The Motorist.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIII, Issue 763, 20 October 1904, Page 14

The Motorist.

(By

“Petrol.”)

Mr W. J. Boylan has disposed of his steam car to Dr. Caro.

Dr. Grant’s new De Dion was out for a trial trip on Sunday, and a most enjoyable spin was the result.

Mr Arthur Cleave nas purchased an 8-h.p. Darracq, and will use this until the arrival of his 15-h.p. four-cylinder Darracq. A specially light body of cedar is being built by the Cousins and Atkin Carriage Factory, and the lightness combined with the power should tend to make this the fastest car in New Zealand. At the Boxhill motor meeting the 15-h.p. Darracqs won every event in which they competed, making the fastest times n their class. The following world’s records are held by the Darracq : F lying kilometre, light cars, 76 miles per hour ; world’s record, voiturettes, 68i miles per hour ; standing start, light cars, 56 miles per hour ; mile world’s record, voiturettes, 44 miles per hour.

This is the day of the big non-stop runs and some wonderfully fine performances have been accomplished. A decidedly good one was the 400 miles Hup from London to Edinburgh which a 12-h.p. De Dion Bouton car put up some time back, Messrs J. W. Stocks and H. K. Bales being the passengers on that occasion. The time of 24f hours would have been easily beaten, but for the automobilists losing their way in the darkness in the wilds of Yorkshire and they had also to contend against a heavy snowstorm, some of the snow drifts being several feet deep. At the same time a 6-h.p. De Dion made the run between the two capitals in 28 hours, a very solid performance for so light powered a car in the face of great difficulties.

On the outskirts of London omnibus proprietors are giving seekers for fresh air a 1 20-mile ride for sixpence through the prettiest of the river resorts, while in Wales it is being used by the various councils to link outlying villages with the towns.

India is to have a series of motor reliability trials next Christmas over the road from Delhi to Bombay, a distance of about 880 miles. The native princes, it is said, are taking the greatest interest in them.

S. F. Edge (England), one of the bestknown motorists througnout the work . and the leading man in this direction in England, has decided to retire from motor racing. This regrettable step has been taken owing to the unpleasantness caused by the selection of Great Britain’s team for the Gor-don-Bennett Race, held last July, and by the recent disqualification of Mr Edge’s motor boat, after winning the British International Boat Race. It is not generally known tnat Mr Edge is a native of Sydney.

One thousand miles on a motor car under 30 hours seems a tall order, but it was recently accomplished in America by a 24-h.p. car. This ride was carried out

on a hard earthen trotting track a mile in circumference. The first mile was dri\ - en in Imin 31 4-ssec, and from this out the car kept up a fast speed, until 100 miles had been covered in 2hr 48min 8 3-ssec. A change of driver was effected after 125 miles had been driven. No trouble was experienced with the car until the 375th mile had been reached, when the adjusting platinum screw on the coil required a half turn of readjustment. When darkness set in the inside of the track was lined with red lamps 25 feet apart, as a guide to the driver, who had no difficulty in driving through the hours of darkness at an average speed of 35 miles an hour. Five hundred miles were covered in 15hrs 28mm 29 2-ssec. Shortly after this the fast speed and dragging round the turns began to have an Til effect on the tyres. Between the 520th and 774th miles several new covers had to be fitted, due to the midday heat and the sharp track turns. ‘The full distance was covered in 29hr o3min 37 3-5 sec, an average speed of 34 miles an hour for the full running time. Four gallons of lubricating oil were consumed on the run, and 65 gallons of petrol.

Few more conclusive proofs could be required of the practical utility and of the increasing employment of motors of various kinds in heavy traffic than is afforded by the manner in which they are being adopted by the leading railway companies in the Old Country. A few of the various forms of self-propelled vehicles now in the service of the Midland Railway Company represent one of their latest motor coaches for running on the rails, as well as steam lorries and petroldriven vans, that are at present in regular use in Bristol and in London respectively. Just to give an idea of the value of these vehicles is to explain that a 9-h.p. is designed for carrying a load of 2 to 2+ tons. The lorry is one that is built up to the standard of 5 tons. It is capable of hauling an additional load of 3 tons on its trailer, which is one of the Midland Company’s lorries converted. The motor coach, which is the first that has been built at the Midland Railway Company’s works at Derby, commenced work lately on the line. It is divided into four sections—the engine-room, the passenger compartment, the luggage-van and the vestibule —and is so designed that it can be driven from either end. It is most comfortably fitted for the accommodation of some 55 passengers, so that this class of vehicle is not only likely to prove a valuable adjunct to railway stock for branch lines, but is sure to become extremely popular with the travelling public. the total length of the car is 60 feet, its weight in running order is 36 tons, and it is capable of maintaining an average speed of about 30 miles per hour.

The following amusing advice is given to “ automobile guests-’ by Melbourne “Punch” The type of automobilist who: “has no automobile at the present moment” is getting more and more in evidence. The “driving with friends” is very much in favour. It has, first of all,' the advantage of obviating certain expenses such as the purchase of a I’2 h.p. motor-car, its maintenance and the wages of a mechanic. These economies realised in this direction permit of greater expenditures for other articles, such as dust-proof cloaks, goggles and gloves. It is the proper form for a guest to show an inclination to appreciate the operation of the motor and the speed of the car. Such statements

as “We are going at forty-five miles an hour” should always be met with “at the least.” It is very bad taste when this remark is made to draw a chronometer from your pocket. It is well known that chronometers are very incorrect as a means of determining speed. If the owner of the car, with a poorlyplayed air of indifference, asks, “Do you think that I drive well ?” reply “Yes ; but you have but one fault y ou are too reckless,” etc., even if he is in the habit of applying the brakes as soon as he sees a chicken in the road at a distance. If your friend’s car is overtaken by another, say “It is most idiotic to race on Ihe highwav.” In my opinion it is always best to deny any knowledge of repairing, especially tyre repairing. There are certain other rules, which it is hardly worth while to mention, as the guest will follow 7 them by instinct. These relate to accounts of the trip and the times of start and finish. If you started from Melbourne at a quarter to three, and arrived at Bendigo at half-past seven o’clock it is self-evident that the fraction should be neglected, and that Alelbourne was left at three and Bendigo reached at seven. Also the loss of time due to mishaps should vary according to the circumstances. The same mishap which would take only a quarter of an hour if the skill cf the mechanic was under discussion should be responsible for forty-five

minutes if the object is to prove a good average speed; By following these rules end others which his instinct will dictate, the guest will be able to prolong his career as such, and may defer purchasing a car until the manufacturers bring out the “perfected machine” for which he has been looking several years already.