MOTOR – CYCLING

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18548, 23 August 1928, Page 11

MOTOR - CYCLING

By

“MAGNETO.”

Future of the T.T. That there is need/for drastic revision of the rules if the Tourist Trophy races are to be of future value is the » opinion of a writer in “The Motor Cycle.” The article states that: “For the development of the touring machine calculated to appeal to the touring rider and the thousands of potential motor cyclists who remain to be converted the T.T. races have ceased to be of value. Either the lines : on which they are run must be drastically altered or the fact that their object . is purely to foster the super-sporting motor cycle of the semi-racing type . must be acknowledged.” The writer makes an assertion that the T.T. does nothing to foster the twostroke or the multi-cylinder mount; and, as run at present, threatens to discourage their production. It will be admitted that this is undesirable as . the splendid little two-strokes on the market at present have much to re- . commend them. In regard to the “multis,” designers are agreed that the motor-cycle of the future, to satisfy the public’s needs, will have to be engined with three or four cylinders. In face of these facts it seems a pity that the present classes, which arc limited in the multi-cylinder class to 58-5 c.c., excludes this lj*pe. The following suggestions have been put forward by tthe English writer, which he considers will improve the present state of affairs:— (1) That a limit be placed on the amount of fuel consumed per machine. (2) That multi-cylinder engines be given an advantage over single-cylinder engines in the matted- of engine .size. (3) That the machines competing in the races be standard stock, models selected and sealed by the Auto Cycle Union in a manner precisely similar to that adopted by the A.C.U. in connection with its Stock Machine Trial. (4) That the Lightweight Race be abandoned and a high-speed reliability trial for motor-cycles in full touring trim and to standard specification be instituted in its place. :: Broads!ding ; What is It? Since Christchurch is to be treated to a series of track-meetings this year I “broadriding” should figure promin- j ently. It is this practice of the cracks that causes a great, deal of the thrills of j the dirt-track. Grass, however, is not j nearly so easy to “broadside” on as

dirt, but this should not prevent our local men from showing what can be done in the way of . spectacular skidding. The term “broadsiding” denotes a method adopted by dirt-track riders of taking a curve on full throttle by means of controlled skidding. The machine is intentionally put into a skid on the loose surface of the bend, so that the back wheel tends to slide out towards the outside of the track: at the same time, the front wheel is : turned into the skid, so that the machine progresses round the bend in i one long sustained skid. Broadsiding can lx; done, to a certain extent, on sand, but the underlying surface is hardly firm enough to prevent the machine digging itself in. A few of the crack riders at such places atSorithport and Pendine make use of broadsiding or sliding at the hairpin turns.

Motor Cycle Sales. The sales of the foremost makes in demand in New Zealand for the first seven months of 1928 were as follows: B.S.A. 348 Douglas 306 A.J.S 293 Triumph 276 Indian 233 Harley 214 Ariel 151 Raleigh 113 :: « French Machines. French motor-cycle manufacturers, who for years have been turning out light-weight two-strokes, are now turning their attention to heavier 500 c.c. four-strokes. Some interesting machines on the English model have been evolved and should provide keen competition with the English product. A twostroke with a pressed steel frame and a Villiers twin engine is a product of Belgium. It has a very workmanlike appearance and should prove a success if able to stand up to the abominable Belgian roads. Welded frames are favoured on the Continent and

( cardboard round the terminal and . cable end and pour paraffin wax into ‘ this former until the terminal is cov- ' ered. The cardboard can be removed after the wax has hardened. « « X In t.he 200 miles Brookland races, high speeds were established in the 350 c.c. and 500 c.c. classes, the winners being W. H. Phillips (Grindlay-Peer-less), 86.6 m.p.h., and H. Le Vack (New Hudson), 94.8 m.p.h. respectively. A new scale of motor taxes is in operation in South Australia, under which J motor-cycles formerly taxed on a I power-weight basis are now subject to a flat rate tax of 39s per year for solo machines and £2 for sidc-car outfits. « I The Auckland City Council is purj chasing three motor-cycles for the use |of its traffic staff. Following the lead given by the A.A.A., it is calling tenders for British machines, one condition being that the three machines at present owned by the council be taken as part payment.

{ The Auckland Automobile Associaj tion, at its last monthly meeting, decided to donate £5 towards the Sports Motor-cycle (Tub fund to contest the pillion-riding by-law in the Supreme Court. The A.A.A. holds that a national regulation should overrule a bylaw, and on these grounds is supporting the Sports Club in its move. Sparks. It is estimated that at most of the London speedways women spectators outnumber the men by two to one. :: :: “3? h.p. Multi-Triumph Mongrel, ideal for dirt track: only wants seeing and assembling while it lasts; £ls” An advertisement. During the year 1927 the number of motorcycles in the Sudan increased by forty-three. B.S.A.'s and Triumphs now head the list with sixty-eight each. To speed up the postal services in a large rural area, the postmen at Lingfield (Surrey) now have motorcycles. :: :: From January to December, 1927,92 per cent of the motorcycles imported into East Africa were of British manufacture. The reliability of the small twostroke in the recent T.T. races is to lead to the mass production of threewheeled delivery “ forecars ” using this type of unit. The Indian, Harley-Davidson, Ace. EwXcelsior, Henderson and Cleveland combined output for 1927 was 35.000 motorcycles. This figure is expected to be exceeded by 5000 in 1928.

pressed steel has also achieved a measure of popularity. : Notes. The New Zealand grass championships have been allocated by the Auto- ; cycle Union as follows:—Light-weight Christchurch; heavy-weight, Wairarapa; and middle-weight, Auckland. 1 The Christchurch event will be held, as previously announced, in January. The Auto-cycle Union does not favour the style used by clubs in naming their championships. In the opinion of the union it would be better to style them by the name of the province in which they.are held, rather than South Island or North Island, as the case may ( be. It must be> recognised that events put on by individual clubs cannot very well be representative of the whole is- ‘ land in which they are held. J he application of the A.C.U. for affiliation to the North Island Motor Union has been held over for the time

. being. The Auckland Motor Racing Club , has received advice that the one mile , records established at the March meet- . ing at Takapuna have been accepted Overseas as official world records for . grass track speeds Certificates to this j- effect have been issued to P. Coleman (7 h.p. Harlej'-Davidson), 46 4-ssec. and G. Walker (21 h.p. Rex-Acme), 50 4-5 To prevent acid from attacking the terminals and wire, shape a piece of