MOTORING & MOTORISTS

Evening Star, Issue 19801, 27 February 1928, Page 12

MOTORING & MOTORISTS

[BY RADIATOR.]

TIME FOR LIGHTING UP. To-day 8.81 • Tuesday 8.29 Wednesday 8.20 Thursday ... 8.28 Friday ... 8,2(1 Saturday 8.25 Sunday 8.2-‘i

FIXTURES. February 28.—Motor cycle run. March B.—Southland beach races. March 7.—Motor cycle pillion run. March 17.—Waikouaiti beach races. April (i, 7,8, ami 9.—Motor cycle tour. April 28.—Motor cycle paper chase. SOUTH CANTER HURT. March 18.—Club run. March pi.—Hill climb. April 6 1 9 Easter tour. April 22.—Club run. PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED. General Motors ‘ Life ’ for February and the 1 Radiator ’ for February. TEACHING TRAFFIC RULES. An examination table for the purpose of teaching motorists applying for driving licenses how to drive a car has been recently devised by the license department of the Automobile Club of .Southern California, in conjunction with the State Motor Vehicle Department, and has been favorably commented upon. This table shows main streets and cross streets, pedestrian crossings, tramcar tracks, boulevard .'.tops, and traffic buttons, just as these are seen in the streets of the city. The applicant for an automobile license is obliged, under the laws, to demonstrate to the examiners seated at this table his or her ability to operate an automobile in a safe and sane manner. Miniature automobiles are placed in the streets of this table, and the examinee takes the machine in hand as the questions are put, and shows how ho or she would act along the streets and at the intersections, whether in the course of regular traffic or if some emergency arose which necessitated quick thinking and immediate action. In this way the applicant’s knowledge and capacity for meeting unexpected situations are tested from a practical standpoint. What would you do if you saw a car approaching from the right or tho left at such or such an intersection with your oar in such or such a position? Questions like these, if merely put and answered orally, are not nearly as conclusive or satisfactory as placing the two ca*s in position, indicating to tho applicant which car he is supposed to be driving, and then asking him to illustrate by moving bis car just what he would do in an emergency. Li ho figuring out a mathematical problem on a blackboard, ibis method is an excellent test of the fitness of a man or woman to drive an automobile from tho view point of their knowledge of the laws and ordinances, and is also a test of their ability to think and ac* promptly in case of unusual situations.

RAPID TYRE DEFLATOR. Releasing the air from tyre tubes fitted with spring plunger valves of the Schrader type usually takes the form of holding down the plunger with the finger nail or removing the valve insido —both tiresome jobs. A useful little tool, which may be made from an ordinary Schrader valve cap, will obviate_ this nuisance and make tyre deflation easy. To make this device, first remove the rubberwasher which you will find inside the cap, then drill a hole from inside through the top of the cap to take a piece of l-16iu wire. Insert the wire, which should protrude centrally halfway down the threads in the cap; cut off flush with the top of the cap, and solder. Care should be taken that the wire is central inside the cap when soldering. Four small holes should now be drilled through the rounded part of the cap to allow the air to escape when the cap is screwed on to the ’ r alre.

THE SILENCER,

_ The silencer, or muffler ns it is sometimes called, is one of the important details of a car, which is often neglected by the owner-drive*. It is out of the way and awkward to get at, and any adjustment to ir, is generally a very dirty and uncomfortable job. Nevertheless, the owner who would keep his car in the best running condition should periodically give some little attention to this much-neglected unit of the motor mechanism. The silencer has for its object the-re-ducing of the impact of the outflowing gases on the air. It is this impact which causes the noise which is so ob jctionable a feature in some cars—especially in the case of sports cars, which are often great sinners in regard to the amount of exhaust noise which they allow to be set up. It is unnecessary to tell the motorist of experience that a good healthy “back” in the exhaust is not a measure of the engine efficiency. There are enough silent cars' of fine performance on the road to discredit the opinion expressed by some people that an efficient exhaust silencer detracts from efficiency—power and speed—of the car to which it is fitted. Troubles with silencers are various, as are the troubles with other departments of the collection of mechanism which goes to make up the whole of the modern car. When the owner finds his car becoming more silent than usual, he may also find that his power is falling off slightly, and he may be getting overheating of the engine. This is an almost certain indication that the silencer has become partially obstructed by an accumulation of carbon deposit. This state of affairs generally arises from over-lubrication or the use of a mixture too rich, or it may be occasioned bv too much driving on low gear, and is more frequent in the ease of cars used in hilly districts and winding' narrow hilly roads. The silencer should occasionally be taken down and cleaned out. When this is done it should be done thoroughly, even to the taking down of the exhaust pipe and manifold of the engine.

VAMPING ACROSS COUNTRY

Tramping across country is out of date in America.

Now they’re ramping across counter.

