CYCLING & MOTOR NOTES

Otago Witness, Issue 3511, 28 June 1921, Page 42

CYCLING & MOTOR NOTES

Br

DEMON.

During the late heavy importation of American cars, tho chairman of directors of one of the largest motor firms in Wellington had a surprise when he came down to the office one morning. Passing the entrance to the garage, he saw a case coming in from the wliarf containing one of the many cars landed in New Zealand from the L'.S.A. Du the sides of the case, painted in large letters, were the words, •‘Release M'Swiney.” The car had evidently been destined originally for England or Ireland. never faltered; there are more machines used as a means of transport to-day than ever before, because it is the cheapest, handiest-, and safest vehicle on the reads, besides occupying the least room for storage. Hundreds of motorists, who once were cyclists, and discarded the machine on adopting the car or motor cycle, did not mean to relinquish the pedicycle altogether, but were so taken up with the speed and power of ilie motor for the time that they lost all condition, and were slow to revert to the humble mount. A few did, however, and, starting’ from where they left off, endeavoured to compass a 30 miles journey without the least practice for months, or years, in some cases. “The bicycle business, contrary to popular opinion,” says the Australian .Motorist for June, “is greater in the Commonwealth to-day than it has ever been; we have become so accustomed to the bicycle that we fail to realise how many there are in use.” Two or three months ago we learned that Air Ilonry Ford, the motor millionaire, was in need of pocket money to the extent of some £15,000,000 sterling, that somebody was pushing him, and that the banks were shy, although he had on hand several million pounds worth of motor cal's unsold. American, motor journals of April 21 advise that “Ford w ipes out bank debt and has millions in cash ; and that by economy in manufacturing a rapid turnover was effected. It is stated to be one of the most remarkable financial “comebacks” in the history of the automobile industry. Ford Motor Company had 102,000 unfilled orders for automobiles on. the books. The plant built 80.000 cars in March, while the April output was expected to reach 100.000. Actual sales in the home market in January were 57,203 care and 1138 tractors. In February 63,603 cars and 1932 tractors were sold, while in March the sales reached still higher figures—97,22l cars and 4708 tractors. The April sales gave promise of being considerably above, those of March. •_ Resourcefulness is. a great asset to motorists, and practice develops the instinct often to a remarkable degree. The following clever roadside repair gives point to fuis remark, and has the virtue of being true. A van broke down on a particularly lonely stieten of road, the trouble being Dial, the spring of the commutator had given way. Providence, in the form of a boy oil a bicycle, came on to tho scene. .At the price of a promise of a ride oil the van the lacl surrendered the spring from the bell of ins machine, and in a few moments the repair had been execured. ihe simplicity of the idea is appealing, but this <iccs not minimise Ihe resourcefulness ot tile driver. Bliould ihe weather be fine and tho course my, it was anticipated that an average speed of over 50 m.p.h. would be maintained in this year’s English Tourist Trophv Motor Cycle Races, just decided on the b.e ot Man. I his may not be considered nnymmg out of the way, when compared , 1 , ri J at ,I!| ies recorded in the colonies Ino Isle of Man course, however, is a tricky and hilly circuit of miles, which call's tor clever “cornering” on numerous hairpin Inins, plenty of power for the big climbs and good brakes. It is a. test of' driving' flexibility, gear, ratios, speed, and enduranro. 1 he small-powered machines (up to ii.p.) have to negotiate live circuits (1871 mde-w p,«. “500 e c.” machines six circuits (225 nu.cs) probably- ihe severest road races held in i lie world. In whs anticipated ihere would I>e close on 140 entries for tho two events. Driving a 450 hip. 12 cylinder “Simbeum racing car on “Broolclands” (R n< r. fund) K. Lee Guinness recently negoiiuled“a circuit of the track, two and three-., uurtoV mum, m 83-cc- This b a speed of nearly 120 a miles per hour. I ins well-known Dim. lish sportsman will drive a “Talbot,” (En°hsh) in the French Grand I’rix motor car contest.. This event is the. premier road race of tho world. The distance is 321 miles, over nearly 30 circuits of the Le Alans course. Many cases of ignition trouble have been traced to the use of improper -park

