CYCLING & MOTOR NOTES

Otago Witness, Issue 3524, 27 September 1921, Page 42

CYCLING & MOTOR NOTES

By

DEMON.

- The latest in motor cycle side-car out lijja is a totally enclosed side-car, ensuring tiie passengers absolute protection from all kinds of weather. The top is hinged at the front end, and is clipped dawn in nasi tion by a fastening at the back. It is intended later on to tit this fastening inside, ®o that the passe.■ g< r ran let himself or her Self out.. The sides of the tep are made ol

thin plywood, whilst the windows are made of mica. A eliding slit in the offside window can be used when the passenger and driver desire to converse. The whole of the front window hinges from the top. and can be locked in any position desired bv the passenger.

Dn a working capital of about £7,800,C00 the total sales of the Anglo American Oil Company for their financial year amounted to over £40,000,000. The profits amounted to £7,668,000, an ( ] the dividends to £6,852,000.. Motorists might well ask when is the price of petrol coming

. home, weeks back a wager was made m England that the English road crack Bpon Meredith could not ride an out and home unpaged 50 miles in better time than 2hv ISmin, and 100 miles in 41n- 42min. The bet created a deal of interest in English cycling circles. Meredith has won the first leg of the wager by negotiating the 50 miles in the last, time of 21ir ISmin 3soc, nearly three minutes better than tlio time stipulated It. now remains to be seen whether ho can succeed in, the more strenuous task over the ICO miles. Meredith rode a machine geared to 84in with 6-Jiu cranks. An idea of the popularity of cycling tit France can lie gathered from the fact that there are now 4,308.000 cycles ropistoiod in that country. Those % tires cilmw an increase of nearly 750,000 machines over pre-war registrations. Damping and motoring have long been allied, blit the use of a ear as a "sleeper'’ lias been in most- cases a sort of regrettable necessity. An Oxford motorist. who appears to have encountered some lodging difficulties during a tour in Somerset and Devon in an all even flu r Albert demonstrated the adaptability of ins car to

his personal advantage, perhaps also to his profit. By removing one of the front seats and the back cushion he converted the car into an -excellent sleeping room, and enjoyed "a most delightful camping holidayin it.”

——The eighteenth annual meeting of the Canterbury Automobile Association will bo held on Thursday evening. The balance sheet, to be presented oil that occasion shows that the large sum of £1595 7s. was received by way of members’ subscriptions. The siun of £23-4 7s Id was expended on road signs, and various sums were contributed to local bodies tor the bridging of water races on the Main South road. Tile credit balance amounts to £258 7s 3d, and the total assets now amount to £3163 9s Bd. A large number of members have been enrolled during ihe year, the membership now standing at just over 1800. Among the activities of the association mentioned in the annual import, are the orphans’ outing, lho conveying of numbers of Parliament on a visit. to Lake Coleridge, the entertain merit of the delegates to the annual meeting of the South Island Motor L'nion. and the conveying of soldier patients from the sanatorium and hospital to the barracks for tile Anzac Day ceremony. POPULARITY OP THE LIGHT GAR. A very significant and very noticeable development, in the automobile Sr dust ry in the last year or so has been a very considerable increase in the popularity of the small car. generally, but nevertheless often inaccurately referred to as a light car (s.ays a writer in Overseas Daily Mail). One of the reasons contributing to this result is the very obvious one that the light car costs less to run than a big ear, and that the present statu of industry generally has forced many motorists rapidly to reduce their running expenses. But there are other reasons, one of which is the very pleasant surprise that, most previous users of big cars have had on settling down to the use of a small car for the first time. They have formed the idea, somewhat naturally, perhaps, that the small car would, be a cramped and uncomfortable vehicle in which to ride, and have bought a light ear with the determination to make the best of a temporary substitute. It has been a. matter of no small surprise to them that the substitute was not such a poor affair after all. arid, Indeed, in some extreme eases the light car has actually offered better accommodation and more comfort than the big one it lias replaced. This fact, together with a marked improvement in the quality and service capacity of the light, car, has made its bid for popularity a much easier affair than 'fc would have been a few years ago. -Some

of the most successful of light cars number among their pr< sent owners people who previously would have considered nothing less than a. 15-9. ’ihe valuable work accomplished by the makers erf the cars mentioned, among others, lies made it easier and lx tier for the industry as a whole, and there is no longer prevalent the idea that a light car is a necessarily uncomfortable and inefficient mode of conveyance. On .British roads everywhere one meets light cars in ever-increasing numbers, and the improved suspension and general durability of. their chassis is now making them entirely suited for the most gruelling- overseas conditions. PARKING CARS AT NIGHT.

