MOTORS & MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2769, 12 May 1916, Page 9

MOTORS & MOTORING

[BY Cltjicr.]

200 Miles Motor-Cycle Raco

All who witnessed the 200 miles motorcycle race held at Mortlake (Victoria) on 1 Easter Monday, are, it is stated, satisfied 1 that this event has the makings a contest of equal importance to tho English "tourist trophy' tuco, which for several years past (no "T.T." event was held ' this year owing to the war) has been recognised the world over as the blue riband road ©vent of the motor-cycle world. Certain modifications Teqraro introducing, ' .For instance, the contestants should bo < divided into two classes, large powered. snd small, or "senior" and "junior," as adopted in the great' English event. In connection with Easter Monday's race somo sterling performances were registered, and N. H. Duckett, who finished second, on a Dunlop shop 7-h.p. Indian,, negotiated the 200 miles in 3 hours 40 minutes 13 seconds, the fastest time put up in tlio race. Tlris rido beats E. G. Baker's (American) world's record for 200 I miles,', established over the same course ' in February last, and being accomplished in competition is a particularly fine achievement, In addition to this world's record another was credited to H. A. Parsons, who covered 101.7 miles in 97 minutes 20 scconds, his average speed being well oyer a mile a minute for a hundred miles—wonderful travelling oil a circuit that has several bad corners to negotiate, and besides that a very heavy northerly wind had to bo contended with._ Aus-tralian-mads "Dunlops" again carried off tho bulk of the trophies, the first, second", third, fourth, and fastest time prizes being won on these tires. Will The Price of Tires Incroase? There seems to be every probability, says an American correspondent, that there will be a big increase in the price of tire 3 before long. Anyway, the manufacturers have withdrawn all their lists, and only 'give quotations on a day-to-day basis. It is pointed but that all the materials used in the making of tires have gone up considerably in price; thus, oxide of zinc, which is used so extensively in the manufacture of white rubber, has advanced about 65 -per cent, while. cotton fabric costs almost 40 per cent, more than it did last Year. Rubber has gone up steadily during tho past month, the increase being about 20 per cent., with indications that it will continue to advauco for some time to come. Tho big companies seem to 'be buying far into the future, their buying being particularly marked whenever there is even a slight recession in prices. Alternative Fuels.' The. steadily increasing price of petrol is once more directing keen attention to the question Df alternative fuels. Before the war the largo output of benzole in England had arrested the petrol advance, and alcohol iu Franco was becoming to be regarded moro and more as the motor fuel of the future. From the outbreak of-hos-tilities, however, practically nil the bengolo and alcohol produced have been requisitioned for the manufacture of high explosives, so petrol- has agnin.'established a monopoly. - The war' is > teaching ua many things, and one of them will probably be how to produce a cheap alternative motor fuel. In the piping timeß of . peace that, are ahead 1 of us, when all tho energy. that: is at present devoted to turning, out the vast quantities of munitions required at "the front, is redirected to commercial production, tirid'thfi enormous quantities of petrol required lot military use aro released, we may hope to see: the prices come tumbling down to what they were eight or ten years ago. It' is jiroDable that mixtures of petrol, benzole, and alcohol will be largely used. Light v. Heavy Cycles. . A correspondent' writes Many cyclists seem to scoli' at the idea of using a Icatner-weiglit macliine, aiid consider the ' fully-equipped lieavy-weight roadster u tetter all-round mount, notwithstanding We; somo of .these machines scale up' to 3oll>. They argue tnat the difference of Sib. or ,10lb. is not worthy or consideration, and that the ultra light ' machine is only suitable for racing, and will not stand.hard work. In this, however, they aro mistaken. The difference of 81b. or 101b. in the machine itself is very appreciable, especially wnen 'hill-, climbing, and seems to liave moro effect than if the rider' was carrying a similar load on the carrier of a leather-weight, To ah export who appreciates perfect running a 'leather-weight is almost a sity. It is easier to propel under_ all circumstances, provided always that it is properly- designed; and has a rigid hot- , torn bracket. The ease:of running is apt to make the rider think that he is iu particularly good form, a pleasant delusion, for there is nothing, • after all, which gives keener enjoyment than thn sensation of absolute fitness. For hill- ; climbing, the feather-weight is particularly suitable, for it is easy to push on tlie long stoop ascents which have to be walked; To get the.acme of perfect running, however,.it is essential to havo light tyres, and it is surprising ,the mileage and how little trouble first-class roadracing covers will give when used oy_a reasonably careful rider. It might be thought that such a machine wouls Vot stand ordinary every,day riding. , That depends on the i'ider, If it is properly treated it is.capablo' of really' hard work.

