CYCLING MOTOR NOTES

Otago Witness, Issue 3003, 4 October 1911, Page 59

CYCLING MOTOR NOTES

RY DEMON.

Warrnambool to Melbourne Road Race.— Saturday, October 14.

Messrs Wimpenny have delivered to Mr Thos. Telford, &% Otancmcimo, a 25 h.p. Daimler car. The model is similar to one delivered last -week to Mr W. Telford, of CLifton. The body is a six-seated- torpedo, with two collapsible seats, which when not required allows for a fine roomy tonneau. The colour is carriage green, with thin lake lines, and metal parts are brass. Messrs Wimpenny Bros, and Reid have to their new garage in Medway street, Gorev The building has been designed according to latest methods for the accommodation of their clients. The workshop is equipped with the most modern machine tools and. with a competent staff under Mr Frank Reid's personal supervision. The floor space is 90ft by 40ft, and entrance and exit are easy through an extra large doorway immediately off the street. The 15.9 h.p. Vulcan- oar for the Westport Coal Company is due to arrive at an early date. This car has been delayed in shipment as a result of the shipping strike. — — Dr Cattan., of Outrani. was in townat th« beginning of the week, and reports his 15.9 h.p. Vu-lcaJi oar as going well. The recent strike at Home will probably postpone the delivery of cars ordered for Duinedin this- season, owing to the fact that it was found impossible to get the cars landed on the oversea steamers. , Messrs Cooke, Howlison, and Co. are landing three four-cylinder Buick oars by the Pakeha. due to arrive this month. ■ The touring season is now getting into swing, several local motorists having been in Canterbury during the last few weeks. Mr M'KinLav. Lawrence, is at present in Dunedin with his Singer car Mr Nalder. Timaru. was in Duncdin last week in his 14-?0 Siddeley car. Mr Hunter, Wyndham. took delivery of his 18 h.p. four-cylinder Buick car last week. The following aire the names of the New Zealand riders, with their handicaps, who have entered for the W-R.rrnamhool-to-Melbourne Road Race:—P. O'Shea and A. B. L. Smith, ser; A. Birch. 2min; H. T. Williams. smin; A. C. Colvin, B. Martin, and P. Humm. Bmin; S. J. Ferrv and J. Tozer, lOmin ; E. Birch, G. W. Prebble, W. EJnasiffe. audi M. Donoiafhue, 12min: J. W.

