Cycling & Motor Notes

Otago Witness, Issue 3399, 7 May 1919, Page 44

Cycling & Motor Notes

BY DEMON.

"Benzine."—Experience shows that the very best way to clean the body of a motor car is by the use of cold water. Take a sponge of cold water—you may give the car a good hosing at first—and carefully and patiently .wash all dirt and dust off the varnished surface. Use plenty of water, and see that no particles of dirt are left. Then go over the varnish with a chamois leather. The point to be observed is the thorough cleaning off of the dirt, otherwise when you rub with the chamois you will smudge the surface. When the varnish gets old patent mixtures are available—they might be called "foods",— and these can be applied to the surface, forming a kind of skin on the varnish. • The Otago Motor Club has invited the Wellington Automobile Club to send delegates to a conference, to be held at Dunedin on May 14, to receive a report from Mr B. B. Couston, C.E., on modern methods of road-construction. The aim is to secure the adoption of such methods in the Dominion as will meet the requirements of modern traffic. The Wellington Club decided to be represented if possible at. the Dunedin conference.

Being called to England on account of a family bereavement, Mr C. H. Izard has resigned the position of president of the Wellington Automobile Club. At its last meeting the club thanked Mr Izard for his services, which had done much to promote the welfare of the organisation, and elected Dr Prendergast Knight president for the remainder of the financial year. Some complaints were made at the last meeting of the Wellington Automobile Club about the blocking of motorists by motor buses. Mr Partridge stated a definite case, but was not able to get the necessary i.vidonce in order to prosecute. Tile secretary was instructed to write to the owner of the motor bus stating that if any future complaints were laid before the committee they would have no hesitation in prosecuting for obstruction. A number of cases of the theft of motor cars, which habit, was stated, was becoming very prevalent all over the Dominion, were also laid before the club. It was decided to draw the attention of the Minister of Justice to this matter, and ask that steps should be taken to emphasise the seriousness of this offence. The club committee considered that it should bo placed on the level of horse stealing. C4reaso cups are not ornaments, nor should they receive only occasional attention. At least every 100 miles they should receive one or more complete turns—and be sure they are filled. A grease containing fine flake graphite will last longer than plain grease, as it does, not waste away or gam tin. bad weather, will take the trouble to wipe the tvres and rims clean with a sponge, r..nd then wipe them dry, especially alonsr the beads, he will do much to prevent the formation of rust. ——Local motorists will lie pleased to learn that a motor club has been formed in Invercargill. As a result of Mr W. Wright's visit, another meeting has been held, the club formed, and a live committee selected. The committee has already started out on a membership campaign. An auction sale of bicycles, which had

through various causes come into the hands of the police, and which, after the stipulated period of retention were still unclaimed, was held at Christchurch recently. The saleroom was crowded, and the bidding was brisk, very good prices being realised, considering the general condition of the machines. Altogether about 50 bicycles were offered, some in a badly damaged state, but nevertheless there was always a purchaser to be found for even the worst exhibit in a motley collection. A ready clearance of complete machines and veritable fragments was effected at prices ranging from 15s to £4 12s 6d. SOME "FIRSTS." "Autocar," " automotor," and "petrocar" were the names applied to the first motor vehicles r.n England, while in the United States "motorcycle," "autoeycle," 'horseless carriage," and "motor waggon" were the terms commonly tised to designate the automobile, a. name which came into use at a later date. The Signal Corps was the first branch of the United States army to utilise the automobile in any capacity. This was in 1899. The first four-cylinder car was brought out in 1900. , In England during the early days of motor vehicles there was a decided preference for the name "motor-house" rather than " garage." Motor mail waggons were introduced into service by the United States Post Office Department in 1896. ROADS OVER THE ALPS. USE IN THE GREAT WAR. (By " Chassis.") On the top of the Pass of Montgenevre, between France and Italy, there is a massive stone column commemorating the passage of Napoleon's armies over the Alps into Italy. If any similar monument were erected to commemorate the war of 19141918, it should be placed on the top of Mont Cenis, by the side of the road which aoted as the main communication between the two countries.

The importance of these roads over the iilps has never been fully realised by_ the general public. Between France and Italy there are two railroad lines, one going through Mont Cenis, and the other crossing the frontier at Vintimille, near the shores of the Mediterranean. The Simplon Pass, going through Switzerland, could not be used for Allied war traffic. Thus practically "all our traffic with Italy, and by the overland route to Salonika and Egypt, had to be by way of the Mont Oenis Pass.

As this line was altogether inadequate to meet war requirements, steps were taken to use the roads as much as possible. Very early in the war Italy became an important supplier of motor vehicles to the Allies, and particularly the French armies. Most of these cars and lorries were delivered by road over the Alps. One company, as the most important of the Italian suppliers, ran regular and daily convoys of 20 to 60 cars or lorries from Turin over the Mont Cenis Pass to Modane, on the Italian side of the Alps. The distance from Turin to Modane is only 80 miles, but 21 miles of this are steady climbing, and the altitude attained is about 7000 ft. One set of drivers was kept exclusively on this work, and as the men were thoroughly experienced and well acquainted with the roads, some thousands of cars were delivered over he Alps, notwithstanding the exceedingly difficult nature of the country. " Usually from the end of November to the month of May all the better roads over the Alps are snowed up. The authorities realised that they could not allow these roads to be lost to them, and during the winter of 1916-1917 they put several thousand men on the Mont Cenis Pass and on the Montgenevre Pass in order to keep the roads free from snow. The same thing was done during the winter of 1917-1918, and had the war continued 3000 German or Austrian prisoners would have been employed clearing the snow off the Mont Cenis Pass during the winter of 1918-1919. After the Caporetto disaster in November, 1917, the traffic across the Alps was nearly all from France to Italy. All civilian traffic was stopped, and for several weeks an unending stream of military trains passed over he Mont Cenis and the Vintimille lines carrying English and French reinforcements who rrave temporary aid to Italy.- . Every road over the Alp* was made use of at this critical period. The French eracloyed the Monti Cemis Paste and the Montgenevre Pass, while the English took the easier but longer route by wavof the Mediterranean shores. Even at this_ time of the year the passes were beginning to be snowed up, but by the aid of Territorial troops and prisoners the roads were kept open on all the passes _ until the necessary aid had been supplied to the Italian army.

Practically all the aeroplanes which one company supplied to the French > and American armies in France were delivered under their own power over the Alps. As the highest peak is 10,000 ft above sealevel, it was necessary for the 'planes to cross at an altitude of not Ipss than 14.000 ft. As a precaution against a forced landing, a b'w aerodrome was nrppared on the top of Mont Cenis. 7000 ft "above sea-level. The aeroplanes climbed to the necessary height while above the plains, but if any accident batmen while they were over the mounT''ns. thev were able to trlide down to the Mont Cenis landinar sround. the position of which was clearly defined by a huge white cross In the trround.