MOTORING

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22514, 23 September 1938, Page 18

MOTORING

NEW CARS THE B.S.A. SCOUT TEN HORSE POWER SPORTS MODEL FAST AND PLEASANT TO tjf;HANDLE If you were to take up a position on the Brighton road in England on an August bank holiday or a fine Saturday afternoon, you would see in the stream of traffic hundreds of those low-slung open ears generally described as sports models. You would see all sorts of designs in all sorts of colours —long green bonnets and short rod ones, broad black ones and narrow blue ones, each with its own distinctive lines and attractive fcaUtres. There con bo no doubt aDout tne popularity of the sports car in England. and it is not surprising, therefore, that English visitors to blew Zealand often ask why we don’t use them more out here. Until comparatively recently. of course, Ihe roads m New Zealand have not been good enough to make motoring in a sports car as pleasant as it would be m England. But now that road surfaces are better, there seems to be nothing, unless tt be prejudice, to hinder the progress of the spurts car iu the Dominion maiKct. At any rate, it is true to say that there are more sports cars and semi-sports cars on the roads in New Zealand today than there have been. The latest sports car to come on the market in Christchurch is the Ul horse-power B.S.A. Scout, a frontwheel driven car with a surprisingly good performance. A Scout -of the model illustrated on this page was taken through a fairly severe road test by “The Press” this week, and it gave satisfaction in everything it was required to do. . The first thing to be noticed on taking the wheel of the Scout was the ample room of the front compartment. Two passengers could sit with the driver in comfort. This is partly because there is no brake or gear lever on the floor, and partly because the width between the seat and the ear gine partition is greater than usual for a* sports car. The gear lever and handbrake are under the dash, and both are very easily operated. There are three forward gears and one reverse. A Good Road holder

Out on the road, the Scout put up a very impressive show. It travelled well at all times, but its performance on corners and bends was particularly good. These -are- two of the things it did; —It took a very sharp bend—almost a right-angled corner—at 45 miles an hour with practically no skid; and it turned a complete circle in the road at 30 miles an hour with the same steadiness. It would seem impossible to turn this car over.

Hill work for the Scout in this test was over Evans Pass to Lyttelton and on to the foot of Hackthorne road via Governor’s Bay. The car took all the slopes on these roads in comfort. The lower gears had to be used, of course.

That is to be expected with a 10 horsepower car, but there was never any indication of difficulty in climbing. Down on the flat again, the car showed the extraordinary flexibility of its engine. It was allowed to idle along in top gear at five miles an hour, and then that speed was stepped up to 65 miles an hour by the speedometer. The pick-up was quick and without a falter. Maximum speed was about a speedometer 70. Speed on the test was kept pretty high for most of the way, and yet the petrol used showed that consumption was between 35 and- 40 miles a gallon. / The Front-wheel Drive The outstanding feature of the Scout mechanically is, of course, its frontwheel drive. Round this the whole design has been planned. It affects not only the frame and the transmission, but also the engine itself, and, incidentally, the bodywork. In case anybody should think that frontwheol drive is merely a stunt, “something different,” that point should be cleared up immediately. Experience has shown that for safety at modern • speeds, especially on twisty roads, a car must be built modenxtely low. To be more accurate, the total loaded weight must be'kept as near the ground as can be managed conveniently: in short, the seats must be low. That applies just as much to the rear seats as the front ones, and for both of them the conventional arrangement of gearbox, proaeller shaft, and back axle provides serious difficulties. With front-wheel drive, the gearbox is moved out of the way; there is no propeller shaft and the back axle can be just as low as the necessary ground clearance permits. All Machinery Under Bonnet

That is one big argument in favour of this arrangement, but it is not the only one. Since the ear. is pulled by the front wheels instead of being pushed by the back 'ones, it is argued that it will be under better control when cornering. The proof of the pudding is in the eating, and the experience with the Scout mentioned before does support this argument. Thanks also to the front drive arrangement, practically all the machinery is concentrated under the bonnet, so that the frame can bo, and is. a very simple affair which has nothing to do but carry the load and connect the front wheels with the back.

To go fully into the mechanics of the Scout would take more space than is available here, and so only brief ■mention can be made of some of the main features. Independent frontwheel suspension is fitted, brakes are on conventional lines, and steex-ing is light and effective. The overall length of the Scout fourseater is 12ft 4iin, width is 4ft 9jjin, and height over the hood, 4ft Biin. Turning circle is 40 feet, and weight approximately 13cwt. Clearance at the front is approximately Tin. The Scout is a pleasant car to handle and one which should become popular in the New Zealand market.

