MOTORING

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12301, 25 April 1918, Page 4

MOTORING

*v "SPARK"

FIXTURES. April 27 and 28. —Pioneer Club’s run to Hororata and Lake Coleridge. May 11.—Pioneer Club’a side-car test, Sumner. LIGHTING UP TIMES. ‘ p.m. Thursday, April 25 . . 5.38 Friday, April 26 . , , 6,36 Saturday, April 27 . , . 5.34 Sunday, April 28 . , , 5.33 Monday, April 29 . , , 5.32 Tuesday, April 30 . . . 5.30 Wednesday, May 1 . . 5.29 A meeting of the A.O.U. will be hold in-Wellington next week to consider the programme of tho year, and among other things the provision of a benevolent fund for riders. A typographical error in last week’s notes credited the Christchurch City Council with issuing a certificate of competency for Is, instead of 11s. This was stated in connection with an allegation from Auckland that a candidate ior n taxi license there had to pay £5 to a local garage for a certificate. On this subject no further information is available at the moment. It was stated in Court last week by the police that a prosecution for failure to notify the change of ownership of a motor-cycle was the first of its kind in Christchurch. This, however, was a mistake, ns there have been several prosecutions of tho kind. Unfortunately, they do not seem to stituulate the general observation of the by-law, rind the authorities are rarely without an inquiry as to the ownership of a particular machine whose owner is “ wanted ” for a by-law breach. There is a typical ease in hand now. A particular number which may be called XoO, was noted for speeding. Tho county clerk of the X registering authority, on being written to, stated that XSO was originally a Douglas, but the owner, A, transferred it later to an Indian. On being written to, A rereplied that XoO is reallv a Budge-Mul-ti. which he had about eighteen months ago, and handed over in part payment for another machine. It therefore appears that the Budge-Multi was never registered, and it is hard to say who was infringing the speed hv-laws. This is a sample of the eases that have to he patiently unravelled, and prosecutions are sometimes late inevitably. A new system of taxi telephones has been adopted by the City Council. Hitherto the drivers using a particular stand have paid for their own telephones, but now the council will pay for all telephones and distribute the cost evenly among all licensed taxidrivers using the stands. This applies, of course, only to telephones that are at present installed in public places, such as the telephone near the money order office; but it cannot apply to telephones fixed on private property. The idea-seems to be that while the taxi men, presumably, will stick as closely to their customary stands as possible, in their own interests,- they may use one of the council telephones., and, of course, any of the regulation taxistands.' It is possible that some of the drivers will not bake kindly to the new regulation, although the general effect should be to cheapen the cost per-head. The registration of bicycles is put forward by the city motor inspector (Mr H. Macintosh) ns a remedy for bicycle stealing in Christchurch. He says that while it would entail no cud of clerical work, the foe oven at a shilling a head, would easily cover the cost. Yith all cycles registered and numbered. it would not be easy to traffic in stolen Machines and the registration would to greatly enhanced in value if, as has been suggested frequently, dealers were obliged to keep a- register of all transactions. Auckland has a bylaw fixing a shilling registration ieo for all bicycles, which must carry a n'ambor in letters at least half an inch high and an eighth of an inch thick', and in reply to an inquiry some time ago it was stated that- the by-law was working well. The only question is whether Christchurch cyclists, who must run into possibly 00.000, would submit to a ''shilling a head registration fee, oven though it appears to be a cheap form of insurance. The.Pioneer Club’s Committee had a further discussion on M unlay evening regarding the proposed alteration of the constitution to remit of cash motor-cycling races, and the whole matter will be submitted to a general meeting of the club at an early date, The glaring headlights by-law in Christchurch was mr.iitinned in the City Council on Monday 'light, when an assurance was given that tiie draft was ready. It is understood that it follows tiie principle of deflecting the beam, but from a superficial glance at the document exhibited by the chairman of flic By-laws Committee it will probably not be lacking in legal verbiage. In the new Melbourne regulations it is permissible to have the top h,alf of the lens frosted but this has been found already to lie ineffective. Many motor-cyclists at the Victorian carnival at Mortlnke ascribed their failure to win, and in £ome cases to finish at all, to the indifferent nature of the fuel now available. They stated that the spirit seemed to be “ patchy ” —that the engine would fail in power for no apparent reason, other than the impulses from combustion varied—-and would pick np at times quite unaccountably. They also said that continual manipulation, with the air supply lever was necessary: yet the weather was nniformally mild, and should not have affected the mixture to any appreciable extent. It would bo interesting to learn if car-users have of late experienced any fanltiness with petrol or other fuel, such as varying power results or mileage per gallon. If. as is likely, the spirit will be of a' heavier nature than in pre-war years, there will be need for some adjustment in tiie carburetters. but in this connection experiments are continually being conducted so that the instrument will more perfectly atomise and vaporise tho fuel before it reaches the combust inn chamber, which will not only inereaso the power but economise the fuel. Carbon is sometimes deposited on the inside of the pistons in such quantities as to affect the balance of the engine, and therefore it is of as much importance t-o cleanse that portion of the piston as to scrape the top, ami also the side of the combustion Mianiher. Carbon deposit on the inside of the piston is caused by the tremendous heat generated there, and as it is operating in a bath of oil, it naturally collects a. thick coating. Of course.** it also is necessary to see that the piston-rings are working properly mid freely. Xo matter how well the rings may fit, j{ will net necessarily prevent' the formation of carbon on the inside surface of the piston. One of the most sensible things that have occurred in the automobile world for many a day is the decision of the American .National Automobile Chamber of Commerce to abandon the practice of fitting ears with muffler cutouts; and it now remains to be .seen i! the manufacturers generally will live up to this decision. The cut-out has been an unmitigated nuisance for years, but just because it constituted a “ talking point” it has been rM.aj.ufuL

