Motor and Cycle

Otago Witness, Issue 3828, 26 July 1927, Page 70

Motor and Cycle

by

DEMON.

The erection of a new bridge over the I.owburn Creek at Beaumont lias now been commenced and the stretch of road will bo closed to all traffic during the period of construction. Users of the road will find notice boards on the roadside, on which all particulars of the temporary detour road which it is proposed to use will be printed.

At a meeting of the Wellington. Automobile Club the other evening the secretary reported that upwards of 200 members had not paid their subscriptions for the current year (reports a northern exchange). The secretary was instructed to communicate with each unfinancial member by telephone or by sending a collector to those in close proximity. Others will be notified in writing of the chib’s intention to issue a draft in seven days and asked to protect it, any member not honouring the draft to be summoned unless satisfactory arrangements are made. In driving a small car through the crowded streets of the city, the advantages of changing to a lower gear frequently are not appreciated by many motorists. By changing down (as it is called) slowmoving traffic can be passed more rapidly, the near side of the road being regained in a shorter space of time, and a better get-away can be made from traffic holdups. Then, again, when coming out of a by-road and crossing the main stream of traffic, it is the foolish policy of many drivers to proceed at about 15 in.p.h. in top gear, causing oncoming vehicles to brake more or less violently, simply in order that the driver who is emerging from the by-road may save himself the trouble of changing down. The correct procedure, of course, is to engage a lower gear before the corner is reached, making sure that the course is clear before endeavouring to cross the main road. If there is no one in the way, the acceleration available on the lower gear will enable the ear to get quickly across, and the whole process will take no more time than that occupied by the average slapdash, top-gear driver. BRITISH PROGRESS. Information from England shows that the motor industry is steadily progressing. For the first quarter of this year the exports of touring cars, chasses, and parts exceed the imports by £1,308,589. For the first three months of 1926 the exports exceeded the imports by £306,530, but in the year before the position was different, the imports of foreign cars and parts exceeding the exports by £457,457. IN YEARS TO COME, Several interesting prophecies were "lade by members of the committee of the Wairarapa Automobile Association at its meeting on Wednesday, says the Wairarana Daily News. While the subject of remits to the annual motor conference was being discussed, Mr R. W. Roydhouse stated that in his opinion the time was not far distant when motor-cars would not be propelled by internal combustion engines, but with electricity by means of inexhaustible batteries. To introduce a tax on petrol, as was proposed, would only mean that in a few years the tyre tax would be reverted to. Instead of chopping and changing, it would be better to adhere to the present tyre tax. If the tax collected was not enough, the levy on motorists could be increased; but as the Highways' Board under the present system received nearly half a million pounds through motor taxation, and had not, roughl” speaking, expended more than half of it. it seemed preposterous to further tax the motorist. It appeared as if the authorities looked upon the motoring public as a moans of providing money for al] the roads and purposes required in the country. This was absurd, and it behoved motor associations to be up and ready to discuss the new Motor Taxation Bill when it came before them for consideration.

“ I' think." said Dr M. B. Tweed, “ that within the next five years every motorist will belong to an automobile association in defence against motor legislation.” Mr Jackson: “There were cyclists’ unions, but they have dropped out.”

Dr Tweed: “Yes, but now every cyclist is a motorist —” 3lr Royilhouse: “And soon every motorist will have an aeroplane.” ENGLISH MOTOR LEGISLATION. Anticipating the introduction of the Road Traffic Bill, the Automobile Association recently took the individual views of motorists throughout the country on several important points affecting their interests. Replies were received from nearly 100.000 motorists. Of this number 02 per cent, declared for the abolition of the 20 mile speed limit: 81 per cent, favoured the abolition of 10 mile limits; 98 per cent, favoured special legislation to penalise the joy riders: 86 per cent considered that the renewal of the driving license should be solely the responsibility of the driver, and that employers should not be held responsible in the event of failure to renew; 92 per cent supported the proposal that inadvertent failure to produce the driving license on demand should not be an offence, and that three days be allowed for production to a competent police authority.

