CYCLING & MOTORNOTES

Otago Witness, Issue 3510, 21 June 1921, Page 48

CYCLING & MOTORNOTES

By

DEMON.

A petition protesting against certain clauses in the new petrol regulations is being drawn up by the Canterbury Automobile Association. The main objections are to the rule which says that a license must be obtained to store more than eight gallons, and to the fact that expensivelybuilt store-rooms, with costly equipment, will be necessary in big establishments, if the regulations are to be complied with. The Minister’s latest statement, that an interpretation of the regulations will not disclose the hardships expected, is satisfactory iq a way, but it is difficult to see why the explanation should be delayed at all. Don’t reinsert an old cotterpin if the part to be secured is .an important one, such as a steering or brake rod. It is not very dependable and may play you false. That is a bad risk. A new pin costs little and saves much. Plans for holding an up-to-date Olympia in Christchurch during the first week in November are well in hand. From particulars now available, it can safely be said that the exhibition will be the best of its kind ever seen in New Zealand, particularly in the display of up-to-date models. This year there will be no trouble over delayed shipment. Every firm taking part is confident that its display will be thorough and complete in every direction and interest is likely to be remarkably keen. Motorists generally approve of the resolution adopted by the executive of the Canterbury Automobile Association, io the effect that each shipment of petrol and motor fuel should be officially tested, and a certificate given, and that all motor fuel should be properly labelled so as to clearly indicate the grade of fuel in containers. The idea has either been adopted or is in process of adoption in other parts of the world, and the result has been beneficial both to the men in the trade and to consumers. It is becoming more and more clearly recognised in New Zealand, that to a very large extent the popularity of motoring is bound up with the use of high quality fuel. According to evidence at the coroner’s inquiry into H. Parson’s fatal accident on the lipping Road, near Melbourne, the throwing of a stone at some loose horses being driven along the road caused the collision that resulted in the death of the finest motor cycle rider Australia lias produced. That Parsons was travelling at a high speed was evident, for he was picked up 16 yards from the point of the accident, whilst his machine ricochetted along the road some 80 yards. (says the Auckland Star) informed an appreciative audience at- the opening ceremony of the Winter Show that he would suggest to the people of Morrinsville who visited Hamilton by road that, if they could spare the time, they could not do belter than to spend it in placing a little levelling material on the highway between the two towns. Lord Jellicoe added that he had travelled the road a good deal lately, and “was feeling very sore.” Such criticism is timely, and will, we hope, be acted upon, for the road ill question is extremely rough at the Hamilton end. We should congratulate ourselves that in the Governor-General wo have an ardent advocate of good roads. PROPER USE OF HEADLIGHTS. A lot of correspondence is appearing in the. English technical papers regarding the practice (recommended by some) of switching off headlights, or bringing the dimmer into action, when other traffic is approaching, the idea being, of course, to prevent dazzling the oncomer. Generally speaking, most of the writers are* strongly opposed to the practice, on tho ground that the sudden transition from light to dark tern-" porarily blinds the driver, thereby creating a more dangerous situation still. It is argued that it is betj.ee to keep the headlights on and be able to see now to dodge oncoming traffic than to voluntarily blind oneself. Alternatives are to switch off the off-side headlight only, or dim it, or to have sidelights powerful enough to show a reasonable light when both headlights are cut out. Most sidelights fail in this respect. Generally speaking, if attention were paid to having the beams of headlights pointed well down, much of the trouble would be avoided. EXPENDITURE DM ENGLISH ROADS. The expenditure on roads in England for the finaneal vear 1.913-14- was £19.000.000, and in 1918-20 £33,400,000. In 1920-21 it is estimated that some £45,000.000 will be spent in that direction. Towards trie latter sum it is anticipated that motorists will contribute, in special taxes, about £8,500.000. PETROL CONSUMPTION. A gigantic petrol consumption test is to bo organised in England by the Royal Automobile Club, which has decided to ask motorists throughout the country to carry out a consumption test on a specified day. A standard form of set questions will be all motorists, so that: comparative results can be worked out. It must be within the knowledge of most owners that very different results can be and are obtained from the same make of car, Indeed, sister cars leaving the factory at- the same time often give very different fuelconsumption results, although, of course.

