CYCLING & MOTOR NOTES

Otago Witness, Issue 3595, 6 February 1923, Page 48

CYCLING & MOTOR NOTES

BY

"DEMON.”

One of the striking novelties of the recent Motor Cycle Show in London was what may fairly claim to be the smallest practical automobile engine in existence—viz., the midget engine made by A. Clement. The bore is 35m.m. and stroke 45m.m. The piston is not much larger in diameter than a pennypiece. This engine has overhead valves, and the complete unit, with magneto and carburettor, weighs only 181 b. It develops | b.h.p. Figures just issued by the National Automobile Chamber Of Commerce, New York, indicate that great prosperity is being experienced by the TJ.S.A. automobile industry. For October, 1922, a total output of 244,400 cars and lorries is reported, the previous best on record for the month of October being 200,000 in 1919. Onethird of the output is said to bo absorbed by the agricultural industry. 305 different makes of cars on the English market only 31 are fitted with rims for ■traight-sided tyres; the balance carry rims for beaded-edge covers.

A wonderful piece of sustained riding on a Henderson four-cylinder motor cycle has resulted in remarkable figures being put up by W. Bennett (U.S.A.) for the transcontinental record across America from Los Angeles to New York. The distance is 3400 miles, embracing every description of roads, tracks, mountains, deserts, etc., and Bennett succeeded in doing the journey in 6d 15hr 13min. Out of this time 12J> hours were spent in sleep during the week’s ride, besides time lost in stops for food, fuel, etc. Bennett’s ride is 7hr 39min better than the previous record. The little A. C. light car, which recently astounded the motor world by negotiating 100 miles in 59min 12sec on Brooldands, England, and 101 miles 696 yards in 60rnin, was originally designed by the late Harry G. Hawker, the well-known Australian aviator. The bore and stroke of this little cylinder engine is only 69 m.m. by 100 m m. (1496 c.c.), yet it develops well over 50 h.p. on the brake. During its wonderful run the engine was turning over at 4200 “revs.” at minute. The one set of Dunlops ran right- through the test. Mr Eddie Pearson, the Australian overlanding cyclist, who is at present touring New Zealand on wheel, is looked upon by medical men as something of a “freak,” as he puts it himself, though to look at he is quite an average Australian, tall and spare. There is nothing about him to suggest that he is the man who three times established a record for the MelbourneSydney ride. His last performance, 49 hours for the 577 miles, still stands as the record. He started cycling 32 years ago, in the days of the high-wheeled bike, and today, at the age of 55 years, he is still capable of averaging 70 miles a day over fairly hilly country, and 100 miles a day

over flat roads, under fair weather conditions. He left Auckland early in January, and last week he reached Christchurch, coming by way of Picton and Kaikoura. He is making the trip at an easy pace, for he is merely sight-seeing, and not out to make or break records. MERCEDES RACINC CARS. It is interesting to note that a team of three Mercedes racers has been entered for the 1923 Indianapolis 500 miles race. This will constitute the first important appearance of a German make in a really international race since the war, and will add enormously to the importance of making comparisons between allied and exenemy cars. The Mercedes all have “straight eight” engines. Ten machines have been built, and, after testing, three of the fastest Will go across for the big American event. German cars are nowbeing allowed to compete in Italian events; but France will not allow the Teutons to race over her highways, nor are German cars permitted to compete in England's leading road event, the Tourist Trophy. Coming nearer home, they wete not allowed to take part- in the R.A.C. of Victoria’s 10C0 miles alpine contest. ACROSS THE SAHARA. The success of (he “Citroen” team of four cars in negotiating the 2000 miles journey across the dreaded Sahara Desert draws attention to the suitability of the “creeper track” drive. These cars were fitted with a rubber and canvas form of creeper drive in place of the heavy metal type associated with, war tanks, and the fact that cars fitted with only 10 h.p. engines succeeded in getting across the hundreds of miles of deep sand which abounds in the Sahara, will draw more attention to the possibilities of this form of drive for motor transport across heavy, soft surfaced country.

In certain parts' of Australia it is possible for creeper tracks to replace camels and. big teams of bullocks, for one real attraction of creeper track vehicles is that roads are unnecessary. Indeed, a pathway is actually beaten out and improved on every occasion that a creeper track vehicle passes over, and soon the surface is bedded down sufficiently solidly to enable ordinarywheeled vehicles to pass over it. Here, then, is blit one instance of the immense possibilities foreshadowed for creeper track vehicles in undeveloped country. The successful outcome of the Sahara crossing will serve as valuable propaganda for the creeper track. Already the world’s leading automobile manufacturers are keenly alive to the importance of recent developments in this direction. MOTOR UNION. The executive of t-lie South Island Motor Union met on Friday' evening, when there were present Messrs J. S. Hawkes (president). F. W. Johnston, W. G. Tonks, W. L. Minson, N. M. Orbell, H. C. Harley, and R. Wanden. ‘■On the recommendation of thte City’ Motor Inspector, it, was decided to communicate with the local bodies in the vicinity of Christchurch, asking them to* make it compulsory for motor vehicles to carry reflectors or mirrors. The clerk of the Waimairi County Council wrote stating that the Council had agreed to adhere to the.decision of the las-r. conference of local bodies, eliminating the proposal to include in the heavy traffic bylaws a provision for the carrying of mirrors. The letter was received. The Otago Motor Club wrote asking the Union to Veep before its members the proposal that all traffic bridges should be painted white, with a view to having the point embodied in legislation.

