MOTORING

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144858, 9 December 1915, Page 5

MOTORING

(By “Daimler.”)

The first ease in connection with the new by-laws came before the court last week, when a motor cyclist was charged with carrying a person on the carrier. The inspector stated that the man thought he was within his rights, as he had a sidecar. Action was taken really as a warning to motorists that even if they had a sidecar they could not carry anybody on the carrier. This seems a very strange by-law. I take it that it was made in the interests of the public. Then a motor cycle and side car is just as easy to contro] with a person on the carrier as it is without anybody there. It makes no difference to the balance of the machine. Then, most, writers criticise postillion riding. Well, I don’t. Provided it is an ordinary level-headed rider it is practically as safe as riding an ordinary motor. Officials who have never ridden a motor bicycle think it must be an extremely awkward thing to rido a motor with anybody seated on the carrier. For my part I do not think it is. I have ridden over what is probably the worst motoring road about hero for corners—a. real zig-zag—with • person on behind, and. have sever

cotdo to prcf. I have not only done it in daylight, hut also once in the night. It is not that I nra extra careful, for I have been told that I am not. However, the wise men of tho city think it is dangerous to the public, and' so we must abide by the law. Anyhow. I do not see that it is any more dangerous having a person ou behind than carrying parcels. I would much prefer to have live weight than dead weight behind me. not. for the extra, joy. hnt for safety in controlling the machine. 1 shall deal further with motoring by-laws next week. SIMPLE HEADLIGHT LAW. Dodging the puzzling problem of wlmt is a 'blinding headlight” in tho sense of the Stale Jaws, the Baltimore City Board (IT.S.A.) has issued a peremptory ruling to the effect that “all headlights on automobiles must have their front glasses ground or otherwise obscured so that the filament of the elecTric bulb is not visible from the front.” MOTORS AND THE BANKS. Actual proof that tho extensive, use of automobiles is cutting heavily into the bank deposits in the Western States of America was furnished at a recent meeting of the Wisconsin Hankers' Association. Figures produced ut the meeting showed that £14,000,000 in cash had been withdrawn from the banks of that State for automobile expenses alone in the shape of straight withdrawal of deposits, money borrowed. or notes purchased. As a result, said tho hankers, money is actually scarce in tho State. , CARE OF BALL BEARINGS. It is very important that ball bearingk have just tho correct amount of play in their runs. If too much, there will be a blow of great force delivered when tho wheel is thrust sideways, and this is tho usual cause of split balls. If not enough play there will be a grinding wear that will soon destroy tho correct action. As a general rule there should ,he just enough play to produce a slight side motion to the wheel when it hangs free. Mr. D. Y, Rennie (of the. B.S.A. Company) has just received advice from his Now Zealand agents of n fine double success scored by the B.S.A. big 41 at the opening meeting of the Pioneer Motor Cycle Club hold on the Brighton Beach, near Christchurch, on October 30. In the 20 miles open handicap Mr. F. V. Thomas secured first place and absolute fastest time on his 8.5. A.. covering the 20 miles on a soft sandy beach with (par turns in 20min. 38sec. On the same machine he also secured first place sidecar race, beating 7 to 10 h.p. twins in each event.