the chassis are not supposed to secure the final approval of the testers until a standard result ha-s been achieved or exceeded. In the ordinary way. jnany owners do not trouble themselves over-much, providing that the speed car be somewhere about- the average, with not too' heavy a consumption. One result of the English Club’|; test should fce to demonstrate to Brown, who is getting an average of 17 miles per gallon from his 12 h.p. car, that Smith, driving the same make cf vehicle, can get 22 m.p.g., without corresponding disadvantages in the matter of speed and power, simply by careful carburetter setting and driving, and without the use of special, and possibly costly, auxiliary appliances. The test should provide some very interesting figures, as many thousands of car owners will no doubt fall in with the suggestion of the English Automobile Club. MOTOR CAR RACING. A cablegram from America announces the victory of T. Milton in the SCO miles Indianapolis Motor Car Track Contest, which was decided on May 30. This is the classic speed event of America, and carries with the trophy an amount exceeding £4OOO to the winner; whilst the total prize list amounts to nearly £IO,OOO. Milton’s timo for the 500 miles was 5 hours 17 minutes, some 23 minutes faster than G. Chevrolet’s winning drive last year. Milton’s performance is easily a record for the event, and his average of nearly 94 miles an hour for the full distance is a remarkable one. Ralph de Palma again put up a spectacular drive, loading for half the distance, and then retiring through eng ne troubles. Last year he was nearly five miles in the lead at 400 miles, when his car caught fire, costing him the race. REVIVAL OF ROAD RACING. CHRISTCHURCH, June ]G. Steps have been taken by the North Canterbury Centre of the New Zealand Athletic and Cycling Union to resuscitate the Timaru to Christchurch Road Race. One speaker stated that P. O’Shea was probably as good as any cyclist in tho world to-day, and with the champion American cyclists about to visit Australia the time was opportune to give O’Shea, or whoever might win tho championship, a chance of competing in Australia against the world’s best. OTAGO MOTOR GLUB. The usual monthly meeting of the Otago Motor Club was held on the 14th, Mr A. K. Ansell presiding over a good attendance of members. ■ — Correspondence.—• A letter was received from Mr C. M. Benzoni (District- Engineer of Railways) stating that a danger sign had been erected at the road crossing at Round Hill station, and that tho Tuapeka County Council had agreed to maintain it.—Received. Mr -Sydney Robb wrote drawing attention to the condition of the IloxburghBeaumont road which was in a bad state in several portions.—The secretary was instructed to write to the Tuapeka County Council with regard t.o the matter. Mr J Micpherson (Sawyers’ Bay) wrote drawing the attention of the club to the urgent need of a finger-post at the junction of the- road to Port Chalmers and the

toad leading to Rosen oath (through his ! roperty) on the top of the* railway tunnel near Sawyers’ Bay. The writer stated that since he came to Dunedin in November lust quite a number of cars had come up his road instead of keeping on the main road to Port Chalmers as tnere was nothing to indicate which was the right road. —It was decided to forward a signpost to the local authorities, asking them to erect it. The Town Clerk (Mr G. A. Lcwin) wrote informing the club that the work of restoring tho tramway tracks to their pre-war condition was being pushed on as fast as circumstances permitted. He added that the problem of keeping the roadway level with the tramline had become greater of recent years, o ving to tiie practice of motor cars hugging the line, thus causing considerable damage by .scooping up the material on the sides of the rails. —The letter was receiv'd, the matter to be brought under the notice of members. Mr P. R. Harman, secretary of the South Island Motor Union wrote slating that -his executive suggested holding the r.cxt quarterly meeting of the council at Invercargill on July 29 and hoped tiiat it v ould be convenient to the club. —After discussion it was decided that the Motor Union be recommended to alter the date of the meeting to July 30 Mr W. Connor (Town Clerk, Ravensl.ournel wrote urging the erection of danger signs for motorists approaching the St. Leonards School. —The President staled that the onus of erecting signs did not fall upon the club. Mr I>. M. Spedding (secretary of the Otago Football Association) wrote on behalf of his executive conveying thanks for the assistance of the Otago Motor I lub in driving tho officers and men of H.M.B. Chatham to Culling Park on the occasion of tho recent game against Otago.— Hie letter was received. A letter of thanks was received from tho Mayor (Mr J. S. Douglas), for tho services rendered by the club during the recent visit of H.M.B. Chatham. The Mayor had received a letter from Commander ITotham asking him to convey to tho club the expressions of gratitude of himself and the sliip’s company fur the manner in which the members of the club so readily placed their cars for the enjoyment of the members of the ship.—The letter was received. The Clerk of the. Olutha County Council wrote informing the club that tho bridge over the* Pomnhaka River at K-’lso. on the road Kelso to Waikaka, was being repaired and would be closed for traffic for some time. —Received. Road Improvement.— The Clerk of the Tuapeka County Council wrote stating that at the last meeting ot his council it had been decided to expend £IOO on the Alexandra-Roxburgh read.— The letter was received. Mr \V. Wright suggested that the Green Island Council lie waited on with regard to the improving of the corner on the south side of Lookout- Point.—The suggestion was agreed to, Messrs M. Stevenson. J. A. Roberts, A. E. Ansell, and W. Wright were appointed a committee to go into tho matter. General. Mr IT. Ilalliday staled that with regard to obtaining more members, lie suggested that notices lie erected drawing attention to the club’s activities. The suggestion met

with approval, and it was decided to ask the Green Island Council to erect small hoardings at Ross corner and Brighton corner, on the Main South read. A vote of thanks was accorded to Messrs Thomson and Co. for providing refreshments on the occasion of entertaining the men of H.M.S. Chatham. Th:ee new members were elected to the club. _At the conclusion of the meeting Mr Geoff. Clark gave an interesting and instructive address on “How to Avoid Accidents. ”