CYCLING & MOTOR NOTES

Otago Witness, Issue 3672, 29 July 1924, Page 54

CYCLING & MOTOR NOTES

BY

“DEMON.”

The All-British Motor Show at the Melbourne Exhibition has proved an unqualilied success, and shoidd achieve its object in bringing »ho British automobile more prominently before the Australian public. An inspection of the cars, commercial vehicles and motor cycles demonstrates that the Britisher has no superior when it comes to high class workmanship, and the turning out of motors that will withstand the hardest of work for many years. Cars of all powers are shown and their solidity and finish are a delight and instruction to motorists. A surprising feature has been the number of cars sold for cash. One agent states that he has disposed of 40 vehicles—his whole stock—since the show opened. He had never once been asked to give terms. Another representative said he had sold 25, and a third 20 cars. Most of the buyers were men on the land, and came from every corner of the Stale. Cycle read racing is booming in Victoria and large fields face the starter in almost every event. In the League of Victorian Wheelmen's 50 Miles Handicap last Saturday, 146 riders competed. The event was won by M. J. Clark (9min). Fastest time was established by J. Watson, off scratch (2brs Bmin. 23 4-ssec). winch closely approaches R. Ford’s (Victoria) Australian lecord tune of 2hrs. 7min. 32sec. SOME LARGE FIGURES. The importation of automobiles into Australia is increasing in an amazing manner, and for the last eleven months £12,722,000 worth of motors and bodies have passed through the Customs, which means that Australia is buying cars at the rate of nearly £14,000,000 a year. This is 5£ million pounds more than the imports for the previous year. Petrol brought into Australia has also greatly increased, and nearly £4,000,000 worth of petroleum spirit will be lauded in the Commonwealth during the twelve months.

ATTEMPT AT RECORD FAILS. A second attempt by Messrs D. Campbell and L. Hooker to- establish Australian figures for a 24 hours’ motor car track record on the Aspendale Speedway (Victoria) came to a sensational end owing to a tyre bursting and the little 10 h.p. Citroon overturning. Campbell, who was driving at the lime, and his mechanician “were fortunately both thrown clear of the ear. The former was badly knocked about, and was subsequently found to have sustained a fractured wrist and two broken ribs. He was removed to a private hospital and is out of danger. The car was badly knocked about. At the time of the accident it was travelling at about 55 miles per hour and had been on the track for about 8i hours, and had averaged over s'o miles per hour. It was bad luck that the drive terminated as it did for the attempt promised well. FRAME OR BODY. The general trend in connection with the design of chassis frames and the requirements (if not the demands) of body-builders appear to be diametrically opposed. While the chassis manufacturer is constantly endeavouring to reduce weight, and with this end in view seeks to render less rigid frames feasible, from his own standpoint, by a provision of three-point suspension for the power unit and gearbox, the bodybuilder persistently asks for greater rigidity in frame construction in order that he may reduce the weight of bodies. At present the body-builder is compelled to construct the framework of his products, so that it is able more or less to withstand the effects of frame distortion, if not actually to resist the latter. Other things being equal, it would appear that no matter which unit of the car as a whole is reduced in weight, frame or body, the total weight must remain approximately the same. If reduction occurs in the frame the body must be strengthened, whereas if the frame is made more rigid, and therefore heavier, the saving of weight in the bodywork does not have effect in the end. INDECISION. It is shown upon good authority that too many collisions and accidents are the direct result of indecision, and that there must be an effort made to stand by one’s decision with regard to passing other cars, turning, parking, stopping, and starting. The driver who slowly but deliberately drives through a line of pedestrians who won’t obey the traffic officer is much less likely to injure them than the driver who starts to assume his right and then changes

