MOTORS & MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 25, 24 October 1919, Page 2

MOTORS & MOTORING

(By "Clutch.") Wellington Automobile Club. Tho annual report <if the Wellington Automobile Club {or the past year states Hint the receipts for tho period totalled .W'tli Us. 5(1. The surplus of income over Expenditure w;u £X) 7s. lid. A Subcommittee was set; up to deal with tho matter ot' increased membership, as it was absolutely necessary that motorists in the district should support the work proposed to be carried out by the club, and it was hoped that every member would endeavour to have the membership of the club augmented. The subject of good roads and road construction was being given a great deal of attention, licalising the importance of a new road to Paekakariki, a plan of a proposed -road via Pukerua was printed. The proposed new road would avoid tho-present laborious and dangerous route over the hill. Tho differciuie was about four miles less, and the difference in height was no less than 570 ft.> The plan had been circulated .to nil interested. public bodies in tho North Island, most of whom had exurcsscd sympathy with the object. At a recent deputation received by the Prime Minister, at which the club war' represented, it was agreed that the proposition was very necessary, but the Minister of Public Works hail stated that until tho railway'deviation at Paekakariki wao made the Government . would not be prepared to move in the matter of a new road. It was important that motorists should realise that, in order to gain better condtiions in this respect, progressive representatives must be re turned to Parliament and local bodies. "Your committee has pleasure in stating ihal I heir relations with (he Wellington City Council and various local councilb continue to be on the best, of terms, and your committee is indebted to them for carrying out a reasonable numbtr of suggested improvements in t|io interests of motorist?," continues the report. "lour committee lias constantly urged the desirability of the completion of the "Upper road, and the Minister of Public Works assured a deputation from the club, and other interested persons that tne .work would be completed without delay." The matter of dazzling headlights lind been given considerable attention, but ud to the present it hnd not been possible to arrive at any definite conclusion to obviate the trouble. Regarding taxation, the committee-was in favour of k. tax on tyres, and that method had also been approved by the New Zealand Automobile Union. ■ The committee ' regretted that during the year the president, Mr. C. H. Iwrd, was compelled to resign office owing to a family bereavement necessitating his / vjeiting England. Dr. Prendcrgast Knight was elected to (ill the office. . Die committee had vigorously pressed for legislation to deal with the "joy rider." the result being a promise that a Mill would bo brought down to protect the- motor-ear owner as soon as the' Government could find an opportunity. The committee desired to express its appreciation to those members of the club who were also members of the Voluntarv llofor Corps, and who had turned out to carry returned soldiers from ship or tram to their destination. The work dono in that connection had been extremelv heavy' at times, and a great tax on a busv man's time. Large numbers of soldiers and next-of-kin had been carried bv those voluntary workers, and the V.M.C. was to be congratulated on the patriotic services they had rendered. British Automobile Association's Work, The greatest advantage of membership in the Automobile Association in Great Brita.i.n . is undoubtedly the right of every member to the service of the A.A. pntrols,' who ' are'' distributed along all tho principal main roads of the Kingdom, and on certain bv-roads much frequented by motorists. The A.A. patrols are especially equipped to give flic most efficient road service to members, and during the touring season it is almost impossible for motorists to take an important road winch is not patrolled by the A.A. scouts, who are in khaki-coloured ..uniform. Thev. are nil competent to undertake .'minor roadside adjustments, to change tyres, detachable rims, or wheels,' etc., and in'the. event of tyres, ignition plugs, motor-cycle belts, or other accessories being required, they will quickly procure ,tho necessary replacements from the nearest garage. The patrols are also fully., qualified to use "first aid" wallets, and in the event of personal injury will, do what is necessary whilst medical assistance, if such be called for, is being obtained. The most valuable adjunct to the patrol service of the Automobile Association is the system of telephones installed by the roadside. These telephones are chiefly located at cross-roads, sharp corners, and other dangerous points where motorists can best be served by patrols orrwhnt is called "fixed point duty."" Telephones ran be used by members for all purposes, and are particularly useful to motorists who desire to remain in touch with home during journeys. If a member's route is known, the number of'his car can be telephoned to selected sentryboxes, where it will be identified mid stopped by the patrol, and the member can communicate with his homo or business address. Cases have occurred where members have been recalled by these roadside telephone!/ very much quicker tlinn thev could have been reached bv ordinary facilities. Application of Alloys. The closer investigation made since 1911 of the nature and properties of light ailovs and the scope of their application warrants the hope, says the "Auto Cur" (England) Jhat car manufacturers will henceforth be less conservative in experimenting in such alloys than hitherto. Except as regards the use of alloy pistons which, have some little 'progress, but. hnvo not materially nd'ectcd tho general uso ■ of the cast-iron piston, aluminium alloys have found very little application. The use of aluminium for gearboxes, crank-cases, and a few minor parts need not bo taken into account in considering this question, as this' has been the universal practice for many years. Tho important point in this Question is that of effecting a considerable reduction in the weight of the average touring car as it is to-day. The advantages that would bo obtained by lightening a car without loss of strength are too well known to need reiteration. It. is possible to conceive a time not vcty far distant- when, instead of steel and cast-iron being the preponderating materials in a motor-car, they will only used in comparatively minor quanti- ' tie's for such parts as gear-wheels, flywheels, ball bearings, springs, etc. Inefficient Silencers, It. is, rather remarkable, states a motor exchange, that tho silencer, of all parts of motor vehicle construction, seems to have -received less consideration from the manufacturer and. designer than other parts, which apparently appear to bo of uioio importance. But tkcr.o is no doubt that a great deal of car inefficiency is duo to inefficient silencers. If a silencer impresses a considerable back pressure on tho outflowing has the effect of interfering with the scavenging of the -cylinders on tho exhaust stroke. This will result in over-heating, as well as back pressure, and both will loud to very considerably reduce, tho power given off. Xot only this, but ineliicienl scavenging is a direct cause of carbonising in the cylinder head and on tho pistons, and for that reason alone it. is advisable to get as large as possible an outlet for the exhaust gases. Liflht-weiijlit Motor-cycles, Those firms who confine their programmes to the manufacture of .lightweight motor-cycles alone arc, snys an English writer, experiencing an unprecedented demand for machines at the present time, and if u were possible to compare, Hie number of orders placed for all classes ol motor-cycles, it is jnoro than likely the light-weight would predominate. A factor in the-situation is no doubt the lower initial cost of tho medium powered, and especially I he singiegcarcd, machine, although this approximates to, Nind in many cases exceeds, that of the 31-h.p. standard of the prewar period. Then, again, purchasers look to the cost of running their machines when they gel them, nncl tho lower petrol, consumption; longer -lifo of tvrns, and greater economy generally of the light-weights weigh in favour of tho latter to a considerable extent. Not that the more powerful and higher-priced •