plugs or to faulty location of these members. Alanufacturers of spark plugs have given the matter of location considerable thought during recent years, and the endeavour is to produce a plug specially designed or adapted for the motor for which it is to be used. The spark plug shell or base is constructed so the spark points will project into the combustion chamber. It is also .important to make provision for proper cooling of the spark plug. This last-named factor is an important one that is seldom given consideration by owners or repairmen who change the spark plugs without making sure that they are adapted to the motor. Conditions in the motor trade are gradually improving, but there appears to be no prospect of more “boom” times in tlie near future (says the Wellington Post). Tho trade is following the progress of prices in tho markets for our staple primary produce with keen interest, as on those depends largely the activity of business. The recent Wellington wool sales are regarded as having an element of promise for better things, though the movement is likely to he slow. The attitude of the trade towards further importations of cars is, according to Nl* ,G. B. Norwood, of Dominion Aiotor Vehicles, _ Ltd., conservative. Stocks are plentiful in some lines, yet already there is quite a shortage in others —a shortage which may become more pronounced as time goes. Orders from manufacturers abroad will generally be kept within a safe margin of orders from customers received here. The policy is one of caution and cave in the meantime, and this counsel has been adopted generally by the trade. In this way present, stocks" will bo reduced by steady sales to normal before importation commences again.' There is no prospect of any reduction in prices for some time to come. Labour enters so largely into the production, of a motor-ear, that until the cost of labour—that is, wages—falls hi. the manufacturing countries to something- like pre-war levels, which appears to he unlikely for a long while vet, cars will not be put on the market at anything like pre-war prices. By that time the situation should have adjusted itself. The coming, spring will give the trade a fair indication of prospects for the summer season of 1921-22. The interval will give ample time for necessary adjustments and reorganisation to meet the position. “Business as usual” will be the motto, but doubtless.. a business different from the abnormal period of the war and immediately after. EXPLGSiVE GOODS ACT. 1 he protest of the Wellington Automobile Club against the new regulations under the Explosives and Dangerous Goods Act. 1920. was reported in this column recently. It is stated that, as tho result of representations as to the expense of complicanee with the regulations, certain clauses relative lo the big oil stores have had their operation deferred. These are the provisions ihat require structural alterations, such as the silling up of the doors .and the consequent installation of conveyers or other handling plant, within the stores. The clauses are not repealed, but a year's grace will, it is said, be permitted. Oil distributors are recpiired, to fix a paste-on label on each case of petrol, and there is much concern in the trade over the effect of this regulation, apparently, there is little prospect- that tho labels can bo put on before shipment, so that, they must be applied here. This will mean that, the cases must be all taken to the bulk stores, so that transhipment, will be hindered; and curiosity exists as to how the labelling is to be .arranged for when petrol does not go through the stores of Ihe distribution companies. What concerns consumers of petrol is the prospect, that ihe labelling will involve an extra charge, which is variously estimated at from 6d to Is por case. ATanv people contend that the label will five little or no additional safeguard against accident in return for ihe outlay. Motorists are only a section of the consumers affected bv this regulation, for an enormous onantitv of the fuels which have to be labelled are i<»od in fanning and oilier industries. CARE OF CARS AT CITY FUNCTIONS. Tlie committee of the Wellington Automobile Club at iis meeting this week considered a suggestion l>v Air Banks that a man should he employed by the club lo look after motor-cars at, any special function taking place in tho city where a number of cars were likely io be congregated and parked. Tho committee were unanimously in favour of (lie suggeslion, llip matter being left in the hands of Ihc secretary to

use his discretion in employing a. man for the purpose, all oars bearing the club badge to be in his care. HITTING THE ROAD IN TONS. There has been a general complaint from local authorities that motor lorries and motor-buses shod with solid rubber tyres nljy havoc with the roads. The United .States Bureau of Police Roads has carried out some interesting experiments to show the difference between solid tyres and pneumatic. tyres. The result is to condemn the solid rubber tyro as a most effective smasher of roads. A truck was taken carrying 4j tons. The first test was with an old solid rubber tyre lin thick, the second with a new tyre thick, and then a last test with a. pneumatic tyre. The road selected had an uneven surface, and the force with which the wheel hit after passing over a hump was measured At 5 miles art hour the blows measured 11.6001 b, with the old tyre. 9400 with the new solid tyre, and 71001 h with tile pneumatic tyre. The lorry was then tested at a speed of 14 miles an hour. The force of the blows increased with the old tyre by 150 per cent., the new solid tyre 100 per cent., and with the pneumatic- tyre only 17 per cent. In other words, tile old tyre when it went over the bumps hit the road with a force on cacti occasion of 12 tons.