THE MOTOR WORLD

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16938, 12 January 1923, Page 3

THE MOTOR WORLD

Notes and News by

“Radiator."

Of the making of novel petrol-driven cars there is no end. Around Christchurch streets there is seen at present a tricycle motor, having two wheels in front and the third at the back of a low chassis. It appears to he a wellsprung vehicle. The motor is a 2-J-h.p. two-stroke one.

Preliminary arrangements for the annual motor-evole sports to He held in New Plymouth during February were considered at a special general meeting of the New Plymouth Motor Cycle Club held at the Soldiers’ Club on Thursday. In regard to the amount of prize money to be given, the chairman said at present the club had £l9O in hand. Last year when the club had only £l5O in hand. £l7O had been awarded in prize money. After discussion it was decided to allot the same amount this year to each race. In several cases readjustment. of the. amounts awarded to the placed men was made. On the motion of Mr F. Sykes it was decided to substitute a handicap race for machines up to 600 r.c. in place of the New Zealand Middleweight Championship, which has been awarded to Nelson this year. The total prize-money will be the same as for the championship race. The closing day for nominations wa« fixed for February 14. Following on protests in these columns recently about the diversity of identification marks on motors in Christchurch, the “ Ashburton Guardian ” comments: Weird and wonderful are many of the. number plates carried by motor cars and motor-cjcles. Some ha.ro tall, thin .figures; others short., fat ones; while still others bear figures put on in chalk. The district indication figures are very often missing, rendering the capturing of speeding motorists using a. ear with such a plate almost impossible. There. was considerable motor traffic over the Ashburton bridge the other day, and an astonishing number of vehicles passed across without lettering, while in some cases there were actually no numbers at all. The traffic inspector is now starting out on a campaign to compel all motorists to follow out the Motors Registration Act by having number plates of uniform size mounted on the back and front of each machine. Emphasis will be made on the point, that all the figures and lettering must be white on a black, ground, and of the same style. No more chalking on of letters will be permitted. # * The Pioneer Sports Club has quite an extensive programme ahead. The committee in charge of racing and reliability trials have drawn up a list of fixtures extending from January 13 (tomorrow) to May 5, and it includes a petrol test, a run to the Solwyn Huts, a. couple of reliability runs, and beach races. Through the action of the energetic officials, many new riders are being drawn out, and it is to he hoped that the good standard of entries will he maintained throughout, the present programme, which is as follows: January 13—Petrol test (solo). January 20—Reliability run. January 27—Hill climb, Cashmere Hills. February 10—Reach races: Six miles, solo, private owners; thirty miles, solo, open. February 11—Run to Solwyn Huts. February 24—Beach races : Twelve miles, solo, private owners; forty-eight miles, solo, open. March 10—Beach races: Eight miles, solo, private owners: twenty miles, solo, championship, all classes. March 24—Beach races: Six miles, maiden solo, for competitors who have not won a race for three years; sixty miles, solo, ©pen; six miles, maiden, side-car. April 21 Flying mile, championship, all classes. Mav s—Reliability trial. * # The road to Kaiapoi is still vevv had in places, and the main south road to Rakaia in little better. The STaristchureh-Sumner road needs attrition. Though there has been a JTJeafc deal of traffic to Akaroa the fteute is in quit© good order.

tion which might well be touched on: drivers of locomotives do not whist!o long enough. Certainly nearly all drivers are particular about sounding the whistle on approaching crossing*, but it might so happen that at the time the short blasts are given the motorist is sounding his warning horn, and above the noise of his engine, hi addition, the blast from the train engine would not be heard. If the engine driver blew the whistle loudly, and for a good length of time approaching motorists would get a sufficient warning. But drivers, for their own safety and that of their passengers should pay more attention to the sign posts and signals. There was a very narrow escape from death a week ago at the Fendalton Road crossing, which has trees growing on one side. But from W roxton Terrace crossing a motorist can look right across and see tlio station signal. If the arm is down a train is due. but this signal is rarely heeded outside railway circles.