Waldie, 16min; H. Blaekman, 34min. Th« limit man starts off on the 60min. mark, so it will be seen that New Zealand riders have been, well taken car© of by the handica.pper. Bookman, however, is on a good. mark, and h© is a rider above the ordinary, with plenty of determination. "Sam Ferry—if .it is the same rider we knew in Dunedin—will have to show a complete reversal of form if ho does anything to justify the handica.ppei- putting nim where he has been put. i'erry, who (if it be. the same) is a Syrian, never broke his maiden status while riding on track a.nd read in Otago. C. R. Collier, the crack motor cyclist of England, did not leave J. D© Hosier's new world's records for the flying mile and living kilometre (1093yds) standing on the. sheets very long, for by the English onail we learn that Collier has established tw<r wonderful records on Brooklands tracK (England), in vm© instance travelling at f. speed of over 90 miles an hour. The new l figures are a mil© in' 39 2-ssec and th« kilometre in 25sec. The time for the mile; is equal to a speed of 91.37 miles per hour. in the recent report of Major-general Kirkpatrick, Inspector-general of the Commonwealth military forces, that more use should b© made in this country of motor cyclists for despatch and other purposes, it is infcereefcing to note that the 25th -London Cyclists' Battalion now has amongst its equipment several Maxim guns mounted on motor tricycles. During recent manoeuvres in Sussex theaa guns proved the mosfr mobile and effective in the British army. During the months of October, No« vember, and December the number of Ford cars to be received in New Zealand ar« 48, 36, and 50 respectively. Th© total number of Fords received in New Zealand during the past.two years reaches 400. The commercial motor is making very great strides in general utility. .Coal, beer, lumber, and machinery trades ii Europe and America whose hauling is hard orr horses have adopted the motor truck freely, and are getting excellent eerviea from the machine. Coal dealers have theif motor trucks fitted with bodies provided with chutes, which can be raised ..above the frame of the chassis at a sharp, angle, so that the loads can be emptied by gravity in a few minutes, with hardly any shovelling. A leading store in New York usee eight three-ton motor trucks that are arranged for quick loading and unloading; light bodies are built to fit inside, the regular covered bodies, and when a moto* truck arrives at the store the inner body is withdrawn upon a hand truck and taken to any part of the store where th© load of goods is required. A duplicate light body is waiting ready loaded to take its place, an<| the motor truck can start away with littl* or no delay. In a record loa<l for one. o{ these at Christmas time were 3000 parcels. The average daily mileage of each of these trucks for 15 months was 72 miles. —lt would seem that the much-desired revision of motor-car taxation in Greai Britain is in sight. Mr Lloyd-George, Chancellor of the Exchequer, is appointing a committee to consider any changes thai should be made respecting h.p. in conntection with the Government license duties on motor-cars. The information transpired in> the cours© of an answer to a question as to whether, since in the case of high- ; powered oars manv owners had already paid in taxes more than their market value, the Chancellor of the Exchequer would con* sidter a graduation of the motor car taS according to age, fixing a. period at whiclt th© vehicle, owing to age and lack of mar* ket value, should be entirely exempt. Th* reply' was that the committee, which was being appointed would', no doubt, conside* whether any concession is called for in respect of a car the effective horse-powe* of which is diminished through age. A remarkable and satisfactory featur* of the automobile to-dav is its cheapness of operation, compared, with the cost of""r,unnyig of, say, fivo years ago. Some fin« mileage records to the gallon of fuel hav» been effected, not merely in petrol-con-sumption trials, but in a year's use of th« car. Quito as much' credit is due- to th« drivei-s as to the many improvement* effected in the- car 3 themselves. A contributory factor in some cases at least is th* diminishing tendency of th© drivers to very rapid travelling, which not only laps up more of the spirit, but eats away the tyret to an extent only realised by those who have,to foot the bill. <-~ : The apron, or undcrsbiekl, or pan, ar it is variously called!, which is stretched aorcss th© frame beneath rlv* engine, very frequently develops a. rattle, but which iC too often overlooked in attempts to locatt th© origin of the disconcerting sound it pro* duces. Unless it is securely fastened it ii" particularly prone to vibrato and rattle. Generally, the_ noise develops where th# shield comes in contact with the- frames thouerh very often it will ratfcl© at oertMil speeds to such an extent that it. touches th* engine-base or adjacent oil-pipes. A bv -no) 'means uncommon cause of the rattlingj usually surprising in its loudness, is the presence of a loose nut or bolt in the apron. PETROL TRAINS. In about four months time #he Victorian railways will commence running the M'Keen petrol tiuins. The Union Pacific Railroad in America operates a number of these oars, three on the Rock Island line. On the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe route there are four in operation; two are 55 feet long, and have been in service about two years. The other two are 70ft long, find have been running iabout 12 months. ■ These oars ari all steel mounted on two fowr-wheel trucks. and weierh about 60.0001 b: 24,0001 b i® carried on the forward axles. The petrol engine ii rated at 200 h.p. The shorter cars have A seating capacity of about 75 passengers, the long oars 90. The cars have been suo* eessful. They are economical of ooeratioij. and reliable when handled by someone wh( has a working knowledge of petrol engine* 'MOTOR TRAFFIC. LICENSING OF DRIVERS. DANGERS OF THE ROAD. (Fbom Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON. September 25. Proposols calculated to reduce th< dangers of road travel were made to thi Prime Minister this morning by a deputation of delegates representing the automobile associations of Auckland, Welling-, ton, Hawke's Bay, and Christchurch. Legislation was asked for to provide that all vehicles travelling by road at night should be adequately lighted. In this connection one of the speakers mentioned a devica bawu an the reflex red light

