Motor Notes

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18757, 14 April 1923, Page 9

Motor Notes

(By ‘Carbon.’) THE POWER OF AN IDEA. This is how America, through the columns of ‘The Motor,’ New York, views the growth of the motor car: "A most encouraging development of the past year was the * widening application of the ’term ‘automotive transportation. ’ Throughout the industry first and then through the motoring public in general came recognition of the tact that a motor car or truck is not merely an automobile, but a unit in a nation-wide system of transportation. The man who built a car contributed to the economic progress of the country; the man who drove one became an integral part of the immense carrying system which com ( stitutes the life blood of our nai tional body. Together they fur- | thered a work which has become too vast for the railed systems of com mui cation.

‘‘This consideration of the motor car as an industrial necessity cannot be too forcibly stressed, for although we have outgrown the fallacy that automobiles are mere vehicles of pleasure, we have not yet learned to deal with their problems in a busi-ness-like way We find them crowding our streets —our old-fashioned, horse-sized streets —from sidewalk to sidewalk, and as a palliative, we fine- the owners who park their cars along the curb. Deploring the congestion at important country crossings. we appoint officers to direct the traffic. We establish speed laws, but on a road where the cars are out in thousands, we let them transcend the laws to get them out of the way."

“Some day, of course, we shall obviate the parking nuisance, not by fining distracted owners, but by providing parking terminals. We shall eliminate cross-traffic tangles by eliminating grade crossings, and we shall' get the cars off the roads by building motor-ways.” “To accomplish these things we shall have to condemn valuable real estate and appropriate millions for construction—and many of us will weep at the bare thought of higher taxes. But if this “automotive transportation” idea (with all itA implications) continues to develop we shall come logically to the decision fhat money not spent on solution of the traffic problem is wasted. Spread the idea. Think it over?” NEW AUCKLAND—WELLINGTON RECORD. The very creditable record established on March 14th., by Mr. Geo Campbell in a Durant car (4 81 miles in 15 hours 25 minutes) did noi stand very long, for a Jewitt car left Auckland on Friday, 6th April, and succeeded in lowering the time 2 7 minutes The driver in this case was Mr. Phil Seabrook, of the firm of Seabrook, Fowlds and Co., the Auckland agents for Jewett cars, and was accompanied on his long journey by W. Sinton who acted as relief driver. The Jewitt had previously been taken to Wellington, with the intention of starting from that end, but this first attempt was unsuccessful, the bad road on the Taumatamaire Hill, between Awakino and Te Kuiti, proving the motorists* Waterloo, the car becoming stuck in a bad mud hole. With two punctures and the ferry at Mokau not in wait, it is not surprising that the total time for this initial attempt was 24% hours. At this time of the year, it is almost impossible to strike good weather all the way between the two cities, and the failure of this attempt must be put down to sheer hard luck. However, at 3 a.m. on Friday, the Post Office, Auckland, was! left, in the presence of a large gathering of spectators, and a fresh attempt was on. On reaching the Rangiriri Hills, the road was found to be in very bad condition, with deep ruts and hard caked mud on the surface. Although this delayed progress considerably. the Hills were conquered and Te Kuiti was reached at 7.38 a.m. Further difficulties were experienced on the new road at Awakino, and comparatively slow time was registered. Once Waitara was reached at 11.45 a.m.. the car made excellent time to Hawera, which was reached at 12.45 p.m. From this point, good progress was made right through to Wellington, the times -being, Waverley at 1.4 5, Wanganui at 2.27. and the G.P.O. Wellington, at 5.58 p.m. The total time. 14 hours 58 minutes, was therefore 27 miputes better than that set up by Mr. Geo. Campbell and his Dcranr. Only one machanical stop was registered on the trip, this being caused by the petrol pipe becoming detached from the vacuum tank near Porirua and meaning only a few minutes delay. As evidence of the reliability of the present-day engine, it is significant that none of the three cars which have attacked the record experienced mechanical trouble of any sort, and the strain on a motor will be appreciated when the distance and the times are compared. Tyres have stood up very well, and it must be remembered that in this 481 mile journey the car is driven to the utmost of its power and the mileage would corresorid to 5000 miles ot ordinary touring. Spring making must have reached a fine aft, for no trouble with these necessary items of a car’s equipment has yet to be experienced. When the same engine oil is used throughout and when examined has proved to be in excellent condition, the oil companies responsible have something to be proud of. and excellent advertising material is given them. While Mr. Geo. Campbell used Texaco Motor Spirit and. found it satisfactory, Mr. Seabrook pinned his faith on Meteor Spirit, and in his telegram to bis firm, on completion of his successful attempt, he pays tribute to it, stating it was a great success.

With the coming of winter, it can safely he predicted that this last record will stand for some time, but perhaps next summer will see a further attempt on it, and, given good weather and a capable driver, the time will surely be lowered.

