases of bad driving:— In the first place you will plan your tour ahead, then you will prepare your car so that it is in first-class condition, without any doubts. Tyres, windscreen wiper, steering, brakes, lights, and the various mechanical components necessary to efficient, smooth, trouble-free running will be attended to. Your car will not be overloaded: the driver's seat will not be cramped. You will start as early as possible to avoid the later congestion; and you will set an easy schedule so that' you carry out the primary purpose of motoring, which is pleasurable travel in absolute safety. You will observe and obey all speed signs, and the caution signs erected to warn you. There will be displayed by you tolerance, patience, calm judgment, courtesy, and consideration. You will not cut in on other traffic and so create a risk. You will keep as far as practicable to the left, knowing that you are not entitled to half the roadway, but only sufficient of it to allow you to advance in safety. You will appreciate that at 30 miles an hour you are advancing at 45 feet a second. Halve your miles an hour and add it to the rate of miles an hour to know the feet a second. You will know that at 20 miles an hour, with good brakes on a goodsurfaced road, it takes about 30 feet to stop a car after the brakes are used, without allowing for reaction time. You will know that for speeds up to 25 miles an hour, with mental reaction included, it will require twice the figures of your speed in feet a second to pull up; and for speeds from 30 miles upward, three times your speed in feet a second to halt. It will be known to you that the stopping ability of your car depends on the frictional resistance between your tyres and the road surface. The brakes merely lock the wheels; they do not stop it of themselves. Therefore the tyres must be beyond suspicion, front, rear, and spare. Old tyres should be on the rear because blowouts have worse results on the front wheels, because braking has been "stepped up" on the front wheels, and because of steering safety. You will give clear and distinct hand signals always, and you will consult your rear-view mirror frequently. You will assert no rights you may think you have on the road, therefore you will act safely always in the circumstances, ever-changing as they are on the roads. You appreciate that the right-hand rule at intersections is a rule of convenience depending on you for its safe interpretation. Your warning device should be that and nothing more. It is an emergency gadget. The sounded horn does not confer any rights on you in the matter of reasonable speed or risk-taking. It will not save you from the consequences of a driving fault on your part. You will adjust your driving habits and speed to meet a weather change because you appreciate that frictional resistance between tyres and road is lessened in wet weather, when water on a paved road becomes a dangerous lubricant for tyres. If your speed is 10 miles an hour faster than the car ahead you will require six seconds to pass it. and in six seconds two vehicles approaching each other 200 yards apart will meet. Thus, never attempt to overtake and pass another vehicle if there is a vehicle approaching within at least 250 yards. If you must halt, you will always pull into the side of the road out of the lane of traffic.

Lights will be dipped when vehicles approach at night time. You will travel slower at night than in the daytime.

You will not drive a long distance after a day's work, nor set out on a long journey without having had sufficient sleep. Fatigue is an enemy of safe driving You will not mix alcohol with your driving.

You will use the compression of your engine as a braking aid on descents which deserve it You will change down for safety.

Though you can do "anything" in top you will drop into second iust for safety on a steepish climb. If the lights of an oncoming car trouble your sight you will slow down and not travel at unretarded speed into the darkness beyond the approaching car. You will apply the half-distance rule; that is, never, travel at a speed which will prevent, you from stopping in half the distance of clear road ahead. You will obey all traffic lights, show due caution at level crossings, treat pedestrians and cyclists with courtesy, care, and patience, no matter what their faults. You will know the absolute rights of pedestrians on authorised crossings. You will halt to the rear of trams which are stopped or about to be stopped at a tram stop. Sheep, cattle, horses, and other animals will be shown the kindness expected of everyone toward dumb creatures. You will- slacken speed and not, cause them alarm. You will protect the children, even if they play in the streets, and you will drive with extreme care along the roads near their playgrounds, or the resorts where they are congregated. They are happy children. You will concentrate on your driving; you will see that your windscreen is always clear, even on tour when dust or rain mav interfere with visibility. Your attention while at the wheel will be directed at the faithful discharge of your important Individual responsibility of meeting your obligations as a good driver. AMERICAN EYES ON THE RECORD Britain's ten-year monopoly of the world's land speed record is to be challenged at an early date by America's star driver, Ab Jenkins, who has a crowded list of record-breaking

achievements to his credit, including most of the world's long-distance car records, all accomplished on the Bonneville Salt Flat, the scene of the recent ultra-speed exploits of Captain George Eyston and John Cobb in their respective attacks on the world's mile record;

