MOTORING.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 473, 16 August 1915, Page 2

MOTORING.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. The welcome rain during last week settled a great deal of the dust on the roads, both in and out of town, and now they are again in good condition. The days are beginning to lengthen out somewhat, and motorists rfppear to be journeying further afield during the week-ends. Last week-end there were more than the usual number of motorists 0»t, probably owing to the Carnival Week.

One would naturally think that, owing to the war, the trade in motor cycles and motor cars would be falling off in this city. This is not so, however, for, without taking into account the' increased business of last week, several well-known firms announce that the trade is as good as ever it was. It may be mentioned that this d<>es not only apply to firms dealing in American machines, but. also British agents. The twelfth annual general meeting of the Canterbury Automobile Association is to be held at the Chamber of Commerce Hall on Thursday, August 26, at 8 p.m. The annual report, of the association is extremely satisfactory. The war has been responsible for making the year an extremely strenuous one, and much hard work has been devoted to assisting the various patriotic functions. The committee wishes to thank those members who have so willingly and, generously placed their cars at its disposal. The year was commenced with a membership' of 431. Since'then 24 members have resigned, owing mainly ta having ''disposed of their ears or leaving the district:- Fortyone new members have been elected,! making a total membership of 448. The financial position of the association is extremely sound. The year commenced with a credit balance, of £155 13/10, and the receipts for the year total £(599 3/11, making, with the balance j brought forward, £854 17/9. The expenditure amounted to £750 12/10, showing a credit of . £lO4 4/11. The value of the assets are estimated at £lOl2 3/11, and the liabilities nil. The work of the association has during the past year been earned out principally by subcommittees. The Eoads and Soqial Committees in particular have done a great deal of hard work. The erection of sign posts has been undertaken by the Eoads Committee, with the result that a great deal of progress has been made. Something like 54 sign posts have been placed at points considered the most pressing, and there are. still a considerable number ready to be erected. The committee has arranged a system whereby information relating to the condition of roads, bridges, etc., throughout the country districts is supplied to the secretary. When received, these reports are posted in the association's rooms, for the benefit of members, as well as advertised in local papers. When the system is fully developed there is no doubt that these reports will prove a source of great convenience to those using country roads. The following'members have left on active service: Drs W. H. Simpson, Sandfton, Acland, W. Guthrie, Wm, Irving, Major Pinwell, Major Acton-Adams, Messrs T. Gorton, .E. J. Jekyll, J. Anderson, jun., A. L. Macfarlane, A. Hughes, and W» G. Smily. ■ During their absence they have *been made honorary members. Owing to .the war and other causes the committee considered it advisable to curtail a number of the competition events previously decided upon. The only event taking place was the reliability trial and social run to Mount Cook. During the j'ear quite a number of successful events were conducted by the Social" ,Committee, amongst •, the most prominent being the Orphans' Day, club run to Lake Coleridge, and the Sumner Eed Cross Carnival. With regard to the Lyttelton-Sumner Eoad the committee had decided to make a straight-out grant of £l5O towards this undertaking, on the distinct understand 1 ing that the road would be completed within a reasonable period. Arrangements have been made with a Christchurch firm for the production of an up-to-date road map of Canterbury, the association having decided to subsidise the firm to the extent of £IOO. A progress payment of £25 has already been made. The map will be retailed at 7/6, but it is the intention to supply each member with a copy gratis. Motorists are probably aware that lubrication is the greatest factor in the life of an engine, and they should always endeavour to procure the lubricating oil recommended by the makers of the cars, or motor cycles they are using. Manufacturers of repute make exhaustive tests in order to determine .the best oil for the particular type of engine they construct, and some even have the oil especially manufactured for their purpose. It is essential that lubricating oils should have sufficient viscosity to'maintain a permanent film between the bearing surfaces when they become heated. The most suitable oil for the petrol engine is a lubricant that is sufficiently light to penetrate between the surfaces, when cool, and which does not get too thin, when subjected to the higher temperature consequent, on the running of the engine for a considerable time, so that it is squeezed out. Valve tappets are often fitted with fibre plugs to deaden the noise, and these may bed down to a considerably wider clearance below the end of a valve stem than a metal tappet would do in the same length of time. Owing to this, it is advisable to check up the clearances ,at the end of the first 500 or COO miles of running, readjusting the tappets so that, when the engine is warm, all will be equal to the thieknss of a thin visiting card. During the summer months, the universities and colleges in America are proposing to hold a motor car race or endurance test across the United States, a distance of about 3557 miles. The idea is that every college shall send a representative team to compete. The record car run for this journey stands to the credit of L. L. Whitman, who, in August, .1910, drove from San Francisco to New Yorlt in 1.0 days 15 hours, 13 minutes. It is hard to prophesy what will ultimately bo found to be the most efficient drive for motor cycles. Both belt and chain drives have many disadvantages, and consequent .on this friction drive is now being tested on ! motor cycles in England. There seems' no inherent reasons avliv this simple [form of transmission should not prove I practical and economical when applied

to a motor cycle, considering that this system of power transmission lias been used with marked success on light ears. Despite the ienornious demand for machines at the front, one well-known British firm has given a written guarantee to supply a large Ghristehurch agency' With 40 machines per month until further orders.

Messrs C. Bonningtou and W. Hollobon, two well-known amateur riders, have recently purchased 1915 Tourist Trophy machines, and it is to be hoped that they will distinguish themselves on the racing track this year. The various universities and colleges in America are proposing to hold a motor car race or endurance test across the United States, some 3557 miles, during the summer months. The idea is that every college shall send a representative team to compete in the transcontinental test. The record car run for this long journey stands to the credit of L. L. Whitman, who in August, 1910, drove from San Francisco to NewYork in 10 days 15 hours 13 minutes.