CYCLING AND MOTOR NOTES.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13426, 25 March 1914, Page 7

CYCLING AND MOTOR NOTES.

Few motorists realise the degree of accuracy that is now incorporated in the high grade car engine. This particularly applies to the turning of pistons to fit cylinders. The thickness of of a thin piece of paper measures about three one-thousandths of an inch; yet the manufacturer of a high-class motor engine would hold up his hands in horror if you showed him a piston or cylinder that varied from his standard by anywhere near that amount. The usual method of testing cylinders is to use t>vo gauges; one that fits, arid artother a one-thousandth part of .an inch larger in diameter, that does not. The cylinder must be finished to take the proper sized gauge, but not the larger one. , t . Many motorists who go about in dread of their car catching fire owing to petrol drippings in the tray becom- | ing ignited will be interested to learn that the London police authorities now compel the motor omnibus companies to fit a small sheet metal chute under the carburetter to carry away all petrol drippings, and thus prevent their falling into the oil tray. This provision has proved, a great success, and no doubt the practice of the omnibus companies as regards this little detail will yet bo generally . adopted on private cars. The small1 outlay entailed is a good insurance against fire, anyway. Captain Kelsey and his companions, who last August left Capetown with the intention of trying to motor through to Cairo, are reported to be financially stranded in Central Africa. The previous advice to hand stated that the party had succeeded in reaching Livingstone. On the way up the driver of the Argyll car had to be invalided home on account of contracting black water fever, and another driver was picked up at Wankie, An appeal is being made in South Africa by,the Transvaal Autor mobile Club for funds to assist the expedition. Despite the difficulties that nave faced Captain Kelsey, another party,, driving a Dunlop-shod 16 h.p. Fabrique Automobile Belgiquo car, f.rul supported-by the Belgian Government, intends endeavouring to make a trip across Africa from Cape Town to Cairo. Not only motorists who read in their daily papers- of the- •■'internecine strife in Mexico connect it in any way with motoring; yet.there seems to be little- doubt that oil is having a bad, effect* on troubled wntors in the Hepublic. Tlie outcome of the conflicts of j the jOil interests in Mexico is ou© which should have ,a decided bearing on motoring. The American Standard Oil group, having successfully waged- a series of wars on their smaller competitors in the States, have turned their attentioft to Mexico, only to find themselves tip against the British (Pearson) concerns. Hence the disturbed state of Mexico.

England and the tlnitod States will not come to {<blov.' M abnv.t, it, and the campaign will c^-Tit j:iip^« io lv> a tussle of the financial nrdor. Td \ic\v of the shrinlrinp; of Ainerionvi ftHds/.it is important.that, uniil ad<'qnati> sonrcc=; of oil supply can Ix? found within the Empire, Great Britain should keep control

* - - \' ■ i"" A i '?' ' • • » S ' ' of sufficient' areas 1- in; foreign -ianias., It; is estimated that;jpritish.;-.oil/interests in Mexico1 exceed ' £15/0O6J00O; • while those of,.tKe Standard Trust-and-its allies' are m\&MJIM. \*'' ' "^ ''•<< ' <v T The National Aerial League Jias completed plans for a flight,of a flotilla of aeroplanes across the Sahara or Great African Desert. They will start from; Oran Algiers, Algeria, and the* final landing will he made at TimbucfcOj French Soudan, a distance of 1400 miles Pyramids of stonos are' to bo placed at intervals to mark tho route. If the experiment proves successful, the establishment of a regular air mail service •will bo considered. E. F. Reichcnbach, a well-known Victorian road "rider, who has done considerable riding throughout the Eastern States of the Commonwealth, intends cycling overland from. Adelaide to Pqrt Darwin at an early date. Should the overland route be found in fair condition, Reichenbach will on the return # ti-ip across Australia make an e-ffo'/t to reduce Arthur MacDonakl's leng- [ standing bicycle record of 28 days, 15£ j hours, from Port Darwin to Adelaide, a distance of 2660 miles. The merit of this • great ride can be appreciated when it is stated that ]\facdonald's rido has stood for 16 years.