MODERN MOTORING.

Waipawa Mail, Volume LI, Issue 24, 11 November 1929, Page 4

MODERN MOTORING.

STOP, LOOK, LISTEN! WATCH LEVEL CROSSINGS. POINTS TO BE REMEMBERED. Motorists, remember : That a train runs on a definite path. It cannot get out of! your way. That up to date there is no record of a motor car wrecking a train. I That the man in the motor car always comes out. second best in a collision. That the safe way is always to expect a train at a crossing. That when there is more than one track it is good business to expect more than one train. The second train may be the deadly one. That it pays to slow down and havo the car under perfect control ( when approaching grade crossings. That the engine-driver can make no allowances whatsoever for the condition of your brakes. THE LURE OF SPEED. SIR HENRY SEGRAVE’S OPINION. When asked his opinion of dirttrack racing, Sir Henry Segrave, the world-famous motorist, stated: — The lure of speed has always exercised a peculiar fascination over the minds of human beings. So also has the spectacle of men matching their mental and physical abilities against similar qualities in other men. Both of these attractions are embodied in this new thrilling sport of speedway racing on small dirt tracks. Watching some of the well-known riders competing on these small tracks provides one with an unforgettable thrill. Added to this there is the admiration which one feels for these boys who night after night perform feats which appear to be almost superhuman. I can quite, appreciate the tremendous amount of skill and nerve which is required to deliberately throw a motor cycle into the hairraising broadsides which seem part and parcel of the lives of these boys, and are regarded by them as being the most commonplace thing imaginable. It is obvious that those who provide these thrilling spectacles must be possessed of many admirable qualities, including courage of a very high order, a thing which will always make a tremendous appeal to the British public. Speedway racing has certainly supplied us with a new sensation, and is already one of the most popular sports in this country'. Being as it is a clean and thoroughly wholesome sport in which the competitive spirit is developed to a high degree, there can be no doubt that, popular as it already is, it will become even more popular in the future. SPORTS CARS. THE MODERN VOGUE. WIDE POPULARITY. During the last few years the sports car has extended its influence over the motor community. It is now no longer confined to the athletic few but has spread to all types of motorists. It is as popular with young women and comparatively old men os it is with the young men who clamor for speed. This, of course, is largely due to the fact that Ihe sports car of to-day is a silent, tractable vehicle, and hardly, if at all, more difficult to handle than the ordinary car. In some eases it is difficult to define the word “sports” when applied to a motor vehicle. Some people insist that a sports ear proper must be noisy, and its engine anything but flexible. This is not necessary, however, as great strides have been made in the last few years by car manufacturers, and most of their success lias been attained along the flexibility line, and has not been confined to getting a higher maximum speed. The sports car of to-day gets its. performance without continual use having to be made of the gear box, and the average modern sports car can he driven as slowly on the top gear as the ordinary ear of a few years ago.

The real reason for frequent use of the gear box on a sports car is, when racing, to keep as near the peak (the highest number of engine revolutions) as possible. Say, a sports engine peaks at 4000 revolutions per minute. On the top gear the car does 70 miles an hour at this speed, and on the third, 55 miles per hour. If the ear is being driven up a hill at 45 miles an hour, or is accelerating away from a corner that meant slowing up to 35 miles per hour, there is not much point in the driver remaining on his top gear. He should change down to third or even second, and the engine will then lie able In exert its maximum power, ns the revolutions will be nearer the peaking point. Most of the standard sports cars are compromises between the -mill! high-speed engine and the large, slow one. One designer will put his faith in a large engine, with a lint power curve and a lot of power at low speeds: another will make small high-speed engines, with a steep power curve, end hut little power ai low revolution-. Imt with gear boxes that make it possible to take advantage of the maximum engine revolutions. Many people, of eour>e, dislike a lot of gear

HINTS BY THE WAY.

box work. The great majority of drivers like to get into top gear and stay there the whole day. This can only he attained with a large engine and a heavy petrol consumption. For those, however, who are not afraid of a little handling of the gear lever and who have the necessary touch to make a success of it. the high performance sports car will he a revelation. Generally speaking also, the man who takes an interest in his gear box, and likes using it, is a good all-round driver. It gives him something to do, and keeps his attention on the work of driving, a point which is very inclined to be overlooked at the present time.