Girls, of course, classified by the police as "wanderlust flappers,” most of them are young women making from nil points of the compass for Hollywood and fame.

Too poor to pay their train fares, they are not too proud to beg a lift from passing cars. Chief assets arc a bright but p-'teous smile, a story of a care which broke down, and a handbag containing spare stockings and a complete beauty outfit, fit.

Armed with those girl hoboes vamp their way from car to car for thousands of miles.

Brief accounts of holiday trips, roads, and places of interest are invited lor this column.

THE FIRST 500 MILES. Speaking before a number of engineers in America recently. Dr R. E. Wilson, of the Standard Oil Co., gave it as his opinion that the instructions usually given to the owner of a new car to drive it at only twenty miles per hour or so for tho first 500 miles arc entirely wrong. He stated that at this low speed the bearings are always completely separated from the journals by thick oil films, so that tho surfaces undergo no rumiing-in or smoothing effect; consequently, according to Dr Wilson, the owner wiio proceeds to run his car “all out” at the completion of 500 miles covered at low speeds is just as likely to cause hearing seizure as if he had run all out at the start. Dr Wilson’s advice is that the owner of a new car should indulge in short hursts of full-throttle high-speed running, not long enough to cause risk of seizure, so as to load tho bearings temporarily to smooth the surfaces. He also expressed the opinion that the running-in period should no longer be left to tho owner’s responsibility in any but low-priced cars. The short periods of high-speed running advocated have also the advantages of flinging copious supplies of oil up on to tho cylinder walls, so assisting piston lubrication. A FORECAST OP DESIGN. Tho opinion is being freely expressed that all cars and trucks in tho future will have six wheels, tho front wheels being driven, and in some cases all six being copied to tho motor. Experience with six-wheel trucks indicates that no serious complications are created, and the advantages are so many, particularly on bad or wet roads, that for large ears the change to six wheels appears to be an early development of tho touring car. FREE-WHEEL DEVICES. It is quite probable that within a few years tho majority of the new cars will have free-wheel devices, and that intime tlio fitting will bo general. If only for the simplification which it brings in gear changing for tho inexpert it is bound to come, for as motoring grows more popular there will be more people driving who have not tho mechanical sense. Women in particular will welcome the froe-whilo drive; and on heavy motors of the goods and hackney types an effective and reliable free-wheel will save that crashing and smashing of gears which one so often hears.

Brakes will need greater attention than ever, and the free-wheel devices must bo well made to stand up to the hard work which will be imposed upon them. Ample time must bo given to manufacturers to get them durable and foolproof.

NO EXTRAVAGANCE. We hear a great deal about the extravagance of running a car, mostly from people who have had no experience in the matter (says a motor writer). There is no extravagance in running a car except in isolated instances. Economy is an appropriate terra to use in connection with motoring, for the pastime is an economy itself. A family in their inexpensive car travelling to the seaside for the week-end or for the annual holiday are well in pocket. In addition to saving on the railway fares also save tram and taxicab fares, for the car takes them from their doorstep to their destination. It is the family car extensively used that provides the most economical form of motoring. The comparative cheapness of motoring today is a miracle of industry. No other product can show such a decline in price since the war, and entering upon 1928 the curve is still descending. If we take into account modern car equipment, cars are really a third below prewar prices. While motoring is really cheap it can be made even more economical by the expenditure of care on the part or the owner-drivers. Strict attention to proper lubrication is one of the most paying duties that the owner can perform, for it ensures far longer life for the car.

PROGRESS IN DESIGN. As the automobile has gradually evolved great progress has been made in the design of various components. For example, the modern power unit is vastly superior to those of a decado ago, while it is provided with a trouble-free ignition system, employing either a magneto or a coil, which makes it difficult to realise that the early cars had to rely on tube ignition. Electric lighting and starting systems were not thought of on early cars, but to-day they, are universally fitted, ami seldom giro trouble unless grossly neglected. In the same way the somewhat haphazard braking arrangements of the early cars have gradually been evolved into the highly efficient four-wheel brake systems standardised on modern cars, but in the matter of springing, while progress has undoubtedly been made, it has been relatively slow. Suspension systems to-day are undoubtedly far from perfect, ami to realise this one has only to consider the many different types of shock- absorber and other devices for increasing comfort which exist. Considerable attention is_ now, however, being paid to the springing problem. There is considerable agreement amongst automobile engineers concerning the advantages offered by suspension systems which allow each wheel to move independently _ of the others, and several such designs are actually in production. In principle independent springing is undoubtedly correct, and the reason why earlier designs have been dropped is usually found to be concerned with the question of manufacture. It will be interesting to watch the progress in the new design of this very important component of the automobile. ASSEMBLED AMERICAN CARS. The United States Department of Commerce has recently announced that the rapidly increasing volume of American foreign automobile assemblies is playing a most important part in American foreign trade. _ In July there were twenty-five foreign branches of American automobile companies in fujl operation, an increase of fifteen since 1924. American car assembly sales during the first six months of this year reached their maximum in Australia with 22,025 units, as compared with ■5,985 in the same period last year.