In reply to the question as to the fairest method of motor taxation. 97 per cent, of the replies were definitely in favour of a petrol tax in place of the present system of a tax on the vehicle. Certain of these amendments are already contained in the Road Traffic Bill which was recently issued, and the Association is utilising the valuable information obtained from this questionnaire in its legislative campaign. FRENCH GRAND PRIX. The French Grand Prix was run at Montlhery on July 3. and was won by Benoist, driving a Delage. He covered the distance, 372 miles, in 4hr 45min 41 l-ssec. Bourlier (Delage) came second in 4hr 53min. and Williams (Talbot) third. The winner's average speed was 75 m.p.h. Cable advice states that all the cars in this year’s Grand Prix were fitted with Dunlop wellbase tyres. “ROUND AUSTRALIA” RECORD FLIGHT. The aviators Captain Kingsford Smith and Air C. T. P. Ulm, by their arrival in Sydney on June 29. within their scheduled time, have broken the existing record for an aeroplane flight round Australia bv 12 days. Chi June 19 they left Sydney in a Bristol plane, equipped with a sixcylinder Siddeley Puma Engine, and with special piping to the fuel and oil supply tanks, so that filling could be accomplished in the air—a very necessary arrangement in view of the long “ hops ” necessary to break all existing Australian records. The two non-stop records now standing to their credit are Camooweal to Darwin, 829 miles, and Darwin to Broome. 870 miles; and they have thereby'earned a place in the front rank of Australia's flying men. A great deal of credit for the successful accomplishment of the flight has been generously extended by the aviators to the "Vacuum Oil Company for having arranged that supplies of spirit and oil would be available throughout the whole circuit of the continent.

LIFE OF PRESENT DAY CARS. Given reasonable careful attention, how long should a modern car last? The qucs 'on is easy enough to ask, but not so easy to answer, because it is rarely that a car remains in one ownership sufficiently long to provide really accurate data (says the Autocar). It may be said that, like old soldiers, old cars never actually die. but it will not be unfair to take as equivalent to their demise the period when really frequent renewals of vital components are required, and when the necessary annual overhaul costs so much that, rather than face it, the owner finds it more economical to buy. a new vehicle and sacrifice the old one for a song. The car has, in fact, become of scrap metal value. But we may safely assume that any modern car, even the least expensive, is good for a minimum 100,000 miles. During this mileage small and inexpensive

items would probably have to be replaced; valve springs, universal joint parts, and perhaps a ball-bearing or two in the wheels may be cited as likely e: 'mples, but the engine, in the main, the gearbox, the back axle, and the coaehwork, as regards its actual structure, should easily be good for such a mileage, always provided reasonable attention has been given to them, Not long ago we saw a letter from a would-be purchaser of a comparatively new small car of excellent make in which he expressed the view that the seller’s statement that the car had run between 3000 and 4000 miles rendered it unattractive to him. He considered this an excessive milcage for a second-hand car. Actually, a car. properly handled, should at such a period be at its very best, and the only parts likely to have suffered would be the tyres, though, with modern covers, such a mileage should represent but .. small fraction of their total life. All this is a tribute to modern manufacturing processes, for, so comparatively recently as just prior to the war. a car with an authenticated mileage of 100.000 would justly have been considered something of a marvel. Not only does the motorist get cheaper cars to-day, but he gets infinitely better ones. WEIGHT TO-POWER. Improvements in car design seem to tend towards a more favourable weight-to-power ratio by the adoption of lighter materials both for chassis and body construction in England, and in America by an increased number of cylinders, together with the incorporation of devices for the elimination of vibration. The multiplication of the number of cylinders is not entirely confined to America, however, as already a number of British manufacturers have added sixcylinder engines to their range of products. The Americans, who some years ago went in whole-heartedly for the sixcylinder engine, have now gone farther, and a number of makers are standardising an eight-cylinder engine. In the quest for a lighter power-to-weight ratio, the British manufacturers are apparently concentrating their attention on a suitable alloy of aluminium, such a duralumin, and it is believed by many in close touch with the latest discoveries of the research departments of the great motor factories in England that not only will there be further developments of the use of aluminium and its alloys for certain parts to which they have already been applied, such as crankcases, rear axles, dash boards, brake shoes, etc., but that even chassis frames will before long be made of this useful metal. In' seeking a more favourable weight-to-power ratio, as well as to secure the advantages in other directions enumer-