to the disgust of tile saner portion of tho community. It has been demonstrated that a properly designed muffler absorbs but an insignificant fraction of the power devoloped—mnch less than is required in haul around the unnecessary “accessories ” seen on many cars; lienee, there is no pood reason for retaining the cut-out on that ground; ; and it Is certainly superfluous in any Illicitly-settled community. No one is more ready to swy harsh things about a. noisy motor-cyclist than the automobile owner, and yet many ear drivers are guilty of the very same offence, and with far less excuse. Do not dash np to the place nlhero yon intend to stop and then set tho brakes ns hard as you can. It wears j tho brakes needlessly and strains tho i tyros. It may oven cause the wheels i to lock and slide on one spot on the tyre. Careful motorists gauge the momentum and bring the car to rest with only a gentle pressure on the service' brake. ; In view of the increasing shortage of petrol and the difficulty of getting even small quantities, and then at an exorbitant price, a. northern writer suggests that tho Government should step in and reopen the Orepukh oil works. It is considered that, as tiro oil was suitable for petrol engines, and the shale deposits were extensive, there could be no question of a market ab paying prices. ! Tlio probable effect! of the adoption of electric lighting for motor-cycles will be the ultimate elimination of the magneto, for one can hardly expect that manufacturers will continue to spend several pounds on a separate ignition device after they have standardised lighting outfits which contain surplus current more than sufficient for ignition purposes. The transformation will probably come on cars and on side-cars rather than on solo machines. The modern coil and accumulator set is held to be quite as durable and as reliable as the magneto in every detail, excepting only the battery; and batteries are often blamed for defects which are attributable to switches and automatic cut-outs, and inferior fitting, than tc vhe battery itself- These ignitions are now' made with frictronless distributors, and their chief merit is that they furnish a perfectly colossal spark at very low engine speeds, which reduces the effort of starting to a minimum. Despite all other changes, the principle of the accumulator in its Common form —the lead and grid typo, is unaltered, and, although the modem accumulator is infinitely superior in every way, it is still a delicate apparatus, which well repays regular attention,., and a proper ' comprehension of its particular weak-, nelssesh Those who have not had the experience which the early accumulators gave are apt to regard the modem type as more or less fool-proof, and to leave, it untended for indefinite periods in its box. Such is not the case. Tho accumulators require careful handling, and, above all, should be kept away from excessive heat. Motor trucks did magnificent work in relieving the indescribable conditions which followed’ the destruction of a great portion of Halifax, Canada, caused by the explosion of an ammunition ship. Boston sent ten trucks, each with a driver, and each bearing a. banner From Massachusetts to Halifax.’’ The trucks were sent on board a relief steamer, and the headlights gave the city its first big illumination for a week.. The trucks were put into service immediately on arrival, making deliveries at hospitals and relief Stations, and the drivers were heartily cheered, Without the aid of trucks it would have been impossible to distribute tho enormous supplies which poured into Halifax from all parts of Canada and the United States. While there were supplies in abundance, thousands of people would have been in actual want because of lack of trucks to transport the goods. The committee declared it was impossible to deal with the situation adequately unless trucks were available Besides transporting food and clothes, trucks were useful in conveying large supplies of building material which were sent to the city, with a. view in erecting temporary accommodation for the thousands of homeless people. The cycle-car appears to be coming into favour again with certain English manufacturers now considering portwan policies. Certainly there is room lor reliable little vehicles, which will provide means for motoring for the 'mas;(?s. There is every indication that prices wilt be up after the war. and the gap which was filled by the low-priced light ear will again be vacant by the small two-seater being advanced in price to the neighbourhood of the figure of tho popular 10-12 car? of a few years back. LOSSES BY ETRE. The losses by fire experienced by motoiists arc by no means inconsiderable, ."Kl jt js always a wise plan to have tais or motor-cycles covered by insurance policies, especially as the insurance companies offer a reasonable premium rate. No motorist wishes to nave his car destroyed by fire, and the tallowing suggestions on extinguishing conflagrations are to be commended to a, 11 car and motor-cycle owners, and, in raet, to all firms engaged in the motor business:— 1. Hie most important thing to re-' .member in case of a fir e of this kflnd is to keep cool. A few seconds lost in panic at the start may result disastrously. 2. At least one small fir© extinguisher should be on every car. It should bo placed whore it may be readily accessible in an emergency. The small extinguisher indispensable in handling a gasolene fire, and is also useful in lighting any other kind ©f blaze about the car. IE In tiie absence of an extinguisher sand or dirt cun be used, but it should be remembered that if sand is thrown .nto the carburettor mechanism harm is , likely to result. 4. Do not use water In attempting to extinguish a carburettor fire or other gasolene fire. This merely 'tends to spread the fire. o. If the engine backfires, use the starter to turn the motor, If this does not draw the flames into the manifold use the extinguisher. (3. If the lire has reached the drip pan, extinguish that first, and then work up rp the carburettor. 7 It the lire is caused- by ignition of gasolene from hot exhaust, short circuit, or oilier conditions about the car, the extinguisher should also be used with equally good effect. 8, Do not invite destruction of your car, and probable injury to yourself, by lighting a match to see how much gas there is in the tank.