his mind. Soon as, indecision enters the mind of the party of the first part the same mental attitude is found in the mind of the second party. There is confusion, and finally an accident. WOMEN DRIVERS IN FRANCE. Until recent years -women drivers have been rather rare in Franco. Although keen enough on. motoring, French women have been inclined to leave the wheel to the opposite sex. The last year or two has seen a great change, however, and amongst recent driving licenses issued by the Prefecture of Police for the Departme nl: of the Seine, no fewer than 28 per cent, have been taken out by women. In spite of the newspaper jibes to the contrary, it may be said very definitely that women drivers drive far more carefully, as a rule, than the average Frenchman, and they are certainly not so rough with the unfortunate car. Quite a sprinkling of women taxidrivers has lately appeared in Paris. Motoring offences are very rare amongst French women drivers. REDUCING RATTLE, PRAISE FOR BALLOON TYRES. While the general comforts of the closed ear so far.overshadow anything that might be spoken in criticism, there is one annoyance individual to the closed car that owners would like definitely to end. That is rattling windows. An expression of a prominent Christchurch company indicates that the new low air-pressure tyre will go far to annul this disturbance. Rattling Windows.— Speaking on this phase, the engineer said : “Possibly every motor car owner realised that rattling windows are the result of vibration, and not imperfection in body workmanship or design. The windows cif new closed cars never rattle. There are no body squeaks. Only after a car has seen considerable service do windows begin to rattle and the body to develop squeaks. The lurching and swaying of a car negotiating bad roads—the thousands of shocks sustained from bumps and uneven surfaces—these are the things that loosen up a body and start windows rattling. You have a parallel in ships at sea. Under the pounding of a tremendous sea seams often are opened. —Riding Comfort.— . Much has been said about the greater riding comfort of balloon cords and little about, their powers to curb vibration. It stands to reason that if the air pressure,

yielding cushions, which we have in balloon cords, aosorb the shocks that disturb riding comfort, They also absorb the shocks that weaken the body and distort window frames. Thus the sedan, coupe or brougham that goes into service with balloon tyre equipment will escape, certainly for a much longer period, the disturbance of rattling windows and doors. Taking road shocks off the frame, mechanism and body, and absorbing them within big air chambers is one of the most important functions of balloon cords. -—Comfortable Tyres.—• Therefore, no car owner must look upon balloon cords simply as more comfortable tyres. 'They are infinitely more than that. It is conservatively estimated that balloon tyre equipment will add two years to the life of any oar, and materially reduce mechanical expenses during its operation. Vibration is the enemy of all steel and mechanism. Its reduction hence, means expense reduction. HEAD LIGHTS. The question of motorists dimming their lights was discussed at the Wuirarapa Automobile Association’s meeting at Greytown (says the Wairarapa Times). Mr K. Mcßean Stewart stated that the man who dimmed "his lights took a tremendous risk. It was a most dangerous practice, and he would like to see the matter taken up by the N.Z.A.U. Mr E. F. Barton thought the remedy would be found in a new lens. He had been using anti-glare head lamps for some time, and found them very satisfactory. Mr Gordon Hughan was also against dimming, and advocated the spotlight, if used properly. Messrs A. M. Broadbent, R. AV.

Roydhouse, and W. Benton also expressed the opinion that dimming was a most dangerops practice. It was unanimouslvyresclved that a remit go forward to (he New Zealand Automobile Union. DETERIORATION OF TYRES. Recent research work goes to prove that the deterioration of tyres other than front ordinary wear and tear is largely due to oxidation. It has been found that- tyres filled with pure oxgen deteriorate very rapidly. As a result, satisfactory experiments have been made with tyres filled with oxygenfree gases. Indeed, it is declared that tyres filled with nitrogen have been found to retain their hardness after having been thousands of miles over all kinds of roads for more than a year. It is probable, therefore, that in the near future, motorists will be able to have their tyres filled with pure nitrogen at equipment stations whenever ’.„v desire it. The cost of filling with inert gas must necessarily be high, hut in the end economies would be effected owing to increased mileage. THE AUSTRALIANS IN PARIS. PARIS, July 20. The Australian cyclists Coppins, Broadbent, and Dempsey were first second, and third in the Bon Marche Grand Prix of 1000 metres for amateurs.-TWO-MILE RECORD BROKEN. NEW YORK, July 03. At Newark, New Jersey, Cecil Walker, of Australia, broke the world’s two-mile bieycl* record, his time being 3min 37 3-sseo.