MOTORS AND MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3135, 13 July 1917, Page 9

MOTORS AND MOTORING

(By "Clutch.") Taking Corners. When ono watches a motor-ear turuin" a corner at speed, the strain on the tyres is very noticeable. A Culifornian professor roceutly made- some tests to determine the aniount of thrust sustained by tho tyro at various speeds. Ho found that a- car weighing 25001b., taking a curve of 60 feet radius at i in.p.h. "imposed practically no additional stiain on the tyres, as the centrifugal tendency of the car is lost or absorbed in tho tyre Structure at tliat speed. When th» sumo car takes the curve at 20 m.p.li. not enly is most of the 25001b. of the car thrown upon the two outer tyres, mz in oriiiihon there is a centrifugal load or side thrust of about 13001b., or aforcocf G'JSlb per tyre, applied in such a way i,.. : tn lend to roll the tyro off the rim. This means that there is an extra fov-o of about 7001b. trying to destroy tho tyro at tho moment when it is bein? c-,''jed upon to support almost twico flio lrad which it carries on. the straight, anil for which it was designed. Talcing curves slowly, therefore, takes- away the most serious of the causes of rim cutting and deterioration of the side walls of the cover. The motorist who drives around corners slowly adds very considerably to the life of his tyres, and gains financially, for his tyro upkeep is reduced.

Wellington AutoniobTie Club. At a recent committee meeting of tho Welling-ton Automobile tXub, correspondence! ivas received from the City Council intimating that in response to the committee's request certain parts of the Brooklyn Hoad have been fenced, as it ivns considered dangerous to motorists. The present bad state of tho 'J'aita Uorge aud tlie l'jiekukariki Hill was discussed, and it was decided to again lodge a protest with the authorities, and to request that the latter road sliould be fenced, especially the places where accidents iiave lately occurred. It was decided

that 'tlie club should erect two direction boards iu ■\VadDstoivn. Tlio delegates appointed to represent the club at the lort'heoming annual general: ineqtiong of tho i\'ew Zealand Automobilo Union were Mr. C. H. Izard, Dr. Prendergustivuight, aud Mr. C. 11. Banks. 'J-'no question of a model set of by-laws being drinvu up for submission to tlie

meeting mid tho following subjects were discussed and left) in tho hands of the

delegates for Jiiial decision. It was decided that the club's delegates should draw tip a, model set of by-laws, and if approved by tho union tlio eaiuo to bo submitted to tho Minister of Internal 'Allah's for his sanction, with a request 'that if approved to inako them obligatory on all local authorities. Tho committee recommend thnt all drivers of motor-cars should l>o licensed and obtain a certificate of competency. It was recommended that "no speed limit bo fixed, as it lias been impossible to fix speed limits owing lo tho inability to get witnesses to agree upon Iho epecil at which a motor was travelling, but FTio committee recommend that tlio question carefully considered, with ii view ■lo limiting, if possible, tho power of local bodies to impose impossible restrictions. Tho committee recommend that all vehicles should carry a rear light which may bo eceu from a reasonable distance, as constant complaints are received by ITio secretary oftlio clnr> from.motorcar owners complaining that horse-driven vehicles are- a. grave source of danger. Tho regulations regarding motorists passing standing tramcars nnd tho use of glaring Lead-lights in lowu aud suburban districts ivero discussed, no definite decision beiupr arrived at. Tho secretary of tho club, Mr. H. J. Sfott, 12 l'amuna Street, Wellington, would bo pleased 'to havo from motor-car owners any fiiigKestion of a. general (not :i local) 'iialuro for tho benelit of motorists, in order "that tho club's delegates may consider same, and if approved bring the matter beforo thn annual meeting of tho New Zealand Automobilo Union, to bu held (his month. Hero ani/ Them. Tho use of passenger motors in Denmurk has been forbidden, blockade conditions having created Ruch n famine in petrol and-tyres that the cntiro, available nupply must be utilised for commercial purposes. India hns followed the lead of tlio Mother Country in prohibiting absolutely all imports of motor vehicles, except for Government use, during the war. Wet sparking plugs aro un annoyanco to say tho least—yet they aro cf frequent occurronco on a motor-cycle. A 'tip tbnt works out well—especially so uhe.ro theplugs aro set upright in tho cylinder— is to protect tho plug with' a donio of brass. A half of a brass ball from a decorative curtain polo end can bo bought at any house-furnishing Store, and is well adapted for tho purpose. The spun hemispheres are held ti gethor simply by friction, nnd aro cisily separated. Simply drill n small hole for the

terminal screw, and screw tl.o srell in place with the terminal nut. Tho device, besides keeping the plug free fiom the least traco of moisture, acts is a heat ■ radiator, considerably reducing tno working temperature of the plug and ailding to its life. Profits in tho American motDi , iMlustry aro ono of the outstanding features of tho prevailing prosperity. The total dividend distribution by tho leading concerns in this industry during the yast calendar year reached approximately .£15,000,-

000. A South African paper is responsible for a story of an American, pastor who, upon leaving his church, mounted one of the Ford cars standing outside and started for home, <to find aftor proceeding somo distance that a strange lady occupied the rear seat. An. examination of the name-plate showed that he hntl taken the wrong car, and inadvertently eloped with a lady. The story concludes by saying that he had a difficulty in convincing some- of his flock that his action was due to a fit of absent-minded-ness. Obviously, there is one disadvantage, at nnv rate, in a standardised type of car body. Ligh ting-up time: To-day, 4.38 pm. Next Friday, 4.41 p.m.