MOTORS & MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 304, 17 September 1920, Page 2

MOTORS & MOTORING

I . (By "Clutch")

The South Island Union. The formation of the South Island Motor Union was discussed at the la*fc ' meeting of tho executive of the New Zealand Autoinobulo Union, and it was decided, to ..forward, the following 'letter to the secretary of the new southsn body.- "Your letter of June 11, addressed to the president of this union,-was read to tho annual meeting of the union nnd referred to tho executive committee for consideration and action. My executive, having in mind the present vital necessity for • unity amongst motorists, cannot out regret the formation of your union as tending to divide motorists'and so. prejudice successful • effort by creating an impression of disunion, This union has to follow the policy laid down by its affiliated associations, and is always ready to consider all matters of joint interest to motorist l ! which niny bo submitted to it—Yours faithfully (Signed) -W. Beaucbnmp-Platts, Secretary." .....■•, Affiliation with R.A.C. The ltoyal Automobile Club has agreed to the affiliation of tho Now* Zealand Automobile Union. Correspondence on this matter has been referred to' iho president of tho New Zealand Union (Dr. C. Prendergast Knight) and tho secretary (Mr. W. Beauchamp-Platte) .as a 6ub-committue to report to tho next meeting of the unilon, and to prepare tho agreement of affiliation for execution. Canterbury Automobilo Association.' ': The Canterbury Automobilo Assoela--tion has intimated to the New' Zealand. Automobile Union that it has unaiu'imously decided to adhere to'its previous decision to cease membership of : the union. A New Cycle-car, , The almost prohibitive prico of petrol .in Europe is reflected in tho numerous attempts at light cars. Indeed, hardly * a week goes by but that another' dozen diilerent types .of petrol-driven vehicles are introduced in Great Britain, Prance, Belgium, and Germany, designed to carry passengers and cargo a maximum .distance with a minimum fnol consumption. Tho old; cycle-car idea is again to the fore, and the light car or cycle-car has now a 'definite and no doubt practical application. One of the latest European light cars to attract attention is a fierman creation.' This is nothing mora than an' overgrown motor-cycle, with a twin-cylinder engino driving tho rear wheel through a belt. A body with two seats is added to camouflage the usual motor-cyclo construction and to give one the sense of security that goes with the automobile. Two auxiliary wheels, raised and lowered by a lever, serve to steady _ the vehiclo when it slows down and comes to_ rest. Obviously, theso wheels are raised when the vehicle is under way. To Repair Radiator. In case of a leak in a honeycomb radiator, get a bolt longer than, the depth of the radiator, and fine enough to go through- tho hole' in the honeycomb. Put it where the leak is, place a rubber-washor on each end," and a steel-washer over these, and tighten the nut on the bolt tight enough to stop tho leak. Belts on Motor Cycles. Should belts always run in one direction? This question is. of considerable interest to iuany motor cyclists. It lias been debated on numerous occasions by motor cyclists and .belt makers, and perhaps a few independent remarks by one who has many years of- experience with belts on motor cycles under all'conditions of running may hot be without some interest. At regards the question relating to direction of running, opinions . may well differ, for whilst with one maka of pelt it appears to matter nothing how frequently reversal takes, place, with another such, action at once leads lo adverse results. The motor cyclist referred to has always made it a practice of ■running the!belt, the Ktijje .way round from ..the start, but has on nio're -than one. occasion':, had to. reverse .tho belt after .running a comparatively short' distance as a-moans of preventing it from • turning on its side. A new belt was fitted on the pulleys of a 31-h.p. machine, and after covering a matter of 8 or 10 miles, it was noticed to have turned on its side. Replaced the samo way round, it did the same thing a few miles further on. Then the experiment' was tried of ■ reversing tho belt, i.e., turning it end for end,-and this■:cured the trouble at once.. So long as tho belt was kept on the pulleys with the maker's name readins "outwards" it ran all right, but if turned to read "inwards" the turning over troublo 'recurred after "covering' a few miles. Nowadays/ should anything of tho kind arise, tho motor' cyclist immediately and without-, any hesitation' reverses the belt to run the opposito way, and eo far it has.provided a positive euro on each' occasion. Tho tendency for overturning in. the pulleys has been put down to distortion of the core of the. belt, which may be corrected if, tho pull comes in one direction as against the other.. There may be other causes, such as a eliglit deviation from the correct angle on one side only, either in.tho belt or the pulleys or both, but it is not easy to determine tho cause where the effect is of tho. kind referred to. Car Prices as High as Ever. There are some indications of a slump in certain sections of tho motor trade, although/ unfortunately from the point of view ct the private nser, the slump an present gives no indication of leading to a fall .in price of the most popular types of cars. It is (says an English writer) being evidenced iirst in tho direc tion that everyone would expect—namely, a decline in the prince commanded by the highest powered cars, witlh only ono or two exceptions, in tho second-hand market. Doubtless' increased car taxation has something to do with this.- On' the other hand, 6iuall ears are sJlll as expensive as ever whether new or secondhand, and tho continual increase in tho prico of now stuff is just as real in the case of the big cars as in that of tha small ones. Moreover, deliveries of complete cars nro but very, slowly improving, and .flic situation 6eems to be even worso with the majority of Continental makers than it is with most British linns. Ono Continental car that in pre-war days was generally regarded us the fasSbst car of its' type on the road has been entirely redesigned for its post-war form and has • undergone enormous increase in price. In spito of this purchasers are , tumbling over themselves in their anxiety. to (fee hold of. a model. The Closed Car. Luxurious closed cars, especially tho sedan and coupe, were features of tho New York automobile show. Aluminium, bodies, custom des : gncd, effect a material saving in car weight and add much to car performance and operating economy. Tho overall hci'ght of some of tho sedan and the coupe models is uncommonly low, duo to tho' adoption of tho new* method of body mountling. and the body lines are straight nnd unbroken, with •graceful curves to relievo even the slightest suggestion of severity. A high, narrow radiator, duplex headlamps of distinctive design, ft tapering bonnet! of many louvre?, a' patent leather visor .over the windshield, individual front fenders, and wide, sharp-cornered doors arc some of tho many salient style features of the IC2O sedan and coupo models. These" .closed models have many interior appointments in common. .These conveniences includo a clock on the dash, roll curtains of silk, automatic-ally-locking; mechanical' lifts for window adjusmieiit, exhaust heater, large octagonal dome light, and door pockets of silk covered wSth large flaps. In some of tho se<lnns, tho auxiliary'chairs, facing forward, arp dropped out of sight in Hie back of tho front seat when lot in •use. and corner lights are provided for additional illuminnlVon of the rear compartment. A walnut vanity caso and smoking Set are also included in tho equipment items. Lighting-lip time: To-day, ,5.12 p.m. Next Friday, 5.49 p.m.