MOTORING.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 May 1925, Page 4

MOTORING.

DO SPEEDOMETERS UIC The motoring correspondent of the London "Daily Mail" in a recent issue said that of all the instruments which adorn the dashboard of the modern motr-car tbe speedometer is probably the most fascinating. It keens tlie owner of the ear pasted with all tin? information be most desires to know. It tells him maximud speed, the length of any particular journey, in conjunction with the

clock the average speed achieved on ■i journey, and the precise speed at which he is going at any particular moment. It does or should warn him when he is exceeding the limit in any control, and at any moment it gives tin* record of a ear's life in mileage. This is the true age of the

Two years old suggests little when it i.~ applied to the motor-car; f!0 00 ri miles, however, suggests declining years in the case of a light ear. ami middle ago in that of a higher-power-ed and moderately expensive car. Without a speedometer imnnrlug would he a dull business. But in view of its responsibilities it dues cram advisable that the speedometer should tell the truth ami cm.-mg in., the init. If the speedometer lies it leads its owner into the path of prevarication— maybe not. unwillingly, for owners are inclined to wink at any optimistic speedometer readings as re-

gards maximum speed. But tin speedometers lief .-'.•arching for the truth. I have (luring tlf past year kept a record of the rending;.' of no fewer than id speedometers over it distance of Id miles. These instruments were Jilted i . different cars I have tried from time to time over it course. The distance over wlir-h the speedometers were checked was carefully measured on an ordnance map. But whether it was accurate to within a few yards does not so much amt ter as the fact tliiit out of the !- speedometer readings taken only two agreed. The rest varied to an appreciable extent, one having an error of as much as ‘JO per cent., and over a do:; n an error of I!) per cent., and over a dozen an error exceeding •> per ie:il. And nearly all erred oil the optimistic side- flattering the ear an,! eoi enraging no doubt false pride in ih if future owner--. The worst of it is that such errors are cumulative. An error of. say. I') per cent.; or I. mill l in l 1). does tint s'.i much mniter on a -hurt journey lint when the speedometer shows a reading of :i'>,(!.'Kf miles it means tent the ear has actually travelled ‘_’7.11. ; 0 miles. The remedy for an tin I ruth fill speedometer i- obvious. If the margin of error is great th - car hoidd be returned in order that the speedometer may be adjusted. If it is a small margin of error tig' motorist,

should allow i'er it when lm i-,. unking up his log. One of the first tasks of a new owner should Ire to test his speedometer over tut accurately measured distance.