Tne secretary of the Wellington Automobile Club reported to the committee this week that he had received an intimation from Mr S. M'Kcnzie. a member of the club, that he had again been summoned for leaving his car outside a picture theatre for longer than one hour. The secretarystated that the c’ub had lately defended a. summons issued by the police for a similar offence, and that the Magistrate, in discharging the case, ruled the prosecution a ridiculous one. A letter (dated July 25) from the Town Clerk on the subject, distinctly stated that the council had given permission that ears may be parked after 6 p.m. in the particular street concerned, and that, the city solicitor was preparing an alteration to the by-law. The committee decided that, in the event of the summons being proceeded with the club would defend TWO-STROKE ENGINE FOR GARS. it lias always surprised us that in the quest of a cheap light car the possibilities of the two-stroke engine have not been exploited in this country (says English Field). And the matter is all the more one for wonderment when we reflect on the great advance that has been effected in it as applied to the motor bicycle. Wilhin the last -few years it has emerged from being a sort of toy, unreliable but interesting, wayward but' engaging, and now admittedly is equal to the low-powered four-stroke machine of equal power, both in reliability and power development. Only one constructor, however, has attempted to use the principle for other than a 2\ h.p. engine, and we know enough of motor-engineering j.i oblems in be able to admit that even the production of a satisfactory 8 h.p. unit may well be a. long and expensive business Now. however, we hear that a twin-

cyciindci- two-stroke-engined light car of 8 h.p. nominal is to he produced in Coventry, and from the reports of the brake tests of the engine we imagine that, it will be a very promising start on the way for the two-stroke light ear. The principal difficulty of the two-stroke engine, of course

is Ike matter of earbnration. In the fourstroke wo have arrived at a stage of practical automat icily in the regulation of the explosive mixture. Whether the crank shaft revolutions be 800 or 1800 the envburafion is efficient, ns the gradual rise jn brakehorse power demonstrates. Tn the twostroke this autonmticity is still to seek. Within limits it is present, but those limits are not such as will enable it to be offered as a. popular substitute for the four-stroke

engine, no matter how much cheaper. I here is no market, in motoring for an inefficient or troublesome engine, and it. is clear that by some simple means this difficulty must be overcome—as we have no doubt it will be so soon as exploitation in earnest is entered upon. People must, not run awav with the idea, however, that a successful two-? I role engine will halve the cost of production in a car. Tt possibly will halve ihe cost of the engine, but lu every other particular the chassis must needs be as expensive in one type as in the. other. The lighter engine and its more constant torque will admit, of some, weightsaving in lho transmission, and to that extent it. may work for a cheaper chassis also. On the other hand it may. and probably will, be more expensive in fuel.

CHRISTCHURGH-TIJVIARU ROAD RACE. CHRISTCHURCH, September 23. The Christehurcli-Timaru load race lias been revived, and will be held on November 26. OTAGO MOTOR CLUB. The annual meeting- of the Otago Motor Club was held in the Savoy lounge room on Saturday night. The president (Mr A. K. An-ell) occupied the chair, and there was a very large attendance of members. Forty-two new members were elected. T n moving the adoption of the annual report arid balance sheet the chairman said that a great deal had been clone by motor organisations throughout New_ Zealand to make road travel safer. Attention had been drawn to the dangerous nature of level crossings and it was satisfactory to note