SOME LETTERS At one time or another, we all have seen some strange letters, but I am inclined to give the prize to the following, which was actually received by one motor firm: “I see you want to sell your 3 % h.p. Scott motor cycle. There are a few questions I would like to ask you before T buy it. “(1). Why does the Scott motor-cycle have no pump from the handlebars to the saddle? (2). Why does it have eleven chains? My friends says it has eleven and 1 am not sure, so will you tell me? (3) Why has it a two-bicycle engine? My friend says nearly all motor-bicycles have four-bicycle engines. (4) Why are there two plugs carried? (5) Has a motor-cycle many valves? How many valvas has the Scott motorbicycle? (6) Will a 35 h.p. Scott motor-bicycle carry me and my sister up a steep hill without changing the gears too much? My sister will be sitting up behind me and will be holding on to me. (7) If I buy your 3 % . h.p. Scott motor-bicycle, will I have to water it often to keep it cool? My friend says it is not kept cool by the air like my uncle’s. I am sure I will be able to keep the machinery good if it is n,ot rusted too much. I would give you twenty-eight pounds, and I do not know how much more till you answer my questionsyours truly, etc.

Can anyone beat that? THE HORRORS OF MOTORING. We in this country do not experience any difficulty m securing the necessary certificate of competence to drive a motor vehicle, but surely Portugal is “the limit” us will be understood on perusing the following extracts from a letter written by a- British visitor to that country and who had to secure the necessary driving license. "My first visit to the Technical Commission, tlu> bodv responsible for the issuing of these licenses, was fortunately made with a gentleman who could speak both English and Portuguese, and entailed a wait of over two hours. The staff do not commence until midnay and retire half an hour later lor lunch. I produced my international driving pass and asked for a Portuguese visa, as I had been arrested the previous day for driving without a license. The official, with the utmost sang-froid, informed me that, pass or no pass, I could not drive in the oountl_T u pt*l 1 had fulfilled the appended i conditions, after which two examinations would be conducted—one mechanical, the other on the road. The conditions referred to run as follows : “ Document to prove the candidate is over 21 years of age.” , “(Certificate of good moral and civil , conduct. J hose who are to be pro- ' Sessional drivers must present also a , certificate from the Registrar of Criminals.” , “That the candidate knows now to [ read and write.' 1 “Certificate from an undcr-delegate of health in the area m which the c.-m- -’ didate lives, stating that the candidate . does not suffer from detective vision, or ’ hearing, or any contagious infection, ' and that he has no injury or deformity ; likely to prevent him driving tile automobile; that he is not of a nervous temperament, and can always drive the • car with the necessary calmness (seren--1 ity).” “The candidate’s signature must be witnessed by a Notary Public.” 1 “All to be accompanied by two ' photographs (unaffixed) of the foibiw- * ing dimensions: 45 mm. by 45 m.m. ’ “My birth certificate having arrived 3 from England, after the necessary delay, I was informed tl at it was useless s and must be translated. This could i only be done by the British Consul and f entailed the trifling payment of £l. s A certificate of good moral conduct and i physical condition was also supplied by i the British authorities, although the s Consul owned un-off icially that he d-d . not know me from Adam. Tn any - case, he got 5s for the ‘scrap of 1 paper.’ ” 3 “The Registrar of Criminals kind.'y - issued a paper with its quota of stamps - to the effect that as yet 1 had not been 5 a guest of the Portuguese Government. 3 The test of my ability to write and 3 read consisted in penning what in coni eluded was a most humble letter co tno

Technical Commission, asking them whether, in view of the accompanying documents, they would show the light of their countenance? upon me to the extent of appointing a day for me to be examined. This epistle had to be written on a stamped form and witnessed by a Notary Public. Naturally, this document was ‘double Dutch’ to me, as my knowledge of Portuguese is limited to 20 words. The certificate of health took two clear days to obtain, as the doctor was out of town at all but meal times, when he declined to be seen. The medical examination itself consisted of telling him the time by a large clock, 10 feet away.” “The statistics concluded, 1 had only a mere fortnight to wait before I was notified of an examination to bo held on the following morning at 11 a.m. I presented myself at 11. a.m. At 12.30 p.m., I was requested to raise the bonnet of my Rolls-Royce and the ‘Bosch magneto.’ Naturally enough the car was not fitted with a Bosch Magneto. Nothing short of a detailed explanation of every part would suffice, while I was not wen shown one to act as guide to a memory strained over five years. The strain or. the examiner proving too exhausting, I was informed that my driving' test could not be conducted that day, as it was too late, but I could report the next morning, when a time would be fixed Two days later, I had to go through half an hour’s driving in the busiest parts of Lisbon, sometimes hugging the left kerb, but more often the right, culminating in a trip of over a mile in reverse, dodging traffic and what not. v A more gruelling test would be difficult to concoct, but, of wonders. I was told that I had gained the coveted trophy- -a driving license. I now have to wait for it.” We may thank our lucky stars that we live in a more enlightened country but I wonder what percentage of the drivers on the road would successfully pass a test that entained a drive of a. mile in reverse, through traffic? Not many, I am afraid.