CYCLING & MOTOR NOTES

Otago Witness, Issue 3619, 24 July 1923, Page 48

CYCLING & MOTOR NOTES

By

" DEMON.”

——The maiter of urging tlie Governjnont Uj provide greater facilities for touring motorists from abroad ill obtaining the Customs rebate on their cars was again discussed recently by the executive of the South Island Motor Union. Ihe secretary said that the subject had been brought before tbo Minister, and it was just a rnabter of getting the Government to “speed up” in providing the facilities requested. It was resolved (but the Government be urged to rebate duty on tourists' cars immediately upon their depaoture from the Dominion. Many a motorist does not pause to think that, in certain circumstances, a screech of a horn may be more dangerous than silence. A motor authority says it is a great mistake to think that it is essential to sound the horn because a “tight corner” has arisen. Judgment must he used in every case. If a pedestrian will lie just out of the way without sounding the horn —keep as quiet as possible. To sound the horn might cause that person to pause, or even step back.

One sees in New Zealand and other countries a stupid type of motor-driver who resents being passed by any other one on the road. An English writer, referring to that kind of foolishness, remarks: “You may overtake one of these drivers when he happens to be going quite slowly—say, 16 miles per hour. You pass courteously at perhaps 20 or 25 miles per hour, sounding the horn and allowing plenty of room. But. our friend of peculiar mentality will immediately be consumed with an urgent, desire to re-pass, and proceeds to do it, with a 1 What do you think of that?’ air. Any sane and really experienced driver oniv thinks it an example of abnormal stupidity. And that is just what these examples of silly and inconsiderate driving really are. ’ REAL PLEASURE OF MOTORING. A contributor to a Sydney on per has written sortie good sense against "the stupid craze for speed. “You can get,” he declares, “all the pleasure that there is to be got out of motoring by driving slowly, and, besides, the cost in petrol, tyres, and wear and tear is probably not: one-tenth per hour what it is to the hardworking joy-rider. The. real pleasure of motoring lies between the speed of 25 miles an hour and 10 miles ail hour. Of course, there are times (perhaps seldom) when the. read is smooth and long, and the speed can be clapped on. Even then the limitless speed of the car is merely a thrilling satisfaction. Limitless, probably doesn’t, convey the proper meaning, but nevertheless it is correct, because if you practice driving slowly and carefully the speed of your car is undoubtedly limitless.