that the Railway Department was endeavouring to devise improved methods of signalling- the approach of trains. The greatest care was necessary at these crossings, and drivers should not trust absolutely to ally warning device but, should develop greater self-reliance. The Chairman went on ui ict c,- to glaring headlights, unlighted vehicles, the rule of the road at cross roads, and the South Island Motor Association. He congratulated the Minister on his Main Roads Bill. He took exception to the proposal that boroughs should not benefit under the Bill. The present method of allowing each and every county to put a heavy tax on every commercial vehicle passing through its country should not be allowed when the new taxation was in force. At present a firm sending a threeton lorry as far as Balclutha would pay in taxes a sum of £l6 10s, and that applied to one vehicle only. If a two-ton lorry

were sent it also would pay a tax. A way out would have to be found. Touching on the question of impenuing motor legislation, he thought that the drivers of ordinary vehicles should bo licensed, as well as motor car drivers. (“Hear, heard*) —There were careless drivers of other classes of vehicles besides motorists. Information regarding the proposed Motor Bill had just come to hand. He took a very serious view of the Bill. — “Hear, hear.”)--It was proposed that the registration fee for a car should be £l, motor cycle ss, motor cycle and sidecar 10s. In addition to this, the owner of a motor cycle would have to pay £1 as an annual license fee, and the owner of a private motor car £5, and so on. If these proposed charges had been only half, they woi ild still object. They held that the user of a road should pay according to the manner in which he used the road. The Government had no right to make the taxes a revenue-producing scheme. —(“Hear, hear.’’) —He was quite sure that the whole of the motor associations thoughout New Zealand would be atrainst the proposals. They had sufficient before them to know that the Government was not giving them a fair deal.—(Applause.) Continuing, the speaker said that they should demand that the South Island should get its proper share of the tyre tax. They were quite willing to pay their share for good roads, but ihev were determined that they would not pay more than their share. The lands through which the roads passed should also bear a substantial part of the cost of formation, etc. —(“Hear, hear.”! A classification should be made of the relative importance of the various highways for traffic purposes. They knew quite well that even if they bad to nav double the proposed taxes the total amount would he small compared to what would be required. They wanted those counties whose roads were used to get a fair proportion of the. revenue motorists were to be called on to pay.. Mr M. Stevenson seconded the motion. OFFICE-BEARERS.

On the motion of Mr Breen it was decided to increase the number of vice-presi-dents from four to six. Sir John Roberts. C.M.G., was re-ap-pointed patron of the club. Messrs A. E. Ansell and Malco'm Stevenson were nominated for the position of president On a ballot being taken Mr Ansel! was declared re-elected

Vice-presidents: Messrs A. 1,. Fogo, R. L. Jones, H. W. Reed, H. Hailiday, F J. Carter and F E. Clapperton, jun. Cycle Committee: Messrs A. M. Sherriff J. H. M‘Douga!l. R. Kofoed", F. E. Clap perton, and J. S. Little (trade representative) ; Car Committee: Messrs J. A. Roberts, P. W. Breen, J. L. Passmore and A. I. W. Wood ; auditors, Messrs A C. M‘George and C. W. L. King; bon solicitor. Mr G. Mondy; bon. treasurer Mr H. Hailiday; captain. Mr W. Wright. TYRE TAX APPROVED.

Mr S. B. Macdonald moved —“ That while this general meeting of Otago motorists congratulates the Government in bringing down legislation having for its purpose the national registration of all motorists in the dominion, this meeting strongly protests against the proposal contained in the Motor Registration Bill to impose a heavy tax for annual registration, and considers that a tyre tax is the only equitable method whereby taxation should be levied.” ■ be levied ” He said that whilst they must congratulate the Government on its effort to control the road hogs of New Zealand they strongly protested against any idea of blackmail, and this he considered the proposals were. lie thought that the whole thing was an extortionate demand Mr Wright second'd the motion. Ho felt that motorists were going to be taxed out of sight. The suggestion that they would have to pay a flat rate per annum, and also a tyre tax, seemed to him absolutely unreasonable. The motion was carried unanimously, and it was decided to call a conference at once of all bodies connected with motoring to consider the in the Bill. GENERAL. It was decided to nold the Labour Day motor reliability (rial to Ciyde and back. It was also decided to open the season on November 5 with a run to Whare Flat. The prizes won during the season were handed out by Mr Wright.