I MOTORING NOTES

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 72, 25 March 1931, Page 11

I MOTORING NOTES

By

MAGNETO.

Tlx# Light Car Trial. Light cars did some most astounding things on Sunday in the Pioneer Club’s Trial. The hills in tSemselves wore bad enough, but the surfaces were even worse. However, practically ali of the cars came through with flying colours, and those drivers that did not finish had not the Cars to blame. The- Jubilee Track provided sufficient rough going to satisfy most, although the drivers were spared the task of climbing the steeper . side on the return journey. There were some complaints about the averages being too high, but I noticed that a number were dawdling into some of the checks. What surprised me most was the fast climbs the “ babies ” wore making in the lower gears. Taking everything into consideration there was not a great disparity in the possible average speeds of the motor-cycles and the cars. Th© gem of the route so far as roughness went was the Stony Bay On the morning run the weather was not so gbod that it made driving easy, and yet not a car retired. The predictions of greasy roads in the event of rain were well fulfilled, but so far as I hoard there were no hectic skids in the mud. This speaks worlds lor the roadholding qualities of the light cars. R. Adair distinguished himself by plunging his Porloqlc Singer over a steep bank on the Te Qka road. By the manful assistance of some fellow competitors and their observers, the car was hauled back on to the road with the driver none the worse for wear. There seems to be a regular training school among light-car drivers. It would be an education to some of the heavy brigade to hear and witness the gear-changes these experts can bring off. On such a difficult course as the Peninsula, drivers have to use their gears continuously, and the change has to be made with precision and at the right time. I will say this for the light car that °it certainly does train good drivers. There was some difficulty about finding the course on several occasions, and I think it would be a great improvement the next time a trial is held over the district to mark the route at the more difficult points. Taking the trial all round it can be safely said that it was successful. The competitors were very keen, and I honestly think they enjoyed themselves. The Offside Rule. “The off-sulfc rule at intersections, that is, the practice of giving wav to the vehicle on the right, is one of the most beneficial motoring laws* introduced in New Zealand, and its strict observance should be the care of every driver,” sas'S the Canterbury Automobile Association. There is a tendency among a certain class of driver to defeat, by speed and a species of cleverness the smooth and effective working of the rule Some drivers imagine that a raucous sounding of the horn and the application of speed will ensure them the right-of-

way and a safe crossing, but that theory does not always work out in practice. There is only one safe way to negotiate an intersection. It is by slowing down to the speed of twelve miles per hour allowed under the City By-laws, and by giving way to the vehicle on the right. Jt should never resolve itself into a contest as to which vehicle was first at tlie intersection. An Intersection is no place for a motorist to make a display of selfishness or alleged cleverness. In fact, such characteristics have no place anywhere in the code of the real motorists. Always respect the rights of the man on your right, and there is only one way to do that. S tl New Device for Collisions. An electro-mechanical device, designed to stop an automobile in much" less timo and space than would be required ny a human operator was successfully demonstrated recently in New York. The device consists, elementally, of a powerful coil spring in a cylinder which is attached under a car and connected by wire with the front bumper and a button on the dash. A slight pressure on the bumper, or the button, closes an electric circuit which releases the spring. The ignition is immediately cut. off and the brakes are applied. 1 ressure on either the bumper or the button will stop a car in approximately’ cme-nrth of the distance required in ordi’nary braking. News and Views. meeting of the South island Motor Umpn will be held on Friday next. The Main ITighwavs Board are ,Ikely to be interesting topics for dis.cussion. road around Stony Bay and i S likely to he remembered a long time by Sunday’s trial competitors. J vo , rst surface- that has been seen in Canterbury since the reconstruction of the Mam South Road around t- her_tsey. t> 2 A r,a * was a Sreat test for the B.b.A three-wheeier. Its ability to stand up to colonial conditions was well Cd°l be’ Jf iff the w av in which it climbyfve 1 t,ff g,-a diems was very impresThe Pioneer Club’s beach races will be tmif AVI bat , u V day - 11 is anticipated that, there will be a record attendance.