Mending Leaky Tanks. The amount of petrol that will pass through a comparatively small holo in.tha spirit tank or its: connections must bo experienced to. bo realised to tho full, Petrol is a. most penetrative spirit, and it will find its way through the smallest aperture. In these days of high-priced spirit one cannot afford to allow the fluid to run to waste, <ynd apart from that fact there is always the fire risk to 'be considered. The only manner in which a leak in the tank or connections can bi: permanently fixed is by tho aid of solder, but it is' liot everyone who can use a soldering-iron, nor is thcro aiwayS ono available). Tho method of temporarily stopping a leak that is usually recommended is to apply soap, but this is far from satisfactory, even where the leakage is very slight. . Plasticine is also recommended for the purpose, and as the sdbstance is now widely used by chitdien for modelling, a little of it will Teadily bo found in most houses. A writer « a contemporary tells that lie staunched a leak in- this way, and did GO miles over bad roads after making the repair, and 40 miles on the following day, and at the end of the run he" found that the cino was quite solid and difficult to remove.

Motor Ships in Denmark. Not' long ago mention was n.aclß in. the cablegrams of 'an extraordiu.uj development in motor-ship construction in Denmark. Further lntormation on the subiict is riven in late inglioii niw. The East Asiatic Company, a leading Danish company for which tho pioneer large motmSiip Selandia was built in 1912 is now pinning its'faith cntirelj to motor ships. U& ye»r. the company owned 13 steamers j now it has none. In three of tho vessels by steam tho engines have been t>y while the others have bee., sold afnew motor ships became availab At tho beginning of last year the com. panv owned 10 large motor sI "P s .'- ll pf?\ fflng" a total offejOOO tons deadweightv Durimr the Tear it took delivui 01 uyg ships of 47,400 tons deadweight. liv.tho summer of this yeaj a »° delivered 10,400 tons deadweight is to lie deine cu. and next sprint: another Tho company's programmo already , ( ro vides for the following new motor Six of 11,800 tons deadweight be" eon 10,000 tons deadweight between 1918 anil iU 3300 horse U.P.. and six owners are alec motor ships. and be fully °lZlrof fuel, a"d space are points considered by Sca f n^„to r ia " n g"n es ' tries to lie in favour - of .motor engine.. Tho l,ir»o ships only consume about 10 tons of oil a day. aid, therefore, vessels trading with countries where,oil is plentiful, as in tflio East and on the iacmc

Coast of North America, can ship enough oil fuel Cor a voyage round tho world.

Here and There. Lighting-up time for motor-cars and motor-e.ycles: To-day, 'I.'IG p.m. Next iriday, lio p.m. One of tho leading motor sparking plug manufacturers has just erected a P'^nt that will bo able to put out 10,0110,000 plugs annually. This is only ono concern, and conveys an idea of tho tremendous growth of the motor industry during the last dccad'j. • Careless handling of a car, such as lotting in the clutch 100 suddenly when the engine is running last, or applying the brakes too harshly, often results in the chipping of the gears, and may ultimately lead to a knock in the trausmis. siou. This is eauscd by the chip ot steel becoming jammed between tho teeth of one of the pinions. A case canio within our own experience a few years ago, v/lion a small chip lodged between 'the teeth of the wheel and caused an alarming knock in tho differential. Tho whole or tho back axle had to bo dismounted beiore tho trouble could ho' remedied. 'Hie question of roagneto ignition versus and coil has .come to a. in America, owing to tho provision of electric lighting and starting sets having become practically standard practice on every car. Tho chief basis for tho restoration ot battery ignition is generally understood to ■b© the advantage to bo derived from reducing the whole electric equipment ot a car to a single system. Simplicity and economy -would bo served if it were demonstrated that a unified system was tho equal of a system with separata magneto in actual practice. There are many complexities, but the chief bone of contention is the behaviour of the two systems at the moment of starting the engine. To the average motorist ease in starting, weighs moro than tho slight advantage claimed for separata systems. < The "Vanderbilt Cup," the classic motor-car race of America, is to he run on the Sheepshead Bay track, Long Island (New York) on Saturday. Sixteen days: later the great Indianapolis Race will also bo decided. This year tho latter event, which has previously been decided over a distance of 500 miles, will be reduced to a 300 miles raca. Mix lampblack with turpentine to thin paint consistency, and brush it on to tho radiator fins when cold. (Remove all grease with petrol first.) It leaves, them a beautiful dead black, which contracts well with polished brass. Without this treatment the fins get, in time, to look very fishy. This concoction rather assists than hinders radiation. Wo havo received from, MesJrs. A. S. Paterson and Co., Ltd., "tho .proprietors of the "Big Tree" brand of benzine and Kerosene, a useful Tourist's Map of the North and South: Islands. All motorists should have one of these complete maps, and we understand that copies will > bo supplied free of chaigc from tho Wellington office of Messrs. A. S. Patersoh' and Co., Ltd. i