MOTORS & MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 210, 30 May 1919, Page 9

MOTORS & MOTORING

(By Clutch.) Organisation iin Britain. According to British motor journals there is a great Awakening among car owners and drivers throughout tlio kingdom; they purpose forming democratic institutions and becoming militant motorists, by which they mean to "get things done." -But tho several projected associations, all aiming to do for motorists what tho old-fashioned bodies have failed to do in tho past, have practically been fused into one organisation to l.io known as the British Motor League. It will seek representation and protection of motorists and the advancement ' or automobilism. It will organise a. campaign for improving conditions for motor, ists, including adequnto supplies of good and cheap motor fuel. It is intended to make the fullest use of tho power of numbers, to boycott where motoring interests aro assailed, and to proscribe all trading places which act unfairly to users of tho car. the promoters of the inqv'eraent'-point to what tho motorists already have done in France, where there is a newly-formed body on Hues similar to thoso proposed in England. Tho British Motor League proposes to bring pressure,to bear to* .obtain modifications of tho harsher sections of tho Motor-car Act, and will watch carefully the admimstrations of all laws pertaining to motor vehicles and take action to securo their just and proper application. Tho leaguo will endeavour, by its equitable advocacy of common justice for the motorists, to gairi tho sympathy and support of tho public' Press and to attain objects hitherto out of tho reach of- any existing motoring, organisation. Proposed! Motor Sports. An official of the Elthnm Athletic and Sports-Club writes:that .it ia hoped to organise races and reliability trials for oars and motorcycles as an annual event in Taranaki. "It is suggested," ho adds, "that about December or January next sports of this description should bo held on tho road around Mount Eginont, which is about the best in Now Zealand. From Eltham to Opunake the distance is 25 miles, Opunake to New Plymouth 40 miles, and from there to Eltham 35 miles, making in all 100 miles. The road is nearly all asphalted, with just onough hills to make things interesting. As road trials have never yet been held on a large.6cale.in New, Zealand, an event of this .sort is expected to attract quite i\ large amount of interest in the world of. motors.- There -'may bo a littlo difficulty; in getting the necessary authority from tho local bodies, but if safeguards were taken to keep tho road clear, by appointing men on motor-cycles to patrol different lengths of it, it should be fairly safe. Another way would bo for the cars to easß up on passing through the various small towns." Here and Tljere. The truck drivers with, the armies in tho fighting zone, (says an American writer) liavo.demonstrated-what can be dono with a littlo fence wire and some ingenuity;; Fence wire under the emergencies of- war has been used for towing rope, ■ for wrapping around the channel' of; a rim'to protect it .while tho truck was coming in.on its rim; it has been wound around the leaves of'a broken spring'and.raade to tako the place of a broken, bolt.- The inference,' of course, is that motorists would be: wise to carry a longth of, fencing wire .with them when on tour, not .that they should raid a roadside fence in the quest for emergency repair material.; Whetf'two 6f-the wires of the lighting or starting systems are producing a short circuit, an inevitable accompaniment of the condition is heat. By feeling carefully along the line the operator can 'usually detect the presence of a short oircuit by. the-heat -that is being generated..:.:.:,, j,',- .• . . " vOn .motor trucks ■ equipped with electric starters operators sometimes try the experiment of .changing thoiy storage batteries so as to have nine volts instead of six.-This -is a-mistake, as the motor will not,stand up finder a higher voltage than th* one it was-.ihtended for.;

Wet rubber cuts much easier than dry rubber.' For this' reason fast'travel over Tough road surfaces, particularly broken stones, will bo very destructive to tha tyros when they are vet. This is especially true as.regards solids on a heavy truck. In removing valve stem guides which are driven out from the top be sure to use either.-a block of hard wood, or a similar piece of soft metal. If a tempered metal instrument is used in this operation, the guido will probably bo hopelessly injured. _ In'the vacuum tank when it is neces. sary .for aivy reason to dismantle the device the head, may bo taken off by removing the screws around the edge of tho cover. There'is a gasket placed between the head and the body, amHhe utmost care must bo taken in handling, because if the gasket is not absolutely tight leakage will result, and the operation of the. system will, bo impaired. Don't expect, an expert pleads, to flour.in gas, oil, and water and yet retain a perfect running car. Give a little care and study to.it. Answer to Correspondent—Eltham A. and S. Club: The address you ask for is "Sussex. Chambers, Panama Street, Wellington." Lighting-up. time: To-day, 4.32 p.m. j next Friday, 4.29 p.m.