MOTORDOM

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 610, 12 March 1929, Page 7

MOTORDOM

STATIONARY TRAMS MOTOR-CARS MUST STOP I ART OF PLAYING SAFE Some motorists are forgetful of the national regulation which makes it compulsory for all cars to be halted behind a tram which I is stationary and taking up or setting down passengers. The advice has beqn given out in certain quarters that it is illegal to overtake a stationary tramcar. That is absurd ; the offence is not in overtaking hut in passing a stationary tram. An article in the “Twmway and Railway World" of November 15, 1928, deals with the number of appalling accidents which have taken place in London by private motorists passing standing tramcars. An extract from the article states: “There may be more than one answer to this question, but the problem of the stationary tramcar must be considered if an end is to be put to the appalling list of tramway passengers killed or maimed in the reasonable exercise of their undoubted rights. The simplest way to prevent such accidents seems to be to compel by legislation the drivers of vehicles overtaking tramcars to stop when a tramcar sets down or takes up passengers. “From this it appears that in New Zealand we are ahead of the Old Country in the protection of our tramway passengers." At the same time, while protection is given to tramway passengers from the motorists, the motorists are entitled to more consideration from intending tramway passengers. With our more or less lop-sided class legislation so far as motorists are concerned, there is being bred in tlie average pedestrian a disregard for the rights of the motorist. At many tramway stops people stand out in the thoroughfare to wait for trams. Often cars have to be pulled up, when, if people kept to the footpath, there would be plenty of * time and room to get past before a tram actually halted. Notices might be placed in the trams instructing people to stay on the footpath until a tram stops and the way is clear.

DETROIT’S LOSS NEW STUDEBAKER FACTORY Detroit, the world's greatest motor building city, is to lose one of the oldest members of her automobile family. In its execution of a policy of concentrating manufacturing operations in its South Bend, Ind., plants, the Studebaker corporation is quitting this city. Ultimately all Studebaker cars will be made at South Bend instead of being divided with Detroit. It is estimated the savings from this move will approximate 3,000,000 dollars, of which 700,000 dollars transportation charges will be gained on bodies, castings, and springs which are made in the South Bend plaut. On a production of 120,000 the saving will be 20 dollars a oar. GREAT BRITAIN LEADS WORLD MOTOR-CYCLE RECORDS The follow ing are extracts from the official world’s records at the clos€> of the European racing season. Great Britian still maintains her supremacy with three-quarters of the total number. The speeds quoted are for flying kilometre and for the hour respectively:—

75 c.c.—3 h.p. Train, 47.14 miles an hour ~ 3 h.p. Rocket J.A.P., 32.79 miles 100 c.c.—l h.p. Train, 60.12 miles „ 1 h.p. Omega J.A.P., 39.63 miles 125 c.c.—li h.p. Dollar, 64.59 miles ~ h.p. M.M., 62.2 S miles 175 c.c.—l3 h.p. Alycon, 77.04 miles ~ 13 h.p. Excelsior J.A.P., 74.33 miles 250 c.c.—2i li.p. Excelsior J.A.P., 50.96 miles ~ 2i h.p. Excelsior J.A.P., 59.96 miles 350 c.c.—23 h.p. Grindlay J.A.P., 104.13 miles „ 23 h.p. Veloeette. 100.4 miles 500 c.c.—Si h.p. F.N.. 114.02 miles „ 3i h.p. Grindlay-Peerless J.A.P., 103.3 miles 750 c.c. —6 h.p. Norton, 113.31 miles „ 3i h.p. Grindlay-Peerless J.A.P., 103.3 miles 1000 c.c.—7 h.p. Zenith J.A.P., 124.62 miles 3i h.p. Grindlay-Peerless J.A.P., 103.3 miles. . TYRE MILEAGE HINT TO CAREFUL DRIVERS Many motorists are of the opinion that the tyres of to-day do not give the service that they should, and what the manufacturers claim that they will give, states an article in the “Goodyear News." There are numerous reasons why the tyres of to-day do not always give long mileage, but most of them can be put down to careless driving and lack of knowledge of tyre conservation on the part of car owners. One of the most important points in the care of tyres, that is often neglected, is the equipping of the covers with sound inner tubes. If a motorist attempts to use his tubes too long, slow leaks, tube pinches and flat tyres are bound to develop with increasing frequency. It is then that a tremendous amount of tread wear takes place and the life of the tyre is reduced a considerable number of miles. After all a tube is cheap when compared to the cost of a tyre, and it will pay motorists to keep sound tubes in their coders. This way they will get greatly increased mileage from their tyres which will more than repay the expense of new tubes. \lwavs remember that the tube is to the tvre what oil is to the engine —lack of oil will ruin the motor, likewise a tube with insufficient air will ruin the

Service Station Attendant: ‘ Hey. Don’t strike matches near that tank of petrol.” Bright One: “It’s all right I m using safety matches.”

