THE PETROL TRAIL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 89, 24 March 1931, Page 3

THE PETROL TRAIL.

Midget Marvel The recent record established with 3. 750 c.e. (specially modified) M. G. Midget oj 87.30 m.p.h. for 100 kilos indicates that the time is not far distant when. a. 75,0 c.c. . foiir.-wheelcd machine will attain the almost incredible spaed of 100 m.p.h. The M.G. Midget, it will be remembered, was not supercharged. In Brazil A decree has been signed by the President of the Republic of Brazil which temporarily allows privatelyowned motor, vehicles to be used in the country for a year without payment; qf, duties,, providing that, the country, from which the cars and their come from make an equal concession to that Qf Brazil. The concession will be given on proof by the owner that reimbusement has been assured to the country of origin of all taxes and duti.es. Car Production in Russia Motor-car production in Russia is being greatly developed. A plant with a yearly output of 110,000 cars is now under construction at Nizhny-Novgo-rod, the Amo plant at Moscow, which is to turn out 50,000 automobiles a year, has been reconditioned, and the Yaroslavl plant, with a yearly capacity of, 10,000 cars, is being reconstructed. There are now 54,000 passenger vehicles in the country. British Two-Wheelers In 1924 only seven British motorcycles were imported into Argentina, as against 1,65 of American origin. N,o,w, during only the first nine months of 1330,' no, fewer than 144 were bought from England, tho American figure showing but a slight increase over that for six years ago. A Rumour? , R is understood .that an Australian concern has purchased some 4,000 acres of land in the. Commonwealth for the construction of a factory to produce a new 24 h.p. car which will be sold at approximately £3OO, while it is said that aeroplanes-will also be manufactured under the same roof. It is.expected that the first car from this factory will' be placed on the market during the present year. Mr. Riley on Export Trade Speaking recently at the shareholders' meeting of Riley (Coventry). Ltd., Mr. Victor Riley, chairman and managing director, said that whereas overseas possessions annually took some £OO,OOO cars, Great Britain supplied only 10 per cent, of this total. If England, he said, could recapture but.'a quarter of \ the total, production would be doubled, twice the number of hien would be employed and still lower prices would prevail in the home -market. The small car, he pointed out, was corning into its own, and in this, market Britain had- a.lways led the way and had a chance of world supremacy. • •

Propeller Rail Car With a propeller at each end and with seating accommodation lor 150 passengers, a propeller rail car has been invented by a famous Swiss engineer, Professor Wiesengeiv The "real thing" would, it is claimed, attain a speed of 225 miles ah hour. Paris Improvements To care for the rapidly increasing automobile traffic, the city' of Paris has'appropriated £5,502,000 for enlarging and improving the principal highways leading into the city. Nearly £4,000,000 of this will be used to widen roads to the suburbs to permit four traffic lanes. Russo-French Petrol According to a recent report from Paris an important contract has been arranged between a French concern and the Soviet Government for the exclusive importation into France of 300,000 tons of Russian petrol yearly, while the French company is' said to be in negotiation with the Soviet for the importation of Russian crude oil to be refined'in France. Rubber Figures Consumption of crude rubber by manufacturers in the United Stales for the month of October amounted to 27,271 long tons, an increase over September of 8 per cent. In previous years there has been virtually no change in the consumption for October, as compared with September.- Imports of crude rubber amounted to 43,729 long tons, as compared with 39,4(57 long tons for September, and 43,725 long tons for October a year ago. A Triple Fuel Carburettor A new type of carburettor, called the Juhasz Tri-Fpel, which has been undergoing extensive tests in New York, is designed to carburate petrol, fuel oil or paraffin. A South African instrument of this nature recently underwent War Office tests. License Price Increase Since January 1, all Ulster motor cyclists have had fo pay 10s for a driving license, the new regulation bringing the North of Ireland into line with the Irish Free State, which has for some time past been issuing driving licenses at that figure.

In the Air ' Aviation, handicapped by the necessity of building a business foundation in a period when older industries are finding it difficult to maintain former record levels, has exceeded expectations for the first half of the year in America. Production and sales of aeroplanes in the second quarter of 1930 showed a decided improvement over the first quarter, according to reports made public recently by the Aeronautical Chamber of Commerce of America.