Not since Ray Keech won the blue riband speed record for America in 1928 by attaining 207.5 miles per hour and lost it the following year to Sir Henry' Segrave, 231.4 miles per hour, has there been a serious American contender for the mile record, Britain having held the coveted honour through the agency of her supermachines, handled by superb drivers in Segrave, Sir Malcolm Campbell, Eyston. and Cobb. As the world knows, Eyston, only a few weeks back, officially recorded the astounding mean speed of 357.5 miles per hour with his Thunderbolt outfit, powered with two Rolls-Royce aero engines. The special new car, built for Jenkins' attempt on all world records from one mile to 24 hours, has been constructed on more conventional lines than either Eyston's or Cobb's machines, according to the Dunlop Bulletin. It is also smaller. It is driven by all four wheels, and will be powered by one 12-cylinder 1200 h.p. Curtis aero engine for the long distance runs, and with two of those engines (2400 h.p. in all) for the dash at Eyston's mile figures. The weight of Jenkins' Mormon. Meteor will be in the region of three tons, slightly less weight than Cobb's Railton (350.2 miles per hour) and about four tons lighter than the Thunderbolt, which has the record to its credit. Jenkins will drive from the centre of the Mormon Meteor, with one engine in front and the other in the rear, a similar layout to that adopted in Eyston's car. The machine without the two engines has cost £18,750. Jenkins is a native of Salt Lake City, Utah, noted for the Mormon cult, hence the name carried by his record-break-ing machines. His new car will be the third of the series. Given favourable conditions on the hard salt fiat at Bonneville, Jenkins is expected to get busy with his ultraspeed machine. The long-distance records probably will be tackled first. THE MOTOR CYCLE JOTTINGS In recent American hill climbs at Monterey. San Jose, and Pismo Beach, 498 c.c. Triumph Speed-Twins took first prizes in the 750 and 1300 c.c. categories. # * * The highest sustained speed ever recorded in a motor cycle road race was attained in the recently decided Ulster Grand Prix, which was won by J. M. West, who averaged 93.98 m.p.h. for the 240 miles course. In spite of parts of the course being wet, West covered a circuit of just over 20 miles in 12min 26sec, equal to an average speed of 98.93 m.p.h. Over half a mile, on one of the straight stretches, West was electrically timed to be travelling av 115.76 m.p.h. RACING IN AUCKLAND. One of the best day's racing for about ten years was enjoyed by over 1000 people who attended the Auckland Motor Cycle Club's first racing picnic of the season at Henning's Speedway. The feature of the afternoon was a great performance by Len Perry in breaking Percy Coleman's ten-year-old record of 54sec for the lap of one mile and a-quarter, equal to a speed of 83.3 miles an hour. Perry, on his 500 c.c. Velocette, established a new record of 53 l-ssec, equal to 84.5 miles per hour. Immediately before this the same rider set up a record for 350 c.c. machines with his other Velocette of 54sec. This is particularly meritorious in that it equals the. record Coleman established on a 7 to 9 h.p. Harley Davidson, with an engine about three times the size of Perry's. SPARKS A new church at Cowley, Oxford, near the Morris works, was given by Lord Nuffield. .# .y. # Lubricating oil is now available in England in collapsible cardboard pint and quart cartons. Rome is going in for trolley buses in a big way. "There's room for 'em in the Forum," adds the Motor. ¥ * * "Underground Tunnel for Traffic," says a headline. " Well, where else would it be? " asks the cynic. v * * The total number of vehicles licensed in England on August 31 was 3,005,607. England has the greatest road congestion, with 17 cars to the mile, as against nine in America, six in France, and five in Germany. v * * Tom Walls, the famous sportsman and film star, completed a million miles of motoring last month. For half of this mileage he has been driven by his chauffeur, George Pacey. His Rolls-Royce has manv times appeared in his films. V tf * An "L" driver, fined at Paisley for careless driving, stated that he could not show his licence, as it had been taken by officials for endorsement at Glasgow, where he had appeared earlier in the day for a speeding offence. Busy man! ¥ H- * A well-known English car dealer recently had his fortune told by a gipsy. It was predicted that within 48 hours he would be conveying a dead body in his car. That night he was stopped by the police and asked to convey a man to hospital, who died on the way. * v * Because swallows refuse to nest on busy roads, authorities in France are having special nests built for installation in the spring in suitable spots. Farmers attach great importance to swallows owing to their predilection for flies. * * * "The parade of 1939 models into New Zealand has begun," writes "Focus," in the Herald." The new Studebaker has been the first of the American cars to reach the Auckland market, but others are expected shortly. New shipments of British cars are arriving all the time to supplement the early deliveries of 1939 cars, while the latest Citroen will be unpacked within a few days." # * •/ Defendant. 1 might have sworn accidentally in front of the policeman, but one must swear sometimes mustn't one?" . . „ » And the Motor adds this. But one must be a bit careful in front of whom one is swearing or one gets fined, doesn't one?