Mangere Speedway First Fleeting Fixed for March 23 The announcement has just been made that a motor racing meeting will be held on the Mangere Speedway on Saturday, March 23. j Mr. G. Henning lias been pushing i the work ahead on his new speed-1 way, and it is ready apparently in ! sufficient time to hold a meeting while j the summer weather lasts. The Mangere meeting will be held under the auspices of the Auckland Automobile Racing Club, Ltd., and the speedway is advertised as “the largest motor racing track south of the Line.” Next summer Auckland should be well catered for in the way of speed thrills as the motor-cycle track at Western Springs should also be in operation. This class of racing has j proved exceptionally popular overseas j and at the first New Zealand meeting ■ held in Wellington during the week-! end, the stadium was crowded to the limit. Messrs. A. J. Roycroft and J. Kay, j both of whom are prominent in Auck- 1 land motor racing circles, are leaving for Sydney 011 Friday next to secure first-hand knowledge of the running of dirt-track races. They will inspect all the tracks in Australia, and probably bring back two or three Australian “crack” riders for the first meeting at Western Springs, which will be held in October or .November next. When both the Mangere and Western Springs tracks are in full swing, the picturesque Muriwai Beach races will probably disappear. They have become less popular each year, and after the disappointing meeting last Saturday should be still less in favour. DRIVING DANGERS BLURRED WINDSCREENS The windscreen needs much attention \i driving dangers are to be eliminated. | Dust on the glass has a dangerous ef- \ feet in night driving, and when the iun’s rays are on the screen. it is surprising how line dust destroys visibility, due, no doubt, to the i.inutc particles acting as microscopic reflectors. Dust on the glass is particularly dangerous when roads are fringed with trees and when headlights a e dimmed. A silk duster should be carried on the i'.r for the sole purpose of keeping the windscreen in proper condition for safe driving. It is well to remember that the slightr t cover of dust may reduce visibility s fficicntlv to cause an accident. Windscreen wipers of the automatic pc, when operated off the induction l>e by suction system or electrically, w e indispensable. Anyone who has not *vted one cannot appreciate their use- ! fulness and comfort. The hand-operated type is useful, too, Init those which work automatically on * to.ich of a button or valve will work *’ ur after hour and provide visibility Go matter how heavy the rain or mist. TOO SYMPATHETIC MOTORIST LANDS IN TROUBLE Picking up roadside tramps is a dangerous practice in any part of the country, but it is liable to cause more thau usual grief at an inteimational border. A Massachusetts motorist saw no harm in giving a lift to two youngsters near the Canadian border, but after allowing them to alight, a Customs officer witnessed the incident and investigated. A pint of ale was found on one of the “hitch hikers.” The upshot of the affair was that the car owner was immediately penalised to the ex _ - tent of 100 dollars for discharging a passenger with liquor before reporting at the first United States Customs office.

Acting on his behalf and supported by affidavits, the American Automobile Association interceded on behalf of the innocent motorist, and Government red tape was unwound to allow a refund. OIL SEALING ROTORUA-TAUPO ROAD A portion 01 the Rotorua-Taupo main highway is being sealed with oil near the 32-mile peg, and it is most noticeable that all motor vehicles are j keeping to the one track and consej quently the shoulders of the road are | not being ironed out. • The Auckland j Automobile Association urges rnotorj ists to assist in improving the road by I diverting from the present track and keeping to the left of the road. This will greatly improve the surface and will provide a good smooth two-way traffic road. A LONG SERVICE TYRE GOODYEAR’S "DOUBLE EAGLE” Creation of the Double Eagle tyre was based upon the knowledge that there was a definite demand for a tyre that would give 30,000 miles or more of service aud represent a greater factor of safety against abuse than is ordinarily necessary. So, in constructing the Double Eagle, wherever additional material or extra quality could possibly add to the service giving abilities or appearance, they were used extravagantly. The only limitation observed by Goodyear engineers was the maintenance of the tyre within the established standards of proper design. The tread of the Double Eagle tyre is almost twice the thickness of the ordinary tyre, and is made of the toughest obtainable compound. Between plies of the heaviest supertwist —the only carcass that will sur-

vive the miles of service this tread will give—there has been an extravagant use of rubber, which eliminates friction and greats reduces the possibility of bruising. This extreme thickness of tread and carcass will make puncture a rare occurrence. The sharp-edged diamond blocks are much higher, providing more traction and safety, while the extreme heaviness of sidewall rubber enables the tyre to resist abrasion from curbs and ruts. In addition, the non-extensible piano wire bead has been made extra heavy, thus giving the tyre a firm seating under the most severe conditions.

BETTER BRIDGES In answer to its recent representation to the Highways Board the Auckland Automobile Association has been advised by Mr. M. H. Wynyard, mo-1 torists’ representative on the board, that the Main Highways Board has | decided that all new bridges on the Great South Road will be made 20ft j wide, aud provision, iu addition, will be made for a footpath where the j bridges are near townships, and all other bridges will be built so that footways can be afterwards provided if circumstances warrant them ’without the structure of the bridge having to be altered. CORNERS EASED The Auckland Automobile Association recently requested the Main Highways Board to ease two corners near the Ohinewai pumice works before the surface was permanently sealed. This work has now been completed, and has effected a great improvement to the road.

NEW TIMING METHOD A new method of accurate timing in races and record attempts has lately j been introduced in France which has 1 the advantage of eliminating any wire ; or tubukir strip placed across the course. These are subject to cousid- | erable wear aud tear, and on occasion have been found to be dangerous. Instead of any material substance being stretched across the track there is a beam of light which strikes upon an apparatus containing a selenium cell ou the other side of ! the track. Whenever this beam is interrupted by the passage of a car a mark is made electrically on a moving timing tape. These marks are repeated at every interruption of the beam of light without, any resetting of the instrument, which has proved extremely satisfactory in a severe test made before English and French expert timekeepers.