CYCLE AND MOTOR NOTES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 46, 22 February 1913, Page 7

CYCLE AND MOTOR NOTES.

A HIKE-PLANE. Paul Didier, a well known French racing cyclist, has succeeded in flying a distance of 10 feet on a bicycle fitted with planes. Didier accomplished his jump over a rod eight indies off the ground, in public at the Parc des Princes Track, Paris, and thereby won a prize of £.S() offered by the Pengc ot Co. His acievement is a long way the best yet accomplished towards flying on a bicycle, but it is one thing, however, to leap through the air on a cycle that has no propelling force on losing contact with the ground, and another matter to sustain the machine in space at will. Sir Hiram Maxim, the well known inventor, is one of the oldest investigators of human flight, and when interviewed after Didier’* flight, expressed the opinion that “a cyclist will never fly by Ids own pouer.” The reason given is that no human being is physically strong enough to cope with the enormous muscular strain that would be necessary before a man could develop sufficient power to keep himself afloat in the air. It is interesting to note that Sir Hiram, who is 72 years of age, has been a keen cyclist all his life, and that it was only last year that failing strength compelled him to give up the wheel. WEAR OF TYRES. Many motorists in this country expect too much from the tyres fitted to the driving wheels of their cars, especially when the conditions of our roads are taken into consideration. On the„ fine English roads from 8000 to 5000 miles is considered to be about the average life of driving tyres, ranging from the former figures for heavy cars and the longer mileage for light cars. In a recent tyre trial which came much before the English public, four sets of well known makes of tyres were driven to destruction on English roads on a heavy car, and the grooved Dunlop Tyre came out on top with a mileage of 3789 miles. The next hestj figures were 3272. Taken right through I tyres can hardly lac expected to average j out as good a mileage in this country ■as in England, and anything over 30001 miles should be deemed satisfactory. Of course a lot depends on the road conditions, load, speed, and not least, the driving. In some cases owners of cars are at a loss to account for the rapid wear of the hack tyres. The probability is that this is solely due to unskilful use of brakes and clutch. Gradual and easy action in these details is essential if you want to keep your tyre bill down. THE WANDER LUST. The popularity of wandering a wheel over the face of the earth shows no sign of diminishing. The latest globe circling cyclist is a one-footed wheelman from Texas (U.S.A.), who is endeavouring to win a £2OOO prize, the conditions being that he must cover 20,000 miles in various countries in two years, earning his living en route. His itinerary includes Australia. A MODEL CAR. One of the most-talked-of exhibits at the recent Paris Motor Show, was a beautiful little working model of a Cadillac motor car, the miniature car being an exact reproduction of a full sixed Cadillac save that it was propelled by electricity instead of a petrol engine. The weight of the little car is 3001 b. This charming model so attracted Queen Alexandra that she purchased it as a Christmas present for little Priuce Olaf, heir to the throne of Norway. The ear in geared so that it cannot exceed a speed of seven miles an hour, so that the young prince—who soon mastered the handling and driving of the car—has 1 little chance of scorching. It is estimated that £12,000,000 is spent annually in' Great Britain for petrol and motor car tyres alone. This is for the running cost only, and is exclusive of drivers’ wages and other expenses incidental to motoring. ACCOMMODATION ON CARS. Successful as the torpedo motor body has been from the point of view of physical comfort as well as that of appearance—the latter being to some ( minds of premier importance—it has been the means of contributing nothing to the convenience of the owner in respect of locker space and adaptability for luggage carrying. Despite the reliability of the modern car a motorist, has, none the less, to find accommodation for a very comprehensive supply of tools, such as tyre-levers, repair outfit, carbide, oil, tubes, jack, pump, etc. How he is to transport all these indispensiblos, and where, seems to be of not the slightest interest to the coach-builder who reserves his energies for developing and improving the car as a carriage for passengers. The difficulty of making hotter provision in the shape of locker space is, no doubt, very real, but just certainly is the call for improvement insistent. Limited as is the space available the best use is not made of it. For instance, the room beneath 1 the front seats, if it is not reserved ; for the petrol tank, is so “mi-get-at-able” that it requires an unconscionable amount of time and labour tr. gain access to its contents, which usually comprise s a higgledy-piggledly assortment of spanners and tyre tools, and often an oil can that will persist in lying on its side. Hence the front locker for one, with its dark and irusomc interior, needs re-c-gaiin i >v. It has been suggested that the spa's 1 encath the frot seat should be provi I. d with a log drawer, to puli out cr iaa; ■ through the side of the ear. 11 lair were done the articles to he e; : d could bo packed neatly and we: id he easily got at. dins inea cor.ld ne adopted without sunning the omui-vd appearance of the body of tlm < rr. since the drawer could he made a neat fit, with moulding arm:; d cp ;- ing. Another matter that nerd; attention is finding suite.■'!■- apace fm carrying the spare tyre or wheel. At present it is generally can.:,, or. the off-side running beard, and is a

disfigurement, to say nothing of the tyre being usualy exlposcd to sun and light, greatly to the detriment of the rubber. There will eventually be some space set apart for hiding the spare tyro, and why not now? It is an other matter that body builders should at udy. THE QUESTION OF UPKEEP. An American motor car manufacturing firm annually awards a set of cash prizes to the chauffeurs having the best upkeep record at the end of each year. This year’s first prize of £2OO was won by a chauffeur who had driven 26,987 miles, with no repair expense other than tyres. The second prize of £IOO was won with a tally of 22,928, without any expense. This is certainly an excellent idea for keeping down the cost of mechanical repairs, and to ensure careful handling of a motor manufacturer’s output. FUEL, OTHER THAN PETROL. By far the most important business transacted at the recent meeting of the International Association of Recognised Automobile Clubs held in France was the decision to offer a cash prize of £20,000 for the best fuel, other than petrol, capable of being used in existing internal-combustion motors. The International Association represents practically the whole of the motor movement of Europe and America, the nations represented 'at the Paris gathering being, France, Great Britain, America, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Austria, Holland, Hungary, Russia, Switzerland, Roumania and Egypt. It is evident, therefore, that the petrol crisis is not confined to any one country. The big prize will be obtained by international subscription, the national clubs represented at the conference undertaking to raise their respective proportions. Before the regulations;of the competition are made public (an assurance will be obtained from the various governments that the new fuel will be free from taxation, or, at any rate, will not have applied to it more than a moderate tax. It is evident too, that the fuel must be of such a nature that it cannot be cornered by national or international trusts.