IMPROVING THE MOTOR.

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15033, 2 September 1922, Page 20 (Supplement)

IMPROVING THE MOTOR.

English motor papers are full to-day with all sorts of ideas and inventions for the improvement of the motor — from engine to wheel and from frame to top. Many ideas are directed towards greater economy of fuel and the utilisation of cheaper and heavier fuel: Varieties of the Diesel engine are illustrated, as well as some new kinds of heat, motors. One of these utilisers for instance, steam in a closed cycle to transmit the power from an internal combustion motor to the propellor shaft. The steam does not condense, but keeps on circulating, doing its work and being re-heated on compression to do another turn.

Another idea patented is for the petrol engine to compress, air and utilise the compressed air to drive two separate propellor shafts —like, twinscrews—to the rear wheels. ' This by no less a person than Mr Harry Ricardo, one of the leading authorities on the Internal combustion engine in the world to-day. Another inventor burns his fuel in a separate combustion chamber and leads his hot gasses to separate cylinders Lo do their work under constant pressure. The steam car receives favourable notice from experts, such as Mr Harry Sturmey, and, indeed, would satisfy the ordinary motorist if its consumption of fuel, say, were not greater than a petrol motor, expressed in miles per gallon, and if the first price were right. MOTOR CYCLE PRICES. British motor-cycle journals are bewailing the fact that, although the prices for motor-cycles have fallen appreciably during the past year, there has been no tendency to reduce the prices of replacement parts for presentday models, recognising, however, that old standing spares must, perhaps, naturally retain their original value. In these days, when the front-rank machines are almost of equal value and quality, and when performances and reliability are on a general level of excellance, the prospective buyer is apt to look towards some of the more extraneous characteristics of a niachine for deciding, factors in tiis final choice. Obviously, if a rider wavers between Lwo machines of very similar specification and capabilities, and he learns that the service given by the makers of tile one is better, or the spares cheaper, than the other his selection is hound lo be influenced by the consideration of the fact. British motor manufacturers seem never to have looked upon the spares sides of the businesses in the same way, as for example, t.hc producers of low-priced cars in America.

MOTOR CYCLE NOTES. . British machines are winning a large percentage of Continental hill climbs and speed races. Motor cycles to the value of £61,320 were exported from England during March this year. Spain has caught the speed craze, arrangements being in hand for the laying of a inotor-racing track. Loss of power may be due to badlyadjusted tappets, weak valve springs, carbonised cylinders, or chocked silencers. Motor cycle prices have dropped considerably in the past few weeks, and in consequence sales are beginning to look up again. A fine performance was recently established on Brook lands track, England, by J. Emerson on a 500-G.C. Douglas. In competition hu negotiated 50 miles in 38min. oosec. and 78 miles IGOI yards in the hour, both world’s records for lids powered machine. Members of the New Zealand Police Force are finding the motor cycle indispensable in country districts. In many cases officers own their own machines and use them in preference to tho horse. The department should not be slow to realise Ihe advantages to be gained by such a quick mobile force, as a properly-equipped motor cycle section. Two ambitious motor cyclists left Singapore on December 21 last, for London, which they hope to reach after eight months’ overland travelling. Tin; selected route is via Penang, Burma, India, Basra, and Mesopotamia to stuntinople. The first part of this section will he especially difficult, and in some cases the pair will have 111 ship llmir machines for short distances; from Gonslanliimple. however, they expect to have fairly easy goi”'