MOTORING NOTES

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19237, 26 November 1930, Page 14

MOTORING NOTES

BY

MAGNETO.

Hr Mosley and Drunken Drivers. In deciding to cancel all the licenses of intoxicated drivers who come before him, Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., is but in agreement with the majority of motoring organisations and the large majority of the motorists themselves. It is perhaps a good thing for the drunken driver that his fellow' motorists do not have the duty of trying him, for if they did he would spend a long period of his life behind prison bars. The New Traffic X.ight«. The traffic control lights on the Cashel and Colombo Streets intersection have been working satisfactorily during their test, and already motorists are beginning to realise the benefits of the system. One big thing to remember is that no right-hand turns are allowed on this crossing. New Log Cabin. The Canterbury Automobile Association have been making a big bid to make Hanmcr the most popular camping ground in this part of the island. Their latest idea is to build a log cabin which will serve as a community hall. The plans of the suggested building submitted to the council of the association last week disclose a handsome building which would be an asset to any park. Mr L. M. Wilson, who is responsible for such great work on the Hanmer camping ground, has done a great deal of the spadework in connection with this cabin. The enthusiasm of the association to make this camping ground universally popular can be gauged from the fact that they are willing to invest a sum of nearly £6OO in the building. Z>oosa Wires Mean Trouble. The story of a service man who went to the rescue of a stranded motorist emphasises the importance of paying strict attention to the details of the car’s behaviour. He got the owntr started again simply through noting that whenever the engine elected to run it operated perfectly. To him this meant something. If the intermittent running of the motor had bfeen hesitating a number of possible causes would have been indicated. Valves might have been sticking or breaker points out of commission. But between stalls the engine ran smoothly. Noting all this, the rescuter concluded that, the stalling was due to a loose connection in the electrical system, under such circumstances the running of the engine would be either a Peast or a famine. Checking over the system, he found the high-tension wire to the -toil making only occasional contact.

A Starting Tip. Having the battery go dead or th* starter motor fail while thte car is on level ground is reason enough for sending an S.O.S. for help. But if a motorist is headed up hill when the stall occurs it is a. matter of overlooking opportunity to fail to take advantage of the incline. Quite a number of drivers think they cannot crank on the car’s momentum If headed in this direction. The situation often is an advantage rather than a. disadvantage. More positive cranking can be had in reverse. To crank under such conditions, place the gears in reverse and hold the clutch, pedal to the floor. Release the brake* and allow the car to coast backward. With the ignition on, let in the dutch, pressing it to the floor and applying the brakes the instant the engine starts. Under no conditions have thv- gears in A forward speed during this process. News and Views. More than 4,700,000 persons are now engaged in the manufacture of motor vehicles and industries connected with their production and use, it is shown by statistics. In Hungary a mixture of 20 per cent potato alcohol is used in motor-car fuel. K ss r; Thiere are 7,800,000 miles of highwajf in the world, according to estimates. Ibn Sa-ud, King of the greater part of the Bedouins, in the Syrian desert, travels between the principal parts of his dominions by means of motor-cars. His caravan usually consists of sora* sixty-nine cars of various sorts. lie also, owns a small fleet of aeroplanes, run by Uniform traffic operating and licensing rules are to be put into effect in India, where there are now nearly 160,000 automobiles. 5*5 5*5 5*5 Inhabitants in Spain purchase automobiles and trucks at a rate of about 30,000 a year. 5*5 5*5 5*5 Of the 7,800,000 miles of highways of all types in the world, the United State* leads with a total of 3,016,281 miles. Russia is stecond, having 776,712 miles of highways. Japan follows with 575,325 miles, and then France with 405,028 miles. Other countries having over 100,000 miles of highways are Canada, 381,977; Australia, 300,000; India, 283,056; Germany, 216,672; United Kingdom; 179,095, and Italy, 116,027 miles.