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TO OUTBID FORD Hitler’s Aim As Motor Chief PRODUCTION OF “PEOPLES’ CAR” To outbid Henry Ford. That is Herr Hitler’s ambition in his role of Reich Motor Chief, according to a statement made by Dr. Ley, leader of the German Labour Front and the “Strength through Joy” movement. This "people’s car” project has now. according to authoritative information received from Germany, reached a most paradoxical stage. Dr. Ley states that whereas Ford is turning out only 1,000,000 cars a year, the mammoth new car factory which is going to be built at Fallersleben in 'Brunswick will turn out 1.500,000. The first wing of this factory, which will turn out -150,000 cars annually, will be finished, but not equipped, at the end of the year. The installation of plant will bo completed at the end of 1939 and, added Dr. Ley, the entire works, producing 1,500,000 cars a year, would be finished at the end of 1945. There will be throe different models, a limousine costing 990 reichsmarks, and a cabriolimousine with removable roof, to cost 1050 reichsmarks. The third, which is to be an open car, will not be built for the time being. Each of the 30 models from which the three types wore chosen. did, trials over 100,000 kilometres without serious repairs, though they mounted Grosslocknor, the highest peak in Austria, at an average speed of 24 m.p.h. In 10 years’ time, continued Dr. Ley, everybody in the Reich would own a car, ’ and there would be at least 6,000,000 “people’s cars” on the road. All purchasers will be taught to drive, and all insurance risks and other obligations will be included in the purchase price. For the first few years the car will not be sold outside Germany. The car will be sold only on the instalment plan and the minimum instalment will be live reichsmarks weekly. Despite all these rosy statements, however, evidence accumulates that the workers of Germany are not too keen to buy this car. Most German workmen prefer to smoke a pipe at home or listen to the wireless. Moreover, the German, workers are beginning to protest against the large sums being deducted from weekly earnings, like subscriptions (practically compulsory) for buying badges and literature. All these obligations amount to 35 per cent, of their earnings.

- The average working wage in . Germany is now 50 reichsmarks, of which 12.50 reichsmarks are deducted. The “people’s car” will take away another 10 per cent, of the worker’s income though, under Dr. Ley’s plan, he cannot obtain delivery of his car foi" three years. Above all, the German workers suspect that this is a new dodge

started by the Government for raising money.

If only 4,000,000 workers apply, then, 1,000,000,000 reichsmarks are poured into the Government’s coffers without any interest to pay, while the diminution in the purchasing power of the masses owing to these instalments, would reduce the demand for food, clothing and,other necessities which Germany is now finding great difficulty in importing. A press campaign lias already been started for boosting the “people’s car.”

MOTOR-CYCLING c 1 i CANTERBURY AUTO-CYCLE \ CLUB i Fixtures October I—Social afternoon. October B—Gymkhana (Show Grounds). October 22-24 —Major trial. The next event to be held will be an easy trial to some popular spot, where sports will be held. This event will be such that machines of all classes will have an equal chance of winm Compctitors will be the guests of the club at afternoon lea. Entries will be received up to the lime of starting at 2 P-m. . . , , .. Members are again reminded of the gymkhana to be held, at the Show Grounds on' October 8, as a curtainraiser to the finish of the TimaruChristchurch road race. AH those wishing to participate are asked to get in touch with members of the sports committee. „ A further supply of the Transport Department’s application forms for good riding awards have been received and are now available at the various motor shops, and all motor-cyclists arc asked to apply immediately. Safe riding transfers will bo issued gratis to every applicant.

Motor-cyclists! A second of carelessness may mean a lifetime of regret.—Combined Clubs’ Safety First Campaign.

PIONEER MOTOR CLUB Fixtures To-morrow (2 p.m.)— Flexibility Trial. Tuesday next (8 p.m.)-—Ladies' evening. Saturday, October 15 —Championship Beach-race Meeting. Supciay, October 10—Opening Run (in ■ conjunction with the Pioneer Amateur Sports Club). Saturday, October 29—Scramble. Valuable data on the performance of their machines, as well as an excellent afternoon’s , sport and the opportunity for the xise of skilled riding, will be provided by the Pioneer Motor Club’s flexibility trial to be held at the Halswell quarry to-morrow afternoon, commencing at 2 p.m. A large entry *lias been provided for, as this event has been put on in response to many requests. Competitors will be required to complete a last and a slow run each in the same nominated gear, thus providing an indication of the engine’s flexibility, the machine with the greatest margin between the times recorded for the two runs being the winner of the event.

On Tuesday evening next .members will have the opportunity o'f introducing their friends to the club’s excellent rooms, the occasion being the, first qif a aeries of ladies’ evenings which will be held during the season. An outstanding programme of films will be interspersed with novelty items. Supper will be served and members and their friends are assured of a most enjoyable evening. This is the first occasion on which the club has been able to include such a fixture in its programme. On October 15 an event of considerable importance will be .staged at New Brighton, when the club’s championship beach races will be held. This year, amongst other -National AutoCycle Union events, the club was for-

tunate in securing the 250 c.c., 350 c.c., and 500 c.c. South Island beach championships, and the 250 and 350 c.c. events will be included in this programme, which will also incorporate other major events for machines of all capacities. Details of the meeting will be announced in the course of the next week.

The day following the South Island championship meeting is the occasion of the culb’s annual opening run. which is held in conjunction with the Pioneer Amateur Sports Club and its affiliated bodies. All of the more popular motor-cycle and car events, and many special athletic and other competitions will be incorporated in the programme, and the run promises to surpass in interest its many enjoyable predecessors. The club’s road safety activities are becoming an. increasingly large part of its work, and many registrations for good riding awards have been made during the week. Non-members are invited to participate in this and other schemes which the Transport Department has under way equally with members of the club, and inquiries arc invited at the various motor-cycle dealers and from members of the committee and the secretary, CORSAIR MOTOR CLUB For the week-end the club has chosen a trials course on the route to Glentunnel, Glenroy, and Coalgate. Arrows will be used to mark the course. A visit will be made to the Klondkye coalmine at Coalgate after the lunch stop. This event is intended as a social run. and those who do not wish to participate in the trials sections arc invited to attend also. Motor-car owners who are willing to assist with the running of the event are asked to assemble at the depot, Moorhouse avenue, on Sunday morning about 9 o’clock. The first rider will leave between 9.30 and 10 o’clock.