ated, manufacturers seem to be turning in increased numbers to the fabric body, as in the past four years the number of this type of body lias increased more than twentyfold. In 1923, in France alone, 615 of them were manufactured; in 1924, 1328; in 1925, 4988; while last year the total had increased to 12,725. Although the number made in England was not so great, the ratio of increase is stated to have been just as great; while the manufacture of similar bodies has also been taken up in Italy. America is also being invaded. GLARING HEADLIGHTS. Automobile headlights are so easily adjusted that the motorist is rendering an injustice, not only to himself, but to fellow-drivers, by not obtaining the full illuminating qualities and preventing glare. It is impossible for a driver to get maximum road illumination from glaring headlights, because part of the light rays are projected into the air at a comparatively high distance from the ground, where they arc naturally of no value to the driver, and a source of annoyance to the passing motorist. Once the theory of the reflector is understood it is a simple matter to adjust the bulbs in the, reflectors for correct focus. If all lights were correctly focussed and tilted slightly downward there would be no necessity for dimming lights, as the light rays would all strike the road and anv that reached the eyes of another motorist would be too weak to cause annoyance. 'Hie lat&st cars have an adjustable bracket tor raising or lowering the light beam. btij. on older models it is sometimes necessary to slightly bend the headlamp brackets to get the beam down where it belongs, which is about 4ft high at. a distance of 25ft. After both lamps have been adjusted the lens may be replaced, and the driver can rest assured that Ins lights will not glare. MILLIONS FROM MOTORS. Provided that the sale of motor vehicles continues at its present rate, in proportion to the population, and there is no alteration in the scale of taxation, it is estimated that the motor tax will yield £35.000.000 in New South Wales dm-ing the next 10 years. That calculation, in round figures, has been arrived nt by experts of the N.R.M.A. It is expected that next year the tax will yield £1.500.000. and that this amount will go on increasing steadily until it reaches £6.000.000 in 1937. Ine information has been prepared as the keynote for a new campaign to secure better roads throughout New South Wales. It is maintained that if the whole of the proceeds of the motor taxation is devoted to the purpose for which

the tax was originally proposed, the construction and reconstruction of main roads, the conditions of transport would be revolutionised in the next decade. The N.R.M.A. scheme lor the formation of a Hoads and Transport Commission also includes a proposal to borrow extensively by means of a bond issue, in which motorists will be particularly invited to participate. By setting aside £IOO.OOO each year for every £1.000.000 borrowed, the whole of the bonds issued in respect of anv one loan would be bought in during 15 years, and all interest charges covered. The borrowing scheme contemplates loans of £3,000,000 and £2.000.000 in 1928 and 1929 respectively, and £1,000,000 yearlv thereafter. Combining the loan money with the motor tax revenue and the Federal roads grant of £552.000 annually, it is estimated that the following sums would be available for the roads, after provision for interest and sinking fund has been made: 1928£4,752,000 1929 3,520,000 1 030 3.152.000 1931 3.452,000 1932 3,752,000 1933 4,252.000 1934 4.752,000 1935 5.252.000 1936 5,852.000 1937 6,252,000 The N.R.M.A. proposals are being placed before all the local governing bodies of the State, ami a determined effort is to be made to give effect to the scheme. PETROL SUBSTITUTES. The Automobile Club of France conducted trials of petrol substitutes in March, and the results achieved with producer gas are decidedly encouraging as far as, commercial vehicles are concerned. Twenty-eight vehicles started in the trial, and the itinerary covered most of the larger cities in France. Three of the official cars containing army officers were run on suction gas. Fifteen vehicles were driven by producer gas, eight used various types of liquid fuels in place of petrol, four ran on coal or acetylene gas. and one had a Diesel type heavy oil engine. Since one French firm competing hail already delivered 1000 producer gas lorrries to private users, a high standard of efficiency was shown by these highly developed plants. Specially prepared charcoal was used in most of the producer gas plants. The liquid fuels comprised benzol and alcohol mixtures and napthalinc. The coal gas vehicles carried their gas in compressors, which were a great improvement on the clumsy gasbags which were used to some extent during the war. The Diesel engine was a twin two-stroke

