MOTOR NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1897, 4 November 1913, Page 11

MOTOR NOTES.

IBr CHAESID.] Tho Reliability Trial, Tho results of tho Motor C.O.'s 12hour reliability trial last Monday have not yet been announced, but all concerned are satisfied that it was a most successful event. There was quite an array of motor-oycles, cycles with sido, cars, tliroo neat little cycle-cars, and a largo motor, tho competitors including nino solo-cars, six side-cars, and threo eyewears. The secret course of 180 miles led through roughly metalled roads, tortuous winding inclines, steep grades, and difficult downhill corners, both cars and drivers being severely tested, and all coming out triumphantly, except for ono or two slight mishaps. Ono motorist charged into a horss, threo Bida-cars rotired temporarily at the lunch interval, one had a broak-down at Paraparaumu, and another sustained a buckled wheel at Makara. Tho first to arrive homo was tho 6-h.p. A.J,3., whilst tho 8-h.p. Humborott (p. Pym), and the 7-h.p. Swift (N. Chapman) arrived to time, after remarkably good runs. The third cycle-car, tho Ardan, after a splendid morning's run, had to retire tarough tho magneto-drivo giving away. Tno following solo-cars completed tho course: —3J-li.p. Triumph (R. Eoene), 3| New Hudson (H. Edwsfds), 8J Rudge (J. Boucher), 4 Hcrcules (0. Pratt), 6 Res (W. Niciiolls), 3J Triumph (F. Webb), ii O.K. Precision (J. W. Clark), 2J A.J.S. (J. Brand), and 2J A.J.S. (W. H, Nimmo).

Amateur World's Champions. Onco. more the invincible English pair, W. J. Bailey and Leon Meredith navo won the two amateur world's-champion-ships, tho former in the Bpftnt race, and the latter over 100 kiloms. (62J milo-B). W. J. Bniloy has now been tho world's champion on four occasions, and L. Sleredith has.won no faS'er than seven times. Tho events were decided at tho Berlin Stadium before an enormous crowd and in brilliant weather. In the 100 kiloms. motor-paced championship, Meredith led from tho start, and won easily by over a mils from Beyer (German.T)i and Blekcmolon (Holland), in tho fair time of lhr, 27min. BSseo. Til® Frenchman, Fossier, who was fancied in some quart-era, only mado a moderate show. Tlw professional championships over the same distances resulted in Itutt winning tho sprint event, and tho lato P. Guignard the lonft-dis-fcsnce event. Tho Australian crack, A. H. Shepherd, did not compete in the latter, as was his intention, owing to the death of his child, \ Street-Cresalng Dawioo. 11l Pomona, California, tho police have adopted the simple expedient of painting a white oirclo in the centre of | the street crossings, to mark tha point : around whioli wheeled traffio taking rigjht-angled turns must proceed. If a driver takes the wrong side, or leaves the mark of his tyres on the circle, he is liabel to bo arrested. The centre of the crossing is thus left freo froni anything iii the nature of an obstruction with which yohicles are likely to collide in emergencies. t Motor Omnibus Services. In an article on "Motor Omnibus Services," "The Motor Oycle 5 ' Bays:— "ln the daily papers laßt weok there appeared prospectuses of a company entitled Greater Omnibuß Services, Ltd., which i- to bo founded with the idea of running motor omnibus services in different parts of England. Tho map issued with tho prospectus shows tho whole of the country divided up into circles of which j largo towns form tho centres. It is proposed that theso services should bo run to tho seaside, 011 populous routes, and between big towns, and it is anticipated that London to .Manchester, or London i to Brighton, will be possible by easy stages where tho scheme is in working order. Now tho motor Omnibus is a very excellent vehicle. At tho present stago of its existence it is as mechanically perfect as tho motor-car, it is no obstructor of traffic like tho tram, nor does it run over greasy lines dealing death or- destruction to riders of twowheoled vehicles; it is in consequence an altogether desirable means of transport for tho masses. It has, however, a very serious fault which all who have mado its acquaintance 011 country roads know full well, and that is, it is a torriblo destroyer, of road surface. Tho reason for this is tho weight of the vehicle, which causes tremendous pressure or. tho surface of the road. The pressure is more than tho foundation of tho road can stand, and soon numerous depressions are made. These causo tho vehiclo to rise and fall, and the result is that ourious regular series of waves so frequently seen on a motor bus route, which correspond exactly to tho periodicity of tho springs. Unless stops are taken by thoso in authority tho roads of England, which are now tho best in the world, will bo ruined, tho motorcar and motor-cyclo trades will dwindle and possibly almost vanish, as no selfrespecting private individual will drivo his car continually over had surfaces. The question is 0110 of tho most vital importance to tho motor-cycle industry, aa motor cycles aro moro susceptible to bumps than other mechanically-propelled vehicles, and tho motor cycle moro than tho well sprung car needs good roads. The motor omnibus at present runs on cheap petrol and pays a reduced petrol tax, and all else it pays is the registration and local taxation licenses, and porhaps also a license to ply for hire. It is the local taxation license which is inadequate, and in tho case of vehicles of sucli weight as to causc serious damago to the roads the taxation should bo arranged on a ton milcago basis, as this appears to bo tho only fair mothod. Tho present state of nffairs is quito unjust, and it is quite unwa&onablo that vehicles which do excessivo damago to tho road surface should not pay their fair sharo towards road upkeep.