MOTOR-CYCLING.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19149, 4 November 1927, Page 5

MOTOR-CYCLING.

A NEW TRAILER. USEFULNESS IN_I)O.MINIONS. To have the advantages of the sidecar and the joys of the solo machine combined, to have a width very little, if any, greater than that of the handlebars —these arc the facts of a recent revival of the trailer in ;i new form. To the veterans of the motor-cycling world the word "trailer" conjures up visions of wicker seats and memories of violent uncontrollable *kids on wet roads. The design of a well-known motor-cyclist enthusiast in England, however, which has been on the road for some time, appears to have eliminated all the bad points which caused its death some twenty years ago by (he simple expedient of using a single wheel only. Clipped to the chain stays of the machine are two vertical shafts, parallel to each other and held rigid by a plate passing over and attached to the carrier, or rear guard if no carrier is carried. Extending outwards from these shafts are arms which can swing horizontally, but are allowed no other movement. These arms arc hollow, and on the near side the trailer chassis is attached by means of a transverse pin which slides through both the hollow arm and a coupling lug at the forward end of tho chassis. A hand-operated cotter pin holds the lug in its position. This forms tin main attnehmcu;, anil allows the trailer to follow road surfaces as a separate unit, ami swing on cornels, but always maintains the two at the same banking angle relative to the road.

The coupling on the other side of the machine is, to all intents and purposes, merely for auxiliary support. In this case, in place of the pin a tubular member is allowed to slide freely in the arm, and is attached to the forward end of the off-side frame member by means of a universal joint. In consequence, while assisting in the support of the trailer, it allows full movement on bends and road irregularities. In its. experimental form the trailer has been used in the main for carrying camping equipment with a pillion passenger, and the idea of springing tho rear wheel for passenger workhas not yet been carried out. Nevertheless, the seating arrangement, apart from restricted leg-room, was not at all uncomfortable.

Detaching Parts. The two parts can be detached in ,less than half a minute by undoing the I butterfly nnt, sliding out the pin, and pulling out the sliding tube on t!.c other side. Quito apart from the considerably simplified garaging problem, this means that if at any time the machine is ditched or awkwardly placed while going across country, in a moment the two become separate vehicles. In fact, the trailer has often been used as a barrow during camping expeditions. Perhaps the most astonishing thing about th'e performance is its roadI holding.' After watching the two rear I wheels on the road one comes to the conclusion that they must hold one another down! Of the two, the driving wheel appears to leave the road more often. The general stability seems to be as good as that of a solo machine. To the unitiated its length might seem to be a source of. anxiety in. traffic. In reality very little extra care is needed, as'the "rear-car" always follows in the tyre tracks of the machine.

During a short vim'as passenger it was found that the experience was something completely new, and the sensation anything but unpleasant. In fact, it compares favourably with that of a passenger in an aeroplane manoouv-

ring close to the ground. A good view is obtained on both sides of the road, mid one is separated from most of the noise and all of the vibration of the machine. On all normal corners fhe amount of the road taken up was no more than that used by a solo rider. Two well-known manufacturers are taking considerable interest in this new development, and patents are being taken out in a great many countries. It is considered that the colonial market holds the greatest possibilities, for the single-tracker could be used over narrow paths where neither side-ear nor ear could make any headway, and its quick detachment would be an immense asset. The business side of its future lias not yet been entered into -fully, but give great promise of success - and convenience.

NOTES.

It may be of interest to newcomers to the pastime to learn that at one time several members of the English Koyal family—including the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York—were enthusiastic motor-cyclists. Motor-cycling even now numbers kings among its devotees.

However keen the competition between Hide-car and three-wheeler becomes, there is always something that will keep the timid faithful to the combination. And that something is the danger of a skid—a very real danger with a three-wheeler and practically non-existent with a side-car outfit.

London has adopted another sport in miniature road-racing by motor-cycle. Nearly 13,000 spectators went to the Crystal Palace to see the new sport, most of them gathering around the hairpin bends and oth corners to watch the spectacular part of the racing. The thrills were greater in the side-car contests. The passengers had to throw themselves from one side to the other to counter-balance the effect x>f cornering. Sometimes they were sitting on the pillions and sometimes were hang? ing on by their toes while they leaned -•out over the side-car wheels.

An Irish motor-cyclist has been fiued £2 for riding underneath a horse!

During June 135 motor-cycles were imported into Canada from the U.S.A. and only seven from Great Britain.

Only as far back as 1913 a famous British motor-cycle firm reported "that while the countershaft gear was theoretically right, the hub variety was a much sounder proposition."

A demonstration of commercial sidecars recently staged in England emphasised the wide possibilities of these handy for delivering! light loads. According to "Motor Transport," economical motor-cycles with side-cars having boxes for light parcels are making a direct appeal both to small tradespeople and big firms, and it is noticeable that the General Post Office employ them for delivery of pareels.

This year the Prussian Ministry of the Interior has ordered that teams of police ear's and motor-cycles shall take part in the various sporting events of the German clubs. Several police teams participated in a recent motor-cycle six days' trial with German machines, and succeeded in gaining the first two team • prizes. Now police motor-cyclists have entered for a speed trial, and entries for other trials are being contemplated. The reason is that the Minister for the Interior 'wishes the police to have a thorough command of practical motoring for the better understanding of traffic problems.