models are not in demand, the position being in many factories that orders for delivery this year have, ceased to bo accepted for the reason that in present circumstances it would be impossible to execute them before the end of 1919. The light-weight firms, including those who market heavy-weight machines us well, are equnlly'stressed with work,'and it is often the lightest and cheapest machines that form the bulk of the trade. Tho popularity of the light-weight'is-al-ready established, and the conditions now prevailing appear likely to accentuate rather than diminish this. Origin of tho Side-car The interesting question has recently been raised in France as to who wns the original inventor of ithtt side-car now so largely used, of course in. a highly-de-veloped form, in connection with motorcvcles. While there is no doubt that tho clnim will be contested, it is not surprising to see it advanced that the sidecar is a French idea. Writing in'tho "Ato." of Paris, M. Pierre Giffa.rd claims that, the side-car was first fitted to a bicycle 1111893 by Adjutant Armurier Berloux. the device carrying oil' the prize offered in the year mentioned by a French newspaper for the best means of carrying a companion on a bicycle. ' Oddments, The annual report of the Wairarapa Automobile Association states that the position revealed is a very satisfactory one, viewed from the standpoint of finance, ,£153 ss. 4<l. standing to credit .apart from the cash balance. The membership has' Steadily increased during the past, year, notwithstanding the fact that several members have passed away, the epidemic of last November being principally responsible for the toll upon the ranks, 'fine cqnnuitteo express 'sympathy with the relatives of Major Hugh M'Kinnon (who fell whilst serving his country during the closing days of the great war), Dr, William Bev, Messrs. Alfred Bootih. senr.. H. R. Bunnr, N. Beetham, J. E. Huntley, C. E. Madden, R. I). Morrison, and N. M'Laren. The Riniutaka telephone is proving a very useful, facility, irstnlled at the residence of Mr. W. Davidson, and the expenditure involved., is outweighed by' the advantage gained. The association's efforts have been restricted during the war period,' owing to Hie difficulties in securing supplies, but recently recmirements in the Kajparoro district, also on the Bideford Road, received attention, whilst the Lansdowne corner has rlsn been attended to.', There are now 12S cars, th» property nf 112 nolicy-holders, covered in the Mutual Insurance Company, for a total of .£23,735'. an increase of *f'275A during hSc year. Losres totalling X2OO Bs. .were sustained. The balance, of assets over liabilities pl-cws a substantial inerense.

An Amcreun consular report gives some particulars as to the position in Germany at the present 1 moment. Prior to the war. Germany had probably 6omo 7000 to 8000 trucks in use. Most of. those were taken over by the Army when war broke out! and during the war only about 2COO to '3000 vehicles assigned to the home forces were available, partly fur public and partly for private use. The number of Army trucks ae'unlly existim.' was much sniallcV than wns geneiallv anticipated, and the forced surrender of aiJOO trucks lo the Allies under the. armistice terms makes it quite certain ilia I there will be a shortage for a long time. A three-ton truck, which wns sold for JJBCO before the war; costs in Germany to-day not less thnu JilaOO, with tvros of iron and wood."> Such a car is ;-.old by the Feldag (an organisation of Geruu'ii motor-car manufacturers) after a thorough • overhauling, for lroin .tfiOII to ±700. When second-hand cars realise such prices, it is not surprising that private firms find it difficult to purchase trucks at a reasonable figure.

In Europe the tendency isall towards detachable wheels as distinct from detachable rims. The. argument is. advanced that w'ith the system of detachable" wheels; a complete' wheel is v always available in case, ot wheel breakage, whereas, under the American system of detachable rims, if a wheel breaks.the ear is held up until another wheel can be procured.. The Michelin Company inteiul to introduce their wheels on to the American market, and It is anticipated .'hat tliev will be widely adopted there. All Michelin wheels are interchangeable. This simplifies the position of the dealer, who ha.N only to keep in stock wheels of ::iven sizes without any thought as to the ca? on.which Vhev have to be fitted. • , . v

One of the chief causes of the recent increase- in prices of ■motor-cycles (says the "English Motor Cycle") is the decision of the Government to.continne'the national awards .which were'granted as a war lncnsnre, and which';" it 'was understood, would be removed after the war. These awards, as if well known, amount approximately to 255. per week per man, and overv manufactured article or piece of material which enters the motor-cycle factories has ;to carry these ; national awards in every factory through which it passes. '.'■'■'■ Lighting-up time:—To-day, ' 6.21 p.m. Next Fridav, C.29 n.m.