Tunning at the comparatively high speed of 2000 revolutions, A MOTOR PARLIAMENT. WELLINGTON, July 19. The unions of the North and South Islands met to-day in a New Zealand motor conference. It was decided that both unions be recommended to combine in a traffic safetycampaign and set up committees to further the project. A motion favouring the abolition of speed limits throughout the Dominion and urging that all offences for speeding be dealt with under section 28 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1924. was carried. It was agreed that all motor drivers licenses should be uniform, entitling the holder to drive any class of motor vehicle other than a motor cycle or traction engine. It was decided to ask the Government to amend the Act making a motorist who gives a pedestrian a free ride not - liable for a claim for death or any injuries received bv the pedestrian in the event of an accident, and to orovide that all persons partaking of a ride in a motor car shall do so at their own risk. A BYSTANDER’S CARELESSNESS. CHRISTCHURCH. July 20. Subsequent to a collision between a Ford car and a big Ilupmobile cat on the Main North road, Papanui, the latter car was totally destroyed by fire through the carelessness of a by-stander, who threw a lighted match into & pool of patrol. The

Hupmobile was badly smashed in the collision, and ended its career on its side >n the middle of the road. The fire travelled rapidly along the gutter to the car, and all efforts to suppress it were unavailing. Mr J. D. AVyllie, of Sefton, was the owner of the car, which was insured with the London, Liverpool, and Globe Company. Tho passengers in both cars were thrown out, but escaped serious injury. NORTH AND SOUTH ISLAND UNIONS. Mr A. E. Ansell, president of the Otago Motor Club, returned to Dunedin on Wednesday from Wellington, where he had been attending the Motor Conference of the North and South Island Unions. In conversation with our representative, Mr Ansell said that as the offence of stealing motor cars was obviously increasing, and the consequences of such acts were ircqucntly of a serious nature, it was considered by the conference that repre sentation should be made to the Govern ment urging that for conviction for this offence, the penalty should entail imprisonment without tho option of a fine. It was advocated that the maximum sentence should be six mouths’ imprisonment. It was decided to approach the Minister of Justice (Mr F. J. Rolleston) with a view to fixing a time limit of 14 days for the issuing by focal bodies of summonses for traffic offences by motorists. Several cases were quoted where an interval of' three months had elapsed between the alleged commission of the offence and the receipt of the summons. It was pointed out that it was quite unfair to ask anyone to remember details of euch happenings which

might have occurred months previously and then there was the difficulty of obtaining evidence of any description. The question of compulsory third party insurance was very fully dealt with by the conference. It was pointed out that several cases had occurred in the Dominion where injured persons were unable to obtain payment of damages awarded by the court owing to the financial inability of those responsible for the accidents to make the necessary payments. It was therefore decided to recommend that no car should be licensed for use unless an accident policy was produced covering all third party risks without any exemptions, even if such car had been stolen, or had been driven by a person in a state of intoxication. Regarding a representative of the South Island motorists on the Main Highways Board, Mr Ansell said that the conference unanimously decided in favour of the North and South Island Motor Unions each having a representative on the board. Motorists at present were paying more than 50 per cent, of the money expended on main highways, and the near future held promise of a further contribution by motorists. They -’ere therefore entitled to at least equal representation with the Counties’ Association. The laxity of the authorities in enforcing the regulation concerning reflex lights on cycles, caid Mr Ansell, was adversely criticised, and the opinion was expressed that fewer accidents would occur if this regulation were more strictly carried out. A further improvement in traffic regulations was being brought to the notice of the Government —namely, that of making it imperative that at intersections all

traffic should give the right of way to traffic approaching from the right. This regulation, which was in force in Dunedin, was proving a success, and steps were being taken to have it made operative throughout the Dominion.