The Motorist.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIII, Issue 773, 29 December 1904, Page 14

The Motorist.

(By

"Petrol ”)

Motorists had a highly enjoyable time of it during the holidays, for everything was in their favour. The absence of wind is always welcome, and nothing could have been more perfect than the weather conditions. Under the circumstances quite a number went far afield, and many interesting runs were accomplished.

The Cadillac touring car had its performance specially recognised by the Blackpool race meeting authorities. It was awarded the silver medal in the £250 class, both for the standing mile and for the flying kilometre, and therefore, instead of giving two silver medals, the promoters presented a solid silver cup for its meritorious performance in beating twenty cars of from 10 to 20h.p.—(Extract from “Autocar,” November 5, 1904.)

A motor car is a "thing of price, and for that reason alone judgment should he exerrised in its selection. Personal tastes and prejudices must enter largely into a matter of this nature, but there are certain plain considerations which must influence every careful buyer in his choice, even if he be the inexperienced of laymen. The use to which the vehicle will be put is of the greatest importance. It should be decided in advance by the buyer whether the car is to be used for touring or for town purposes. The nature of the country in which the car will have to work must be taken into full consideration. If the country is hilly, hill-climbing power becomes an essential for satisfactory performance. Some cars are so geared that while their speed onf the level is very good, they are slow on the hills by reason of being geared too high. It is best to buy, from the largest makers since they have a reputation to lose, and may be depended on to take care of it. The buyer should closely investigate the previous records of the cars selling in his market, and as far as possible form his own opinion on them.

The raising of the Worlds’ Motor Cycling hour record was accomplished on October 28 at the Canning Town track (England) when G. A. Barnes, the holder of the record (48 miles 1395 yards) increased his own figures to 49 miles 800 yrds. lhe same rider also put up the fine distance of 50 miles in Ihr 42 2-sth sec, a world’s record. Another broken record is that of the hundred miles motor cycle, which has been reduced to 2hr 21min 45scc by H. Martin, on the same track.

Great silver plaquettes have been presented by Mr Gordon-Bennett, donor of the gold cup competed for annually in the big motor race which bears his name, to those clubs that have held the coveted cup. These plaquettes are given as a permanent reward, and will be held in high appreciation by the clubs concerned. Each club may obtain only one of these trophies, hence but three have been secured, which are now in the possession of the French, English, and German automobile clubs. A feature of the plaquettes is that they will bear a reproduction in silver of the cup, together with a suitable inscription concerning the date, locality, and time of the race it memoralises.

An English motorist, G. A- Barnes by name, has raised the mileage for the hour for a motor-cycle, the distance being 49 miles. .«<><• yards. '1 his is 11(55 yards better than the . previous record, which was also held by the same driver. He continued ar.d annexed the record fcr fifty miles, which he covered in GOmin 42 2-ssec, or Imin (5 2-ssce better than that of Newman’s, the previous holder. The locale of this successful attempt was the

Canning Town track, England, whi’e Bruni’s cycle record was accomplished on the Prince Park track, Paris.

A notabfe ride was recently accomplished by two gentlemen, each in an Oldsmobile car, when they traversed upwards of three thousand miles in thirty days over a route in the United Kingdom. A noteworthy feature of the tour was that they finished on the same sets of tyres on which they started, although the roads were not by any means of the best.

A new combined friction clutch and two-speed gear for motor cycles and tricars has been put on the English market. The toothed clutch is substituted for one of the friction variety, the gear being always in mesh. The wear is centred on the coned surfaces of the clutch, and replacement of the leather face can be made for a few shillings. The drive is correct on the high gear, the second gear being 50 per cent, lower, with a free wheel between the gears. The whole is said to be simple, efficient, and will not easily get out of order.

The Melbourne writer “ Auto” very rightly points out that if there is one feature of driving a car which indicates more than any other the care and skill of the driver, it is that of driving round street corners and sharp turns of road. The careful driver will always slow down, either by taking out the clutch, applying the foot brake, and putting in a lower gear. To try to round a cornel at >«■(?<] may bring disaster by upsetting the car. There is only one system of driving by which turns can be safely negotiated at good speeds, and highly skilful steering is n cessary to make a success of it. It consists of making two turns inside a half-circle. When approaching the corner the car is steered wide,

and headed across the corner, then turned again, the second turn bringing the car straight up the void. But all rational motorists will slow down for corners, and keep speed performances for the straight stretches of the road, where they can see what is in front of them.

The famous Gaillon Hill climb marks the close of the season on the Continent, and some sensational racing is always expected. The wonderful performances of the cars engaged demonstrate in a striking manner the marvellous advance made m automobile construction during recent years, and even since last year. The distance is one kilometre (2-3rd mile) and the gradient is one in nine — steep enough to test hill-climbing power of a car pretty thoroughly. Yet Rigolly on a 100 h.p. Gobson-Brillie, and Baras, on a 100 h.p Darracq. both travelled up the hill at a speed of 77 miles an hour, improving on the 1903 times by nearly 11 miles per hour—a prodigious advance in speed, considering the point to which automobiles ha i been brought last, year An English car —the sixcylinder 100 h.p Napier—just mis-iug tieing the new record by doing over 76 miles phour. Previous records also fell in other classes. Hemery, in a light 40 h.p. Darracq, hauled down Hauriot’s previous record on a Bayard car by no less than 2 2-sth sec, showing an increase of speed of nearly 10 miles per hour. A very fine performance was Lanfranchi’s time on a two-cylinder Peugeot motor cycle, weighing nearly llfilb, for lie made a speed of 754 miles per hour, only one and a-half miles an hour less than the racing monster cars. His time showed an increased speed of no less than 21 miles per hour. The Voiturette Class was won by the consistent Darracq vehicle, with a speed of 56 miles an hour, and thus this make of car won all the three events —a significant performance.