DIESEL CAR ENGINES, AN AUSTRALIAN INVENTION. In view of the possibilities of Diesel and semi-Diesel engines for motor vehicles, some particulars from the ‘ Chamber of Commerce Journal ’ (London) of a new high-speed oil engine invented by Mr W. G. Grayson, an Australian engineer, are of interest. The engine is claimed to have a capacity to run at one-ninth the cost of an ordinary petrol engine, a high thermal efficiency, a capacity to maintain economy and thermal efficiency at partial loads, an ability to work successfully on almost any liquid hydro-carbon fuel, and the certainty that it will consume all the fuel.

Jt has no magneto or other ignition system, no carburettor, no gearbox, and reversing by the pressure of a small lever, lacks the usual engine troubles, and is absolutely flexible. The invention shortly will be tried out in test chassis, and if successful should have a remarkable future. •RULES FOR DIVERS, arm protruding from the car ahead means that the driver is;— 1. Knocking ashes off a cigarette, 2. Going to turn to the left. .1 Telling a small boy to shut up, he won’t buy red pop. 4. Going to turn to the right, 5. Pointing out a scenic spot. C. Going to back up, 7. Feeling for rain. 8. Telling his wife, hell, yes, he’s sure the kitchen door is locked, 0. Saluting a passing motorist or going to stop. ‘Life’ (America). A NOVEL RACE. Gold, silver, and bronze medals were the trophies hung up by the Chicago Automobile Trade Association as prizes for the winners of the annual Pushmobilo Races held by the Chicago Board of Education Playground Department in Grant Park recently. The pushmobiles were miniature automobiles built by boys from fourteen playground districts, each ear being operated by a team of live—a driver and four “ engines.” Fifty-three entrants raced over the course, and during the race each car event into the “ pits ” to change a wheel. The participation of the Chicago Automobile Trade Association in these events is an annual affair, as part of its programme of interesting the coming generation in the automotive industry.

MOTOR CYpiING

LOCAL ACTIVITIES. There will Ire a run to AVaitati, starting from the club rooms on Tuesday next, at 6 o’clock. Pillion passengers will be picked up at North-east Valley not later than 6.80 p.m. Any photograph dealing with motor cycling, whether stunting or among rural settings will be accepted for the club’s photographic competition, which closes with the secretary on March 20, at 5.30 p.m. Results will Ire announced at the next monthly meeting. The Sports Committee reports that everything is progressing satisfactorily for the beach races at Waikouaiti on March 17. Good entries are anticipated. Arrangements are on foot for a fourday tour at Easter of Central Otago, in conjunction with the South Canterbury and Southland Clubs, The North Otago hill climb at Enfield promises to be one of the best. This is a new hill, and is reported to he very fast. The North Otago Club is leaving no stone unturned to make a success of this event. It is having the hill graded, and is using an electric timing apparatus.

HERE AND THERE

Great progress is being made with the new motor road which is to connect Berlin and the French frontier. This is ono of the great arteries being constructed in Germany, and will run from Saarbrucken via Mayence, Wiesbaden, Frankfort a/M-, Offenbach, and Hanau, to Fulda,_ Eisenach, Halle, Leipzig, and Berlin, with a branch arterial road to Wurzburg and Munich. » * * * An important point in making puncture repairs with cemented patches is to use plenty of pressure on the patch while the cement is setting. A short piece of board carried in the tool kit will permit of the use of the jack to clamp the tube and patch against the under side of the running voard. If the car is fitted with running boards of corrugated metal it will be necessary, of course, to use two boards, placing the second board between the underside of the running board and tube surface. « * * * A iyro pressure gauge which registers by simple application to the wall of the cover is selling in England at 7s 6d. This instrument depends upon the resilience of the tyre for its operation. A small spring button projects from the instrument, and a tyre which is pumped hard will naturally yield very slightly when the hutto is applied. The simplicity of the gauge makes it possible to check the complete set of tyres without touching a valve, the whole operation requiring only thirty seconds for five tyres, » * * * Aiming to cheek the practice of obliterating the landscape with bill boards and road signs. Nevada. (U.S.A.) authorities have ordered the removal of all signs within 40ft of either side of the highways. ik * * * Applicant for work at the Ford plant in Detroit, after giving his entire history, is asked if be is married. “ Yes, Aye bane married.” “ Who’d you marjry?” “ Oh, 1 marry a vooman.” u Well, did you ever hear of anyone who didn’t marry a woman?” “ Yes. my sister bane marry a man.”