The Motorist.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XII, Issue 736, 14 April 1904, Page 14

The Motorist.

Mr Arthur Cleave is now Secretary of the Auckland Automobile Association.

During a recent visit to Rotorua the writer was indebted to Mr Hamilton Grapes for very many, kindnesses. Mr Grapes is now well-established at Rotorua, and his car is kept busy from morning till night. He has made some very fast runs to Waimangu and the iourney to the Fairy Spring and Bainbridge’s Monument is one that should rot be missed by visitors to Rotorua. V7e have since learned that Mr Grapes las joined the Rotorua Motor Syndicate, and is now manager of the Motor Department. We offer our congratulations.

The arrival of Mr Carly on’s 14 h.p. Diamler at Auckland from Napier was lhe motor event of the week. This is the biggest car in the Colony, but I am afraid the roads are unreliable for a car of this size, and that the upkeep will prove a very heavy item. The partyleft Rotorua on Monday week at B.so .a.m., arriving at Hamilton at 4 p.m. the same day. Leaving Hamilton on Wednesday, at 9 a.m., everything went well until reaching the well-known Rangiriri Hills. The rain had done its work, with the result that Mr Carly on was weather and mud bound for two days. Even with the assistance of four horses it was impossible to proceed. I understand, Mr Carly on intends going back over the same road, and I trust that he will be favoured with better weather conditions.

Mr R. Graham has resigned his position with the Rotorua Motor Bus Company.

I had an opportunity last week of watching Mr Stewart Milne’s handling the 9 h.p. Darracq, and must confess tdat I was greatlv surprised at the control he seems to have over the car. During a receipt run to Clevedon, he had the bad luck to get his tyre punctured twice.

Mr A. L. Cleave, jr., made a good run last week from Rotorua to Auckland in uhr 45min, actual running time, on his Oldsmobile. The weather and road conditions were anything but favourable, otherwise better time would have bee# made.

Dr. De Clive Lowe has ordered a 6 h.p. Oldsmobile Touring Run-Anom, and expects delivery in a few weeks. Dr. Lowe was instrumental in forming the Auckland Automobile Association, and it would be a graceful act on the part of the members if they were to ask him to accept the presidency of the club at the expiration of Dr. Raynor’s term.

Three Darracqs ran out to Clevedon on Monday last. Messrs Bockaert, Skeats and party, Mr Chatteris and party, and Mr Milne and party. The day was an ideal one for motoring, and the run outward was accomplished in about one hour and three-quarters, everyone returning to town well satisfied with the outing. There is n!o doubt for Mr Chatteris has been accustomed over the class of country one meets round Auckland. stock.

Mr Chatteris, of trotting fame, has become a convert to the motor. I understand that he has sold his wellknown trotter Harold Abdallah, as he is quite convinced that nothing on four legs can compare with the speedy motor car either for comfort or if time is an object to be considered. This is a great testimonial for the horseless carriage, for Mr Chatterir has been accustomed to sit behind some very fast trotting ssock.

At the Automobile Club of Victoria’s recent smoke social held in Melbourne, Mr J. R. Crooke, upon being presented with the Club’s colours and badge for his win in the voiturette race at Sandown Park, stated that it is a curious coincidence his winning the first motor car race held in Australia, as his late father won the first Melbourne Cup ■ was then known as the Flemington Cup), with “Belzone” in 1849. The original silver cup W’as handed round for inspection, and created much interest. Mr J. R. Crooke has a great belief in the future of automobilism in this country, and is considering the advisability of laying down a special automobile racing track one mile in circumference and 66 feet wide, down at his fine park at Aspendale.

If all the stories are true with regard to the fleet of motor cars supplied to the Chinese Royal Family, the lot of the mechanicians in charge of the same is anything but an enviable one, for should any accident befall the Chinese Emperor or Empress when in their <

the driver will be punished with instant death—off comes his head.

When a boiler of a steam car is not to be used for some time all water should be drawn off. It also is advisable to take a small quantity of sal. soda—about a cup full—dissolve it in warm water, and pump this into the boiler.

Then fill the boiler nearly full of clean water, start a slow fire for about ten minutes ; turn out the fire and blow off the boiler until dry. This leaves a coating which prevents further rust, and thus prolongs the life of the boiler. The water system should be carefully drained. This can be done by opening ti valve at the bottom of the water column, and the small pet cock, which is usually placed below the pumps in steam cars of the Locomobile type. D the car is equipped with steam water pumps, great care should be taken that they be thoroughly drained, and oil worked into the cylinders and valves. When the car is to be used again it should be fired up and blown oft before beginning to use it regularly, as otherwise the deposits of soda will cause foaming in the boiler, incorrect registration in the gauge and priming through the engine.

The English Automobile Club has been making exhaustive experiments as to the cause of dust-raising by the motors. Had it not been for the aid of photography nothing could have been done, as the eye was not quick enough to notice the effects. The tests were made at the Crystal Palace. Over sixty feet of the track there was covered with flour to the depth of half an inch, and over five hundred photographs of the cars were taken. Dust-raising, it was found, was occasioned by air currents thrown out sideways by obstructions under the cars and by the inrush of air behind the car after it had passed. The first was caused bj r low-placed cross silencers, or tool-boxes, or by a tangle of gear, and by certain sorts of mud-guards. The difference caused by tyres was not very marked. Hard tyres were better than soft, and narrow tyres than broad, but neither had any preponderating influence. Smoothness of the bottom of the cars and an absence of any forward cone were very desirable. The bottom of a car should slope upwards towards the back.

The French firm of Darracq and Co., motor-builders, &c., have in order a monster racing machine, of not less than 160 h.p. The car will be driven by two four-cylinder motors, acting independently, one situated in front, and the other at the rear of the car. The top speed that the engines will drive the machine is calculated to be 100 miles per hour, and it is intended to run the car up to the limit. The “Comet,” as the monster will be called, has been ordered by the American representative of the firm of M. La Roche, who will use it for racing- purposes.

What is the greatest distance ridden on one bicycle ? The “Cyclists’ Touring Club Gazette” notes 39,000 miles in a little more than two years. An Oxford M.A. has now written to that journal, however, to say that he has an old Beeston Humber “which has run about 42,000 miles.” Needless to say, this mount was carefully looked after, and overhauled once a year.

It is stated that the output of motorcycles in France will be tremendous this year. One firm alone, it is estimated, will produce 12,000, and in addition 8000 motor engines to order for a big German manufacturer. Two other firms will turn out 2000, and two others 1000. In addition there are scores of small firms turning out about a hundred, so that nearly 20,000 motor-cycles should be placed on the market this year from France alone !

In France touring motor-cyclists are charged a duty of one franc per pound weight on machine, the money being returnable on leaving the country.' Tourists on the ordinary machines are permitted tc pass free.

Two thousand electrically-operated automobile-chairs, each seating two persons, will be on hire at the World’s Fair at St. Louis next year. A uniform speed of three (3) miles an hour will be maintained. A most desirable feature of the machine is a sensitive safety rail, projecting in front. The touch of a person’s leg or other slight obstruction pushes this safety rail back, and stops the machine.