To enjoy motoring properly you should not have torn I he veil of mystery from your car’s capability. The motor man who has forced his willing engine to its utmost speed, and knows that no matter how much wider he may open the throttle lie can go no faster, is really to be pitied, because be has lost one of the greatest joys that should belong to every carowner.” BRITISH MANUFACTURERS. A motoring correspondent of the London Times acts as candid friend to the British manufacturers of motor vehicles thus: — “Ihe British industry is to blame for not pooling its troubles, sinking its jealousies, and co-operating with common interests soon after the war. Had this been done the position to-day would have been far more advanced and secure. That British manufacturers must be prepared to meet, the Colonial purchaser in the matter of price, if necessary at considerable sacrifice, until such time as markets expand, goes without saying. It is no good preserving a stiff-necked, take-i t-or-lea ve-it attitude. Others have taken our trade, and in order to get it back vie must ‘sell’ our cars and lorries. Actual constructional needs, such as large water space and cooling surface, forced engine lubrication, a margin of power for working at high altitudes, controllable air and fuel supplies, low gearing, broad track, high clearance of not less than tei* inches, wide steering lock, easy replacement of renewal parts, watertight and dustproof bearings, absence, of plated parts, and as a rule of timber, all these must be met as far as possible. Improved sales organisation and service must be carried into effect, and propaganda on a generous scale and adapted to localities is essential. In this connection, it is well to warn manufacturers to moke sure that their interests are placed in trustworthy hands.” POPULARITY OF LIGHT CARS. “It is going to be a great summer for private motor touring as well as for travel by public petrol-driven vehicles,” remarks a contributor to a London paper. “The entire nation seems to be indulging in an orgy of car-buying at the moment. This is largely explained by the heavy cuts that have been made in the prices of many cars, which are now being more than usually extensively advertised one against the other. The most interesting development of the motoring situation is the turning out in almost countless thousands of small highpowered cars designed to defeat the high cost of motor taxation. I have ridden in many of these new cars during the past month or two and can pay tribute to their efficiency and convenience. There is only one criticism which one feels impelled to pass upon some of them, and that is that the accommodation is just a little cramped for the man whom the outfitters are accustomed to describe as an ‘out-size.’ Apart from that, they are really wonderful, both from the point of view of efficiency and value.” MOTOR TRANSPORT. Greater strides have been made in the field of transportation thus far in the twentieth century than in any other field of human activity. The beginning of this century ushered in the motor-car, and shortly afterwards the motor truck. It was not until 1910, however, that motors were thoroughly established as a dependable means of transport. With the outbreak of the recent war, motor vehicles entered upon a new phase of usefulness, first in the countries distant from the seat of war, and on the actual fighting fronts themselves. Mobilisation in the time at the disposal of the Allies would have been impossible without the aid of motors, while the rationing of the armies on the different, fronts was almost entirely dependent on this form of transport. While their usefulness as an adjunct to any army was simply demonstrated, it is really in the commercial field that the huge strides have been made. In all civilised countries, it is now' a recognised fact that the necessary progress cannot be made without the adoption of reliable and dependable transport, and due to the wonderful efficiency of motors, they have been adopted in increasing numbers by all nations. The position in Great Britain indicates how important an adjunct motors have become to the nation in almost- every corner, there being ample evidence of their being absolutely essential. Eighteen years ago. the number of motor vehicles crossina over Putney Bridge. London, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. was nil. A census taken on the same date over the same number of hours in 192.2 shows a total of 10.974. When it is realised that in the latter total there are only 75 horse-drawn vehicles against 1417 on the previous occasion, it seems that nothing more is necessary to confirm the facts already claimed. The passenger traffic of London could not. be handled to-day without the aid of motor traction, and it is remarkable that, during 1922. motor-’buses ran 108.250.000 miles, the Underground Railways 70.250,000, while the. grand total for the Tramways was only 17.250,000. The number of passengers transported by motors in London during the same year was 101.026,763. The Hon. S. Baldwin, Prime Minister of England, when addressing ihe Institute of Transport, stated that cheap transport was a vital necessity to the welfare of any nation. Tie emphasised that modern methods of transport would alone provide the necessary relief lo enable workpeople to get away from workshops and factories, to live in decent surroundings, and see those portions of their own country which in "Men days was denied them. In ihe United States, the progress in the use of motors has even been more remarkable than applies to Great Britain, it being shown bv recent statistics that, there are 12JI million vehicles at present in use throughout that country. It is admitted by the railway magnates themselves that gradually, but surely, the motor medium of transport is encroaching on the preserves of the railways. This is definitely confirmed by the fact that during 1922 the goods transported per motor was 1,430.000.000 tons, while that by rail was 1.642.251,000. The passengers carried during the same period was as follows: Per motor. 6.990.862,’Qfi0; per railway, 1,059,315,000. The total number of passenger cars and trucks produced in the Unified States for the twelve months ending 31st. December, 1922, was 2,527.000. It is anticipated that this quantity will he exceeded during 1923. Looking at the situation nearer home, it is quite evident that the transport of wool and produce from the back blocks would

be an impossibility without the use of motor traction. SIX-DAY RACE. LONDON, July 22. The winners of the Six-day Cycle Team Race at Olympia are Fersyn and Vandcrvelde, Belgians, who lapped the field last night. Gocfwin and Peyrode (France) were second and Dupuy (France.) and Olivieri (Italy) third.