THE MOTOR WORLD

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9795, 19 October 1917, Page 8

THE MOTOR WORLD

INFLUENCE OF AVIATION EXPECTATION OF CONSIDERABLE ADVANCE, It is recognised in all the loading motorin'* centres that the improvements evolved in the latest aviation engines will, after the war, play an Important part in giving the motoringpubllc better and more economic running cars. The improvements are not going to be all reaped in a short gpace of months, but th© 'benehta twill gradually bo passed along to the motorist. The speed records will he the first tell-tale of the improvements. and they are already beginning to make their appearance. An. American : car, fitted with a 12-cylinder aviation en-gine—-and the American aviation power unit is miles behind the English p-reduct at the present time—recently gave evidence oi what is to come in the way oi increase of speed and power. The car covered 1. 2, 4 and 6 miles at the following respective speed averages:—l2l, 124, 122 and 120 miles per hour. With, say. one of the latest Sunibeam' engines installed, the probabilities are that the New York track would not carry the speed. -After the war new tracks wil* be necessary.- when the latest aviation engines are put in racing car practice. LTJBBXOATION OF SPRINGS. If fclio average car owner would only bear in mind how important it is to keep the springs lubricated many mysterious squeaks would disappear, to say nothing o** the easier riding of the car and the increase in the mileage of the fuel. If the springs are rusty and dry the leaves stick together, and every time the car strikes a bump the engine has bo lift tho entire -weight of the car in going over it. This means more work for the engine and consequently more consumption Off petrol. If, on the other hand, the springs are kept weld oiled, ihe !>ody of the car will be carried along in a horizontal line with very little vertical action, because the spring leaves bake oare of this by properly sliding upon one another. In other words, the spring action takes place so quickly that tbo b°dv > literally floats along due to its inertia. The joints of the links o.umectiDtr the springs to the frame should’ also receive proper oiling frequently. When doing this it gives the owner a chance to inspect the nuts on the spring clips, which have a tendency sometimes to -work loose. Three nuts must ,by all means be kept tight, for otherwise the whole strain oom.es upon the bolt .which holds the spring together at the centre. LIGHTNESS A FEATURE OF FUTURE CABS. . There is little doubt but that aluminium 13 going to play a big part in the motor engine of the future. Gradually more and more of it is being utilised in the construction of the petrol engine. As evidence of what is possible in that direction, a recent performance by Jj. Chevrolet—an American driver who build f. his own cars—is instructive. Chevrolet won the recent big Cincinnati motor speed event with its first prize of .£2OOO. The distance, 260 miles, was carved out in the very fast time of 2 hours 26 minutes 47 seconds, giving a speed average of over 102 m.p.h. The most interesting feature about this performance was that it was accomplished with a comparatively small engine, viz., 298 cubic inches, and that it was practically constructed _ with aluminium, or rather an aluminium alloy known in American as lynito, which is about twothirds lighter than cast-iron. In the engine in question the ‘ cylinder block, clutch, housing, engine base, etc., were made of this alloy. The weight of the engine complete was only 4901b5, whilst the complete car turned the scale at 16001 b?, or 3001bs less than any other car competing in the race. Chevrolet’s performance demonstrated that racing cars can be built much lighter than is the custom, and what is practicable on the speedway, is usually later adopted to the advantage of the touring car. The Car of the future is undoubtedly going to be considerably lighter than the pre-sent-day models, which means lower running cost in petrol and tyres. MOTOR CYCLE RECORDS. Judging by the manner in which the figures for the nil day motor cycle track record are being repeatedly increased, finality is a long way ofi in that direction. The latest American mail brings word that E. G Baker has again captured the 24 hours’ record, his new figures being 15344 miles as against Parkhurst’s ride of 1452| miles, but the latter rider was kept off the track for a considerable period bv heavy rain. Baker’s time for the 500 miles was G hours 59 minutes 15 seconds, and 10C0 miles in 16 hours 1-t minutes 15 seconds. In 12 hours 821 miles were negotiated. Baker’s ride works out at 63 1-3 miles per hour for the full day. At the same time E. Carroll established new figures for the motor cycle with side-car and passenger aboard. The records are 12751 miles in 24 hours, fGU miles in 12 hours. 509 miles in 8 hours 56 minutes, and 1000 miles in IS hours 48 minutes. whatever revenue is obtained by themselves, be agreed to. That the Wellington Dairy Farmers’ Co-operative Association bo informed, in reply to their request for an assurance that all milk coming into the city will go through the milk station, that the council intend to carry out the provisions of the law on the matter; and also with regard to their request that an. employee, of the association would be permitted to distribute a parcel of the association’s milk to their small customers from the rnßk station, that they bo informed that an answer cannot bo given to this request until Mr Oliver takes up his duties in Wellington, which will be within the course of a few weeks. That the following milk vendors recently prosecuted for breaches of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, namely, for selling milk not complying with the regulations, bo warned that if there are any further convictions for breaches of the law their licenses will bo endangered:—Messrs Stavely and