The letter was received, the chairman stating that the matter could be brought forward when the Motor Vehicles Bill was being considered. The Otago Motor Club wrote stating that a member who had taken his car to Australia had experienced considerable delay- iri obtaining a rebate of Customs duty after bringing his car back to New Zealand. It Was agreed to reply stating that the delay in handing over the rebate occurred in Australia, and not in New Zealand. LONDON AUTOMOBILE SHOW. From a general survey of the features of the motor-cars for 1923, as displayed in the recent motor exhibition at Olympia and tne White City, London, it is gathered that the four-cylinder water-cooled engine is most popular, and figures supporting this and other features, compiled from a cehsus appearing in the “Autocar” (Eng.), will probably interest not only the prospective purchaser of a jnocor, but also those that have used the automobile for many years. Respecting the number of cylinders in the engines of more than 3CO cars displayed, those with four cylinders comprised 74.3 per cent., those with six cylinders, 16.5 per cent., those with two cylinders 2.5 per cent., and those with V-tw’in cylinders 0.3 per cent. Engines with detachable cylinder heads predominated, the proportion" being 63 per cent., as against 37 per cent, with non-detachable heads. Side-by-side valve engines led with 61.5 per cent,, those with overhead valves followed wth 27.5 per cent., with sleeve valves 8.1 per cent., and miscellaneous 2.9 per cent. Of the cooling systems employed the thermo-syphon prevailed with 51 tier cent,, though the pump system ran it fairly close, claiming 44.75 per cent., vhile air and oil cooled engines had 4.25 per cent. Eighty-three per cent, of the engines had magneto ignition, as against 17 per cent with battery ignition.

Those having eleetrie starters had a strong lead with 88.5 per cent., and, while 9.5 rr cent, had no self starters whatever, per cent, had mechanical contrivances. Engines with four-speed gear boxes were most numerous, the figures being 52.5 per wit., with three speeds 45 5 per cent., and miscellaneous 2 per cent, (.lone clutches were most popular, leading with 42 per cent., followed by disc dutches with 35.6 per cent., plate clutches with 20.4 percent., and miscellaneous 2 per cent. Suspension Systems.—Front Wheel Springs — Semi-elliptic, 79 per cent. ; 16.5 per cent.; miscellaneous. 4.5 per cent. .Rear Wheel Springs—Semi-elliptic, 46 per cent. ; cantilever, 24.5 per cent. ; 4-elliplic 20.5 per

cent. ; g-elliptie, 7 per cent. ; miscellaneous, 2 per cent. Transmission.—Filial Drive— Spiral bevel, 75 per cent., worm drive, 14 per cent. ; straight bevel, 8 per cent.; miscellaneous, 3 per cent. Wheels.—Steel (artillery pattern), 34 per cents ;dise wheels, 27 per cent. ; wire wheels, 25 per cent. ; wood wheels, 14 per cent. SECOND-HAND VALUES. For the past four years motorists have been complaining of the inflated prices of everything connected with motoring, front motor-cars downward (says English Field). They have clamoured for cheaper cars, and now that these are obtainable, have been sharply reminded that price reductions in new cars react immedately on. the market value of old ones. It is probable that there are over £IOO,CCQ.OCO worth of motor-cars in use in Great Britain. The output of new cars during 1922 probably did not amount to more than £15.000,000 worth, and when list prices were reduced by about 12g per cent, on the average, it meant a reduction of, say, £2,000,000 in all over the year’s trade: but the effect of that reduction on the £100,000,000 worth of secondhand cat’s has been tremendous. Normally a second-band - car depreciates 25 per cent, annually as a trading commodity, but the decline in value this year, owing to these price reductions probably is much nearer 40 per cent., so that while the motoring movement is going to save £2,000,000 on the new cars it will buy, it has lost £15,000.000 on its old cars for no other reason than that new cars have become cheaper. And that is not all. The secondhand market at the moment is almost, lifeless. Even dealers cannot be induced to buy at bargain prices because they do not know how much further second-hand prices may sag. The public itself is to blame for this, as it is still unconvinced that the prices announced at the Olympia Show will prevail for 1923. Naturally, if new prices were to decline, second-hand values would decline still more: Broadly speaking, we believe

that current prices will hold good for the 1923 season. The sooner the stability of current prices is borne in on the public, doubtless the sooner will the second-hand market re-open ; but no matter when it re-opens a huge depreciation in actual value will have to be faced. Some, doubtless, will elect to hold on to the old oar and get another year’s work out of it, and if it be a. really good and economical one to run, the policy will be wise enough; but generally one begins to discuss a new car because replacements and repairs bills have begun to mount, and so it will be as well to consider that as a set-off against the loss entailed by a sale that will admit of the purchase of a new car.

MOTOR CYCLE CHAMPIONSHIP. NELSON, February 2. A motor cycle championship, under the auspices of the Nelson Motor Cycle Club, resulted as follows: —N. E. Web ley (Blenheim), 1; E. C. Earsford (Bulls), 2; F. Donaldson (Blenheim), 3.