DCYCLING AND MOTORING NOTES

Horowhenua Chronicle, 12 March 1915, Page 4

DCYCLING AND MOTORING NOTES

jj'rom the Dunlop Rubber Company ot Australasia, for the week ending Jj'eb. 27th. 1915.

I Frizes valued at £1000, £500, and | £300 have been donated by the Wellcome Bureau of Scientific Research i in England for the three best designs submitted for an ambulance body which shall fit a standard pattern car chassis for motor ambulances.

• • * • • x * *ru-l The idea is to secure a type of bocij which, while replete with all requirmenta for field ambulance work, must be designed so that it can be rapidly adapted and fitted to the chassis of any up to date make ot car. • ••••••

There is little doubt the average owner-driver who looks after his own car, makes a present to himself of a great deal of unnecessary work when he purchases a car. • In the first place he likes liis car to look smart, and so has far too much brass or plated fittings on it. These soon become tarnished and really require polihing every day. "Why have bright fittings, id the motorist when ordering his jar would insist on oxodified or painted lamps, motor-horn, speedometer, clock, radiator-cap etc., he would save a considerable amount of unnecessary polishing. In this one point American cars set a good example. The motoring world did not like their general i appearance when they first made their entry into ft this country, but their utilitarian principles of black oxidised fittings throughout appeal strongly to the owner-driver who has a rooted objection to having to put in more work than is absolutely necessary to keep his car fit. Nowadays the polished brass-work is increased by the electric lighting outfit an the up-to-date car, but owner-drivers should specify that this also be oxidised or painted, and not be bright for show means more work. • •••«•• Big mileage in cycle tyre® are time to time made public, and afford interesting evidence of the great improvement made m tyre construction during the recent years. An instance of good service is just reported by the

j Rev Henry Worrall (Vic.) who over two years ago purchased a 2$ h.p. machine shod with 26 x 2J Dunlop "Grooved" tyres. Up to date the same covers are still in use, never having been changed even from back to front, and they have covered over "1, 000 miles. During the period in ise the front tube has not been punctured Considering that the Sydney-Melbour-ne run and the greater portion of Victoria has rteen covered during the two years service the rider anil luggsuv usually weighed nearly fifteen stone it must be considered a particularly fine record for tyre service. The tyres were Australian-made. Motor cycle:; side-car machine gun units are now being largely used by the English and French Military Authorities, and a number of leading English manufacturers are now busy building up this class of machine. A 7-9 h.p. engine Is usually fitted, together with a three-speed gear counter-shaft and chain drive. Amongst the maker.', specialising in this type ol machin • me the Ifudge, Premier, Scot + . Enf.eld Zu.ith. *•«***• C. A. Piercey, the well known Australian rider, and winner of the "Warrnam'bool" Road Race, is having bad luck in America. In each oi the six days races in which he has competed, Piercey has had a smash up, and has been badly injured.