CYCLING & MOTOR NOTES

Otago Witness, Issue 3513, 12 July 1921, Page 42

CYCLING & MOTOR NOTES

BY

DEMON.

—lt was demonstrated recently m London that it is quite practicable to control a small electric car by sound waves. That is to say, tho car without anyone in it can be started, stopped and steered in any desired direction merely by blowing a whistle, the sound waves being received on the car ov a sensitive detector, which brings the controlling mechanism into action. This experiment has previously been successfully performed by wireless transmission, out control by sound seems to open up a new field for speculation. The motorist of, say, a hundred years from now, may be controlled. by unseen agencies and forces in a manner at present little understood. Every car may be required by law to be equipped with control devices sensitive to sound waves. Just how far the. cost of material affects the finished motor car price may be realised when it is mentioned that it amounts to one-third the retail value of the chassis: that is, the steel and nonferrous metals before a pennyworth of work or handling have been expended on them. If this represents £450, and a 63 1-3 per cent, reduction is made, there is a saving of £l5O in the chassis price possible—no small reduction this —for those concerns able to buy new material and not obliged to continue using old stocks. Those who use their cars through the wet season would be well advised to put in an afternoon on the useful, if disagreeable, task of removing the rust from their rims and coating them with suitable preservatives. Such precautionary action, taken in time, may save a lot of trouble on the road. A movement is on foot in Ungland for the adoption of a process for colouring petrol so that grades would be easily distinguishable. if the colouring has no objectional effect upon the fuel, the scheme is a good one, for the motorist will be able to toil at a glance whether the grade of fuel he ordered, and is being charged for, is actually being put into his tank. En tirely different colours might be_ given to the various grades, and any mixing would be evident from the alteration m shade. Motorists who desire to get the maximum mileage from their covers should avoid clumsy engagement of the clutch, locking the wheels with the brakes, too rapid acceleration, high speed over bad roads, and fast cornering. Attention to these items will ensure nearly double the life of your tyres. The big American motor car combine, known as the General Motor Corporation, which controls, many American cars on the Australian market, earned some £16,500,000 in 1920, as against £20.700L00 in 1919, the falling off in earnings being attributed to dulness in trade in America during the past year. The motor dealers of Los Angeles, Cal.,' in an endeavour to stimulate business on the grounds that trade does not come to those that wait, determined to go after it in a way different from all previous undertakings. They commenced a “Call of the Open Road Week.” deciding it was incumbent upon them to tell the public where to go, how to get there, and that the proper means was the automobile. The week began with a monster parade. in which a number of large motor waggons were tableaux typifying neighbouring resorts, while every store was a miniature motor exhibition. The business results were eminently satisfactory. THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY. In the comparatively short period of 25 years the automobile industry has advanced from zero to tho largest manufacturing business of finished goods in ihe world, ft. is computed that the total volume of trade this year will reach £1,000,000,000. of which £880,000.000 will be America's share. With a population of about 110.000,000, the United States- has over 9,000,000 cars, whereas Europe, with apropxirmtely 450,000.000 people, has a beggarly 438,000 automobiles. There are about 800,000 motor waggons in operation in America, hauling nn average of 4| tons per day each —an aggregate of 3.600,000 tons per day—lo3o millions of tons per year of 300 days! It is estimated that the average ton-mile cost of motor waggon haulage is about ninepence in America, with haulage by horse at one shilling per tonmile; and in ibis connection it is said that the motor has released 3,500,000 horses for various other purposes. Large as the automobile industry proper is, the value of the accessory business, including fuel and tyres, is much greater.

PRESENCE OF WATER. The effect usually noticeable when water has in the carburetter is v.-cak “pick-up” throughout the middle ranges of throttle opening, though not to a marked uegreo on starting up, or when the engine is going all out. Ease of starting up is rarely interfered with by the presence of water, because, the latter lies well below the top level of the jet, which, therefore, eup plies the necessary petrol for tho first few revolutions,' after which the water gets drawn up? and interrupts the even character of running. Similarly, when the engine is speeded up, enough petrol gets through to cause an explosion mixture, which is the easier attained at the higher speed, since then ihe compression also is high. There is only one remedy for water in the carburetter, and that is to drain off, if a sludge tap is provided, or, if not. then to dismantle the float chamber and jet. The fact of water penetrating as far as the carburetter is evidence that more remains in the tank and pipe line, neither of which should be neglected too long. Vacuum tanks are so designed that they trap a 'ot of water, but, unfortunately, too many of them have no provision for draining-. FAST SPEEDS. In some speed trials on Broo/lands track (Eng.) very fast times were recorded, by motor cyclists, and for the first time on record speeds exceeding the rate of 100 m.p.h. were attained over short distances, ranging from one kilometre to a mile. D. It. Davidson, one a 7.9 h.p. machine of the same name, was the first to reach a speed of over 100 m.p.h., with a record of 100.76 m.p.h., although it was stated that several of the riders in practice had attained up to 104 m.p.h. A few days later, however, if. Le Vack, on a 10-year-o-ld 7.9 h.p. Indian, familiarly known as “The Camel,” succeeded in reaching- a speed of 106.52 m.p.h.. the distance covered being a kilom. in 21seo. The record for tire mile, how-ever—-26.2-sec,—equals 99.45 m.p.h. Five miles were covered in 3min 21.15 ec —89.5 m.p.h., and 10 miles in 6m in 57.95ec—--86.14 m.p.h. On a single-cylinder, twostroke New Comet machine J. I-'. Neway covered 200 miles in 4hr 58min 5 2-ssec, or at an average speed of 41.1 E m.p.h.—a fine performance. THEFT OF MOTORS. The, so-called “joy-rides” taken by people who do not own the cars are nothing more or less than thieving (says the Australasian). Petrol and tyres are used, and other wear takes place, as well as depreciation generally. Moreover, a car in the hands of an irresponsible person may suffer considerable damage, of which the owner will know nothing until a week or a month after, when there is a big workship job to be paid for. If a person lifts your umbrella because it is raining, or your hat or anything else belonging to you, it is rightly regarded as theft; but, apparently, if he takes away your car without .permission he is only “jov-riding.” There is far too much “joy-riding” done, and will be if the existing leniency continues to fee extended to the thieves. Indeed!, punishment for actual thefts of ears has been, in some cases, ridiculously inadequate, both for the theft itself and as a deterrent for similar crimes after the miscreant is released. When adequate sentences are imposed motor-car stealing and “joy-riding” will decrease-. llow tho seriousness of the offence came to be overlooked or minimised has been, and still is, a w onder to many motorists. PETROL SUPPLY PIPE. One of the commonest troubles experionerd by the pioneers of motoring was a break in the- petrol supply pipe. While rarer now. the defect sometimes develops, and therefore it is always well to cany a length of rubber tubing with which to make a temporary repair necessary. If the oipe breaks off short- at the union, an effco iivo repair can be made by fifing the end of tho pine cone-like., so as to lit it info the seating. Next, slip over it a piece of rubber tubing, and when tho union nut is expands the rubber inside the union into a form of washer, which will make an effective temporary job. An additional precaution may be taken by applying a touch of soap around the union tit the place where the pipe enters, and also on the thread.