the use of which is being advocated by motorists. It is a small reflector upon the surface of which is a red disc, and when fixed upon the rear of a vehicle it serves the purposes of a tail light, as the reflector catches the light from the lamps of an overhauling motor car, and indicates the presence of a slower vehicle ahead. The Prime Minister was asked to bring into operation a system of licensing motor car drivers similar to the English system, a suggestion being made that no person under 17 years of age should be licensed. The deputation also asked for a State subsidy on the £1 for £1 basis on expenditure by automobile associations on the erection of danger signals, where, the character of the route involved risks of accidents. The complaints against excessive speed in motoring were dicussed by a representative of the Wellington Association, who suggested that the police should enforce the existing laws for the protection of the public. Sir Joseph Ward replied that he appreciated the necessity for a proper control of motor traffic, and for provision against possible accidents. He was prepared to help the associations, but it was very problematical whether the legislation suggested could be enacted this year. He agreed with the representations regarding the lighting of vehicles, and saw no reason why the State should not assist in the provision of danger signals. The Prime Minister expressed his agreement with the proposal CTiat drivers shoum be licensed, and that no one under 17 should be allowed to drive a motor car. He saw no reason why the questions should not be discussed next session. ON NEW BRIGHTON BEACH. The first beach race meeting of the season of the North Canterbury Motor Cyclists' Club was be let on the New Brighton Beach on Siatourday afternoon, in the presence of 5000 spectators. The course, a five-mile one, was from the Waimakariri to within half a mile of the New Brighton Pier. The btvsoh was in an excellent hard condition, and! the easterly wind prevailing had very little, effect on the times. Four races were held, thiw being confined to members oi the club, the fourth being an open event. The handicapping wias excellent. The< meeting, which was splendidly conducted, passed off without an accident. In the club events there were throe classes of races: (1). for machines under 3£ h.p., (2) for machines of 3& h.p v . and (3) for machines of and over 3£ h.p. Eight entries were received for the first-mentioned event, 22 for the Second, and 25 for the third. For the open event post entries were received. Following are the results: — FIVE MILES HANDICAP (machines of 3£ h.p.; first three in each heat to start in final. First heat: W. H. Jones (King Dick), scir, 1; C. Bonnington (Triumph), 45sec, 2; Davies (Bat), 20sec, 3. Won easily. Second heart: G. B. Brown (Triumph), scr, 1; H. S. Jones (King Dick), ssec, 2; S. F. Barnett (Triumph), 30sec, 3. An interesting race, with a close finish. Final: C, Bonnington 1, S.'F, Barnett 2, Davies 3. A close finish between first two, third 1 long distance away. FIVE MILES HANDICAP (machines under 3£ h.p.). H. Kiddie (2 h.p. Hiunber), Smin 30sco, 1; L.. N. Montgomery (1£ h.p. Motosacoohe), 4min 15sec, 2; L. B. Young (2i h.p. 2min 20sec, 3. A close finish. FIVE MILES HANDICAP, for machines of 3£ h.p. and over; first three of each heat to start in final. First heat: R. J. Martin (Bat, 7-8 h.p.), scr, 1; H. S. Jones (King. Dick), 35seo, 2; M. Walker (Humber)j 50seo, 3. Two seconds only between first two men. Second! heat: S. H. Stevens (Humber), knin 45seo, 1; C. F. Barnett, lmin, 2; W. H. Jones (King Dick), 30sec, 3. 'A very olose finish, only two seconds Separating placed men. Final: H. S. Jones 1, M. Walker 2, W. H. Jones 3. Another close finish. TWO MILES OPEN HANDICAP (post entry). R. J. Martin (Bat) 1, H. S. Jones (King Dick) 2, 0. Bonnington (Triumph) 3. Best race of the day, a very olose finish being recorded. ■ AVIATION NOTES. .Mr J. J Hammond, the New Zealander who has won success iabroad as. an aviator, was in Auckland recently, and was asked by a representative of the Star whether he proposed' to give exhibitions of flying in the Dominion.' The reply was that the question was purely one of finance. He would 1 want a guarantee—same £3ooo—to bring his mlachines to New Zealand, for, .is he truly saidy " You can see flying as well outside the fence as in." Hammond has one monoplane machine : in e France, with a 100 '■ horse-power Gnome engine, which alone cost £960. If he came to New Zealand he would require to ibring two machines, which would run into a cost of £2400, and, in addition, a couple of skilled mechanics. Of course, as he daid, he could bring one machine, but that would possibly lead to a .lot of trouble and disappointment to the public. It was possible in an . instant to break some part of the machine, which would take five or six hours to repair. If there were two machines the airman could' at once change, and davo the public from disappointment. • ' The winnings of Beaumont and Vedrines in various air races this year are stated by a Paris newspaper to be £20.440 and £BOOO rospectivelv. Garros has won £6OOO, and Vidant £4OOO in the same period. A SENSATIONAL FLIGHT. LONDON, September 26. While the aerial mail was being conveyed from Windsor the inlet valve of Hamel's engine broke at a height of 1500 ft. Flames issued from, the carburettor .and flew around the aviator, but fortunately there was no leakage of petrol, and Hamel safely descended. GERMAN CAPTAIN KILLED. BERLIN, September 30. Captain Englehardt, an experienced airman, fell from his aeroplane and was killed. His passenger, named Sedlmeyer, Is unconscious in a hospital. MILITARY EXPERIMENTS. BERLIN, September 29. The army authorities are equipping five

aeroplanes with cinematograph apparatus for photographing the enemy's entrenchments.