MOTORING & CYCLING

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1391, 21 December 1916, Page 28

MOTORING & CYCLING

At a meeting of the directors of the Canterbury (N.Z.) Aviation Co., Ltd., presided over by the Hon. H. F. Wigram, Mr. C. W. |Hervey, who has for some time been acting honorary secretary, was appointed to the position of secretary to the company. -

Mr. A. S. Clarkson, president of the Canterbury Automobile Association, together with Mr. C. W. Hervey, secretary, will leave on December 26 on a motoring tour to Kaikoura, Blenheim,. Nelson, ..Westport, Greymouth, Hokitika, and Otira.

A member of the Royal Flying Corps stationed in Egypt writes the Dunlop Rubber Company asking if a supply of the company’s “Repairet” self-vulcanising tyre dough could be forwarded without delay. The writer states that the small supply they had away with them in the African desert proved invaluable for repairing both motor and aeroplane covers and tubes, and that the repaired tubes gave satisfactory results, even when the temperature at times reached as high as 121 degrees in the shade. Needless to say a supply is going forward.

It has been admitted for a very long time that the engine of the modern motor cycle is in an extremely exposed position. It is nearly always impossible to obtain a positively oil-tight crankcase, which, although perhaps possible when the engine is new, soon, when wear sets in, permits oil to exude from the engine, covering it externally with an oil film, which in turn traps dust and mud, causing undue wear. Now, if it were possible thoroughly to enclose the power unit whilst not deducting from its efficiency, we think that it would be certainly a step in the right direction. It is argued that such protection would be unsightly, but if we take the instance of a motor car engine we say that if the engine were not covered up it would certainly be unsightly. There is proof, indeed, in the uncouth appearance of a motor car being driven without a bonnet. On these lines, therefore, we may reasonably expect, says “Motor Cycling” (Eng.) to find the power unit of the future encased in neat aluminium guards, easily detachable, but yet weather-proof enough to permit the entire machine being -washed down by the application of the garden hose.

Russia has decided to develop a motor car industry of her own. The

European war is the cause of her decision. Before the war most of Russia’s cars had been bought from Germany, France, Italy and England,

but the war has demonstrated to Russia how necessary factories for the manufacture of motor cars are, and five new factories already have been started. The Government is largely responsible for the activity. Government arrangements call for 7500 motor lorries and cars from these five factories in a given time. This means 1500 vehicles from each. The Minister of War has placed orders for all the output. Recent speed events on American racing auto tracks have demonstrated that the board track is faster than either brick or cement. In the Astor Cup, won by J. Aitken last October, the 250 miles were negotiated on the wooden track at New York in the world’s record time of 2 hours 23 minutes 4 3-5 seconds, giving an average speed of 104 4-5 m.p.h. The fastest previous records over this distance were put up at Brooklands (Eng.), 97 m.p.h. on a cement surface, and 89 m.p.h. on the brick surfaced track at Indianapolis (U.S.A.).

Word has come through by cable that the two most important American automobile road contests, the Vanderbilt Cup and the “Grand Prix,” were decided on the Santa Monica circuit, in California, on the 16th and 18th of November. The former event, over 300 miles, was won by Dario Resta on his Peugeot, he putting up a wonderful performance by averaging 87 miles an hour, a world’s record for the road. Resta won this event last year, his speed on that occasion only being 67.3 miles per hour. He also carried off the 1916 Grand Prix (about 396 miles), with an average of 56 m.p.h. The latter event was run in rain and on a heavy course. Another Peugeot driver in J. Aitken succeeded in carrying off this year’s Grand Prix. These two cracks have this year put up a remarkable series of wins in important American speed events, having between them, practically won all the big contests. These two drivers

have this season alone each won a fortune in stakes.

Mr. George Powell, late of Napier, and well-known as a motor car enthusiast, was recently killed in England as the result of a motor accident. About eight months ago he worked his passage to England to study aviation, and whilst there was stationed on the coast of Norfolk.

The Primate of Dunedin, Bishop Nevill, has just returned to Dunedin from a visit to the western and southern portions of his diocese, travelling over 500 miles in his motor car.

At the last meeting of the Red Cross Carnival Committee in Christchurch, Mr. P. R. Climie being in the chair, a lengthy letter was read from the Auto Cycle Union of the North Island, stating in effect that it would not grant a permit to hold motor cycle races at the carnival unless the Carnival Committee affiliated with the union. The North Island Track

Riders’ Union also wrote, stating that it had decided that it would not permit its members to ride on tracks where non-members were competing. A lengthy discussion ensued cn these two letters. In regard to the letter from the Auto Cycle Union, it was decided to apply for a permit. In regard to the letter from the Track Riders’ Association, it was decided to reply that the Carnival Committee could not see its way to dictate to any riders who might compete at the carnival whether they should join any union or association or not. Mr. Hinds said he had not yet received any reply from Jack Booth, the crack “Indian” rider, as to whether he could compete at the carnival, but he believed that if Booth could get away there would be no obstacles placed tn his way by the company he served.

A lad of fifteen summers defended an action and conducted his own case in the Magistrate’s Court, Greymouth,

the other morning. He was charged with driving a motor car without a license, contrary to the Greymouth Borough by-laws. The lad, who called his employer as his principal witness, is said to have shown considerably more than ordinary knowledge of court procedure for one of his years. He did not waste the time of the court with superfluities; he raised no suppositious cases, and said nothing but what was to the point in so far as his defence was concerned. He won his case.

Mr. R. A. Montgomerie, of Wanganui, who went to England a few months ago, has received a commission in the Motor Transport Service, and is now in training.

Statistics show cn increase in the number of motor cars in use in the United States since January Ist, 1916, of 508,677, making the total now in use about 3,000,000, representing an increase of 21 per cent.

The Middlesex (Eng.) Tribunal has exempted a number of taxicab drivers from military siervice cn condition that they take wounded soldiers for a dr ve one afternoon a week.

A further twenty-five motor ambulances subscribed for by the Yorkshire Miners’ Association were recently handed over to the British Red Cross Society.