MOTORS AND MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 27, 26 October 1918, Page 13

MOTORS AND MOTORING

(By "Clutch.")'

Wellington Automobile Club. At the annual genta-nl meeting of tho Wellington, Automobile Club the election of officors resulted as under:—President, Hon. C. H. Izard, Jt.L.C; vicetpresidenls. Dr. l'reridergast Knight and Mr. C; M. Banks; committee, Messrs. H. W. Lloyd, AV. Mantell, S. G. Nathan, L. Partridge, W. Pryor, C. Sherwood, J. J. Williamson; auditor, Mr. W. S. Wlieolcr, F.P.A.N.Z.; secretary and treasurer, Mr. ll.' J. Stott. The following new members fee elected: E. N. Cathie, P. W. Man-, ton, A. Hamilton, E. Jackson, It. Hall, A. J. Patterson, A." Watenvorth, E. W. Acklaud, W. E. Patrick, H. D. Bennett, H. Brown, H. C. Hunter, B. W. Wills, Mrs. P. Davidson. Dr. Paulke's resignation was accepted with regret. It was suggested that the' school danger boards lately ,erectcd at. Petone should be placed in a more suitable position, further away from tho •schools, in order to warn approaching motorists. The secretary was .directed .to send a protest to the Hutt County Council pointing out that soveral bridges marked unsafe-for traffic'had become a'public nuisance, The committee deprecates the practico of marking such bridges unsafe, as tliey should bo put in a safe condition, especially on- the- maiir arterial- roads. It was arranged . that, a deputation from, the cpmmitteo should interview the 1 city engineer' with, regard.,to the', bad condition of roads in the city'and recent-ly-taken-over roads from' the Onslow Borough. The committee pointed out to motorists the -unpleasant results', of cars being driven through pools of-water on a wet day, thereby splashing both pedestriansand motorists. Aii Attractive Forecast, • It is. always difficult to-forecast, says "Motor Cycling," but we should say that probably the. largest number of motor-cyclists in future will be owners of fairly simple lightweights, ' costing, say, .£3O. For this type of machine we should suggest at 2-J h.p. two-stroko engine; a two-speed gear, spring forks, and a fairly simple equipment, Tho machine must be essentially.a solo mount, light iii'weight and'practically no more difficult to handle than an ordinary bicycle. >Given such a machine produced in large quantities, we think it could be safely predicted that' the. accession to the ranks of: motor-cyclists, would be on an unprecedented scale.- It will bo -reuiem-' bered that the-typo of maohine that we ara now' is what hns been termed . "motorcycle'tte." This typo sprang into existence, and .was becoming very popular, the year before tho war, and was obviously bringing to the pastime many new devotees. Therp must be many a cyclist who, from increasing years or a desire to taste tho joys ot the mechanically-propelled vehicle with its wider range and absence of fatigue, will look to motor power to-provide recreation after the war. If a machine sufficiently light in weight, very economical to run and scarcely more difficult to : handle than ,a bicycle-were placed bofore them it. is obvious that.it would, meet with considerable popularity. Saving, Petrol. .

A good many light cars are provided with an unnecessarily large hole in the filler cap for; the purpose of an air release. Sometimes,, when the tank i 6 full, even liquid petroi works out at this point, but at all times vapour is liable to escape. With present-day petrol, which is a mixture of light and heavier elements, it is particularly, desirable' to reduce the leakage, for it means that the nioro volatile spirit is evaporating and leaving 'the heavier ; behind, ■ especially when the car is left standing in the sun and the dash allowed to get hot. Tho proper arrangement would no doubt bo a ball valve opening only, to admit air to the tank, but a simpler device is: to solder a small .twist-top bicycle lubricator over the vent hole. This obviates all risk of liquid escaping, and when leaving the car a habit can be made of closing: the top. at the same.time' that,tho switch is turned off, thus preventing.tho escape of. vapour.—"light- Car."

Here and There.. ' American automobile engineers nro; considerably interested at present in chemical docarbonising. A now method, which, if done periodically, is said to keep, the cylinders free of carbon, consists, of feeding a little of the. decarboniser into tho air inlet so that it is drawn into..the cylinders with the. mixture as the engine is running. _ _ . When an engine or gearbox. is .being taken out of .the frame.it is important to keep a look-out for any packing in tho form- <of thin strips of- metal- 'which may be found under tho bearer arms, -holding-down clips, etc. This will of course, havo been purposely, inserted by the' makers during assembly, and should on no account be altered unless it is intended to go through the lining-

up process again. . . .. . * Brass fittings that have been neglected for a considerable time mnyibe cleaned in the: following .manner:—Dip in- strong nitric acid for about three seconds, immerse in' water, and got rid of all the acid, then dry in sawdust. Under, the heading, "Anything in This Idea?" thb following paragraph appears in' ."The Motor":—"A correspondent holds opinion that if only certain fixed prejudices could be overcome'on iho part of manufacturers and the buying public .an efficient small car could lie designed on.: the.. lines ■. of rock-bottom. simplicity • and to sell at £W or probably less. The ■ basis of tho production would necessarily' M ah air-cooled twcncylinder two-stroke engine and friction transmission. It would bo lighter ihan theFord and cost not much more in upkeep than a motor-cycle and side-car. So many hoary old prejudices have been ruthlessly scrapped during' the last four years, and nobody much tho worse, that ;our correspondent suggests that some enterprising .manufacturer'wlio might take .up tho general idea might well scoie a big hit.; 3

Ligliting-up time-.—To-day, 6.22 p.m. :Next Friday,' 6,31 p.m.