MOTORING.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 138, 17 July 1914, Page 3

MOTORING.

NEWS AND NOTES. The Wellington Motor Cycling Club held a teams' trial on Saturday, July 4, the course being from the Customs House, Jervois Quay, to Makara, via Johnsonville, and return, the real pinch being felt at Mortimer Terrace. The following teams contested: —Triumphs (two teams), B.S.A. (two teams), Indians, Douglas, and A.J.S. The Indians 7h.p. and A.J.S. 2$ h.p. were the only teams to complete the course, and the A.J.S. team scored a rather easy win. To follow the hounds in a cycle car is rather a novel use for motor traction, but during a business visit to Patea last week, Mr Pym, of Wellington, followed the hounds of the • Egmont-Wanganui Hunt Club in a Swift cycle car, though it is probable that he went round the fences. , The occasion of the Panama-Pacific Exposition at San Francisco next year determines California as the State in which both the Vanderbilt Cup race and the American Grand Prix will be held, and in the early spring. According to tentative plans that have been adopted, the races are to be contested with an interval of two weeks between. This arrangement would permit entrants in the Vanderbilt, which is to be decided first, ample time to overhaul and prepare their cars for the longer competition for the Grand Prix gold cup. It is planned to decide the contests over a course almost directly in the centre of the exposition grounds, the circuit being a shade under five miles. This will be one of the shortest courses yet used for these races; it is composed of earth, j 1 < natural roads,'' as they are termed in the States, and said to be in excellent condition. No doubt the authorities will make some improvements to the surface so that it will withstand the effects of speedwork, and also bank the two turns that exist. The circuit is to be fenced all round, and will be further protected by 500 guardsmen during the racing. Particulars to hand by mailof the 500 miles motor race on the speedway at Indianopolis, U.S.A., show it to have been a hotly-contesied competition. As we learned by cable, Rene Thomas won" in a Delage (French) car, in the fast time of 6 hours 3miu 45.995 ec, which shows an average speed of 82.47 miles per hour, or. 4 miles per hour faster, than the previous record for the track. The most remarkable feature of the race, however, is the performance of the Peugeot ear; which filled second place, in .6 hours lOmih 24.495 ec, giving an average hourly speed of 80.99 miles per hour, because of the difference between the piston displacement (h.p.) of the two motors. The boro and stroke of the Delage is given at 4.1 x 7 respectively (in inches),.while the measurements of" the Peugeot were Sin bore and tf.lin stroke, the displacement of the Delage i being 382.2 in, while that-of the "Peugeot was but 183 in. Necessarily, the latter" car must have been much the smaller and lighter; hence .the question obtrudes, if such a compact little car will run ao close.to the big machines, why ' incur the expense of greater power and weight .when a car so much lighter will suffice'? -

The matter of iudentifioatiou of motors was discussed by the Hutt Borough Council and the members decided that- the present system of numbering, motor cars under- the Motor Registration Act is cumbrous and confusing, and that the system be altered by allocating either one or two distinguishing letters to each registering authority, to have unlimited use of the distinguishing let: ter allocated to it; also that section 18 of the Motfor Registration Act be amended to cast a duty, both on the new and old owners to notify change of ownership. It was also advised that t it "be /inade a punishable offence for t*he registered number to be obscured or to become illegible at a distance of 100 feet, and that a change of district should carry new registration within one month of the owner's removal. The greatest of the world, the French Grand Prix, was decided on a course near Lyons last Saturday, and resulted in a phenomenal win for Germany, for three Mercedes cars filled the first three places. The winner was Lautenschlager, Wagner being Second, and Selzer third. The course was a circuit 23£ miles round, with plenty of hills and sharp corners, while the full distance was 486 miles (20 times "round).' covered by the winner in the fast.time of 7hr lmin 18 2-ssee, representing a. speed of 69i miles per hour. All three cars were shod with Continental tyres. An interesting feature was that since 1908 the Mercedes firm had not competed, in the Grand Prix, although the German car won that race, with Lautenschlager at the wheel. The course that year was near Dieppe. In last Saturday's race 41 cars were entered, including all the fastest machines in the world, and the failure of the Peugeot | i and Delage cars to be placed will be a! sore blow to.the French automobile in-1 dustry. Previous winners of the Grand Prix are as follow: —1906, Szisz (Renault), 63 miles per hour; 1907, Nazzaro (Fiat), 70£ m.p.h.; 1908, .Lautenschlager (Mercedes), 69 m.p.h.; 1912, Boillot (Peugeot), 68 m.p.h.;-.1913, Boillot (Peugeot), 72 m.p.h.; 1914, Lautenschlagor (Mercedes), 694 m.p.h. " At the annual general meeting of the New Zealand AutomobHe Union, held in Wellington a few days ago, the following motion with regard to the disposal of second-hand cars was carried: "That each association should compile it list of second-hand cars belonging to its-members, and that a complete list should be kept by the secretary of the union, and, further, that on the request of any purchaser an expert be appointed at the expense of either buyer or seller j by either the union or the association, to report, the association to be under no responsibility." The following remits to the conference were received from the Wairarapa. Association: —(1) That the Government be approached with i, view to prohibiting the use of cut-outs on motor vehicles within the boundaries of cities and ; boroughs. (2) That it be compulsory for all vehicles on roads to carry head lights and tail lights or reflectors. (3) That all local bodies be approached with a view to having all bridges and culverts painted white.' (4) That the Minister of , Railways be approached with regard to' a reduction in freight on benzine and kerosene. The last remit was held over, but the others were carried, with the alteration to the second remit by the inclusion of the words "in addition to headlight," and to the third remit by the words "all approaches of bridges and rails of culverts. "

"The subject of big head lights came up at the Motor Union's meeting (says "Autos" in the Wellington "Post"), and it was clear from what was said that a good proportion of owners are not in favour of "searchlights." At the same time, Dr Simpson, of Christchurch,'put. in a good word for them; and it is necessary to give some weight

to a motorist of his But the point is not whether they are useful to the motorist, but whether they are so dangerous to others than the driver of the car that their extra value is outweighed. The City Council has decided to ask Parliament to include in its legislation a provision dealing with head lights. The margin suggested that the upper part of the front glasses of the head lights should be frosted, so- as to restrict the dazzling beam to a level at which it is not likelv to do harm, and yet not lose the general illumination. Tt was, said that the plan has been used with success; but if it has, it is curious that it has not been widely adopted. A good number of more elaborate and expensive devices have been invented and have made little headway. Jn connection with the Government's proposed legislation for the regulation and taxation of motor traffic, the annual tax imposed in Great Britain is interesting. This tax is imposed in addition to the license fee of 5/- and the registration fee of is tabled as follows: Cars not exceeding 6J h.p. .. £22 0 Over 6& h.p. under 12 h.p. .. 3 3 0 Over 12 h.p., under 16 h.p. .. 4 4 0 Over 16 h.p., under 26 h.p. ... G 6 0 Over 26 h.p., under 33 h.p. .. 8 8 0 Over 33 h.p., under 40 h.p. .. 10 <lO 0 Over 40 h.p., v under 60 h.p. . . 21 0 0 Over 60 h.p. 42 0 0 Ever since it was introduced, this classification has been objected to on the grounds that the formula on which the horse-pewer is based is unfair, and is becoming less fair every day with the alterations of modern design.