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Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 662, 14 May 1929, Page 12

DIRT TRACK RACING BUSY TIME NEXT SUMMER The opening - of the Mangere speedway has given Auckland’s motor enthusiasts their first taste of dirt-track racing. Improvements to be carried out this winter will permit speeds of up to 100 miles an hour next summer, and the racing, combined with the day’s outing, should prove popular. There can be no doubt that there is no field for more than one other dirttrack in this city. The City Council has provided a stadium at Western Springs, and this will cope with all classes of sport. A motor-cycle racing track has been prepared, and it is intended to run night races on this circuit. The proceeds will considerably assist the council to make the ground self-supporting. Other tracks have been suggested, but at this moment it would appear that these two tracks will be able to cater for all of Auckland’s requirements.

stop, and was never traced, despite a province-wide inquiry. There was no proper or adequate system of supervision over that traffic. Now, a fortnight ago there were again races in the Waikato. One motorist driving at 50 miles an hour was passed with ease by a car which made the former seem to be dawdling. There were two cars at least kicking up the dust at a speed which was criminally dangerous to the occupants of the cars, and to other users of the road. Yet the national regulations set the maximum speed on the open highway at 35 miles an hour, and even then that speed is no defence if a driver is involved in an accident. The test Is whether a driver is driving at a speed which, in the circuin stances, is dangerous. It is admitted that 35 miles an hour is too low on occasions. Even 40, 45, or 50 miles an hour may seem reasonable if “people are foolhardy enough to take the risk which is always present when speed is gained and maintained on a clear, good, and unbroken road. But there are occasions when 10 miles an hour may be unsafe. Certain it is that speeding and racing through the dust, as drivers do when returning from race meetings, is criminal. Now, the question is this: If there is an orgy of speed on the open road, and mad limits of speed are reached,

hill test, answers no questions, and is then certified as competent to drive anywhere in New Zealand. The system is ahsi. It is all very well to offer destructive criticism. What is the solution of the problems which patchwork control brings in its train? The answer is this: We have national regulations, and they should be nationally enforced by the creation of a Government traffic department In connection with the police force. If there were such a department, staffed by trained men, the speed and other regulations would be worth more than the paper they are printed on. The only way to curb the speeder is to make him aware of, and fear, patrolmen equipped with fast motorcycles. Such men could concentrate on detection and sure evidence of wrongdoing rather than immediate apprehension. Speedometer could be matched with speedometer, and let the courts wipe out the menace of the open highway. If some move is not made along the lines suggested, how long is the present farce to continue? How long are life and limb to be jeopardised and wrongdoing to go undetected? The police are not to blame, because they have not got the machinery to carry out their work. There is a call here to the motoring organisations, the Government, and the Transport Advisory Board.

BRITISH TRUCKS “GUY”WANTED EVERYWHERE Guy Motors, Ltd.. England, have just received their 16th repeat order fr'6m the War Office, the present order being for 18 3-5-ton six-wheelers. The War Office trial grounds are calculated to test vehicles under the most exceptional conditions. The Guy sixwheeler had to negotiate severe gradients, travel through bracken and undergrowth, over muddy ground and shingle, through ditches, and generally cope with conditions such as are found in countries where there are no roads. Guy Motors have just completed an India Office contract for 123 of their six-wheeled vehicles which are being shipped to India for us as ammunition wagons, artillery lorries and armoured cars. That the company are constantly receiving repeat orders from home and abroad for this type of vehicle is sufficiently convincing proof that the Guy six-wheeler gives complete satisfaction under the most arduous conditions. SUCCESS OF NEW TYPE The new 30-cwt. Guy chassis has met with immediate and startling success —its general construction makes it particularly suitable for use both at home and abroad. Following upon large orders for this model from such well-known users as Messrs. Harrods, Ltd. (12), “Evening Standard” (12), The British Petroleum Co. (5), Messrs. Kendal Milne and Co., Scotland Yard, Chivvers of Cambridge, and Peek Freans, large numbers of these vehicles have been exported. A demonstration vehicle was sent to Australia and New Zealand in September last, as a result of which fleets of this type of vehicle were supplied to users in Melbourne and Sydney, and the North and South Islands of New Zealand. Many of them count as repeat orders. The already large number of Guy vehicles operating in South America has now been supplemented by a shipment of Guy 30-cwt. chassis to Buenos Aires.

Taxis in Paris cost less than anywhere else in the world. The drivers are astonishingly adroit, their cabs are very comfortable, and, as a consequence, taxis are treated as familiarly as the underground trains. Four persons can ride six miles in Paris for 2s- 2d, compared with 4s 2d in Berlin, Rome and Madrid, 5s in London, and 5s 3d in New York.

(AUCKLAND AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION). The touring manager of the A.A.A. will leave on Monday next for a comprehensive business tour of the North Island. The object of the tour is to gather the latest information for the new season’s # maps and guides, also to inspect hotels and camping grounds. Tlis itinerary will be as follows: Monday, May 20: Te Kuiti; meeting of members, A.A.A. Tuesday, May 21: Taumarunui; meeting of members, A.A.A. Wednesday. May 22: Taumarunui-Raetihi-Waiouru, Raetihi. Thursday, May 23: Raetihi-Wanga-Friday, May 24: Wanganui-Hawera-Marton-Hunterville-Feilding. Saturday, May 25: Feilding - Mangaweka - Kimbolton - Palmerston North. Sunday, May 26: Palmerston NorthWellington. Monday, May 27: Wellington; trips round Wellington. Tuesday, May 28: Wellington; conference. Wednesday, May 29: WellingtonDannevirke. Thursday, May 30: DannevirkeNapier. Friday, May 31: Napier-Taupo. Saturday, June 1: Taupo-Te Whaiti. Sunday, June 2: rewera Country. Monday, June 3: Urewera-Wairakei. Tuesday, June 4: Wairakei-National Park. Wednesday, June 5: National ParkAtiamuri. Thursday, June 5: Attend meeting of members A.A.A. at Pukekohe, and return to Auckland. NEW A.A.A. AGENTS Mr. R. H. Turnbull has been appointed A.A.A. agent at Whitianga for the Mercury Bay district. Mr. G. M. Brown has been appointed agent at Coromandel. 500 MOTOR WRINKLES A recent Australian mail brought with it from Messrs. Angus and Robertson. Sydney, a small book entitled “500 Motor Wrinkles,’* which was compiled by Mr. G. H. W. Goodge, late editor of “The Motor in Australia. ** It takes years of experience to pick up 500 wrinkles that are worth knowing about motor-cars, so the driver can consider himself well off in being able to tap such a source as this “500 Motor Wrinkles.” In his preface to the work Mr. J. Fielder, chief of the technical department of the National Roads and Motors Association, says: “This little book contains a wealth of information that, if put into practice, will save you many a repair bill. ... In these pages will be found hints that tend to improve the action of the car as well as save time and labour in keeping it in order.’’