SPEEDING THROUGH

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 18, 12 April 1927, Page 10

SPEEDING THROUGH

There are now about 1,000 policyholders under the insurance scheme of the South Island (New Zealand) Motor Union. * * * When purchasing a new car, it is wise to give every part a close inspection, in order to be familiar with the location of all important units. Tyre chains will hold better if they are not pulled too tight. Allow a little slack, but not enough to permit them to roll sideways or hit the fenders. * * * Critical friend, examining new car: “Um! she’s got no clearance!” Novice: ‘ And I told those garage people to put on everything necessary!” Voice over phone: Madam, your husband has been run over by a bus. “Good heavens! On the afternoon of my party.” m + Cop: What’s the idea racing through this village at 80 miles an hour? Motorist I’ve got something the matter with my brakes, and I want to get home before something happens. * * * ‘‘Hey, mister, your engine’s smok“Well, it’s old enough to.” Policeman, to man who has left car unattended for some time: Is this your car? Man: Oh, no, not for 98 more instalments. * * * According to automobile experts in London, fair men are more careful motor-car drivers than dark men, but brunettes are much steadier than blondes at the steering-wheel. Messrs. Hunt and J. Griffiths, secretary on leave and acting-secretary respectively, of the Sports Motor-Cycle Club, have resigned their positions, and Mr. Victor Penny has been appointed secretary. Should a crankshaft or connecting rod bearing burn out, be sure that the oil lines are clear before fitting a new one. When a bearing burns, the hot babbitt will flow into the crankshaft, blocking the oil lines. ♦ * * Mr. J. Prentice, known to wireless enthusiasts first as “Uncle Jack,” of 2BL, Sydney, and now as official broadcaster for New Zealand, is apparently a man of varied attainments. Last evening he addressed Dominion Motors salesmen on the study of “Psychology in Business.” (South Africa) is searching for a pillion queen of beauty. The conditions of the competitions are: Entrants may be of any age, but must be habitual pillion riders. They must be beautiful, or imagine they are. They must be able to use a lip-stick and powder puff at 35 miles an hour without turning a hair. They must send one or more snapshots of themselves seated on a motor-cycle pillion seat to the secretary. # A generator demands little attention, but it should have it at regular intervals. Twice a month put three or four drops of cylinder oil in the oil wells. Do not for any reason put oil or grease on the commutator. It is a good plan to clean the commutator when it becomes gummed. Crocus cloth can be used to advantage if the copper surfaces are thoroughly wiped with a cloth —never use emery or sandpaper for cleaning commutators.

The East London Motor-cycle Club Spencer Stratton, ex-New Zealand rider, has recently smashed all Australian records on his Indian. At one swoop the world’s night-riding record, Australian track record, Maroutra track record, and the Heenzo Cup, for the fastest lap on record, fell to Stratton when he attained a speed of 103.8 miles an hour on the Maroubra speedway.

Many unnecessary repair bills have been caused by running cars without hub caps or hub caps that are cracked. An axle without protection is sure to suffer destruction to its bearings. If you have a cracked hub cap, pack thoroughly with grease and cover with canvas or other heavy cloth until the cap can be replaced.

Often much time is lost when looking for a drill to fit a certain bolt. This can be avoided by using a gauge made by drilling a hole with every size drill in a piece of 2in board. The bolt is tried in the holes until the proper size is found and the proper drill can then be selected. Every drill size should be stamped above its corresponding hole in the board and the gauge kept, handy for everyday use.

It sometimes happens with a vacuum tank that if the petrol tank is allowed to run dry, upon refilling the main tank the vacuum tank refuses to function. This trouble is probably due to one of the valves sticking. If the air vent be closed with one finger the system will at once commence to function again, and, owing to the fresh supply of fuel wetting the valves, it will continue to do so.

TAKING A HOLIDAY Motorist—listeners-in, note that George Campbell—everyone calls him “George” without prefixes—will not broadcast from IYA on Friday night, on the subject of motoring. Perhaps the opportunity, provided by a holy day for him to have a night’s holiday, will not be so much a holiday as giving up work to carry bricks. He rashly offered to supply copies of city traffic regulations, during one of his recent lectures—and the applications, mostly unaccompanied by even stamped envelopes, will keep him occupied for several spare hours. Quite obviously his talks are watched for. One fair listener-in has written: “We do so enjoy your bright and entertaining lecturettes by wireless. I hope you will continue. Your talks make a bright spot in some decidedly dull programmes.” ANOTHER SERIOUS ACCIDENT Motor-cyclists will regret to hear of another serious accident amongst their members. The victim this time is Mr. R. M. Moorcraft, a member of the Sports Motor-Cycle Club, Auckland, who was riding, during the week-end, in the Hamilton-Taupo reliability trial. Mr. Moorcraft was found in an unconscious condition some distance from Waikare, he having fallen with his machine. His condition yesterday was reported to be serious. RACE-MEETINGS Race meetings for motor-cyclists will be held at Napier on Saturday and Monday next, and at Feilding on April 23. Entries for the Feilding meeting close to-morrow. Among the local riders going to Feilding will be W. White (Rex-Acme), J. H. Ratcliffe (Velocette), C. Goodwin (0.E.C.), W. Allen (Norton), W. Hubert (Indian), L. Coulthard (0.E.C.), and R. Ranby (Indian). A GARAGE HINT OwTiers sometimes like to keep their cars in one particular position in the garage, usually to allow room on each side for other articles, such as a bench, oil drums, bicycles, and so on. In order to do this two white lines should be painted on the wall at the end of the garage. One should be vertical and in a direct line with the driver and some convenient part of the front of the car, such as the off-side headlamp, w r hen the car is standing in the required • position. The second line should be horizontal and should be level with the top of the radiator, as viewed from the driver’s seat. On re-entering the garage it is necessary only to drive so that these “bearings” are reassumed. * * #

RAILWAYS V. ROADS The North Auckland unmetalled roads are now breaking: up with the service traffic, and in a short time the roads will be closed to winter traffic. In so many words, the motorists, who have spun merrily along during the summer, without thought or care as to how the trains were getting along, are now starting their annual contributions to the Railway Department in getting their cars north of Helensville. A.A.A. INSPECTION Dr. J. H. Lawry, president of the Auckland Automobile Association, accompanied by the service officer, will leave Auckland early in the week after Easter. Branch meetings will be held at Tauranga (Tuesday, April 19), Whakatane (April 20), Opotiki (April 21), Gisborne (April 22), and Ruatorea (April 23). The two will return via Taupo and Rotorua —and anticipate using chains over many of the miles of their total trip. ALL BUT

To have the front wheels of one’s car hanging over several hundred feet of nothing is barely an experience one courts, but it fell to one car load on the A.A.A. trip to the Urewera. On the way through the Ruatahuna Gorge, going out, Mr. G. S. Casey got into trouble and was assisted out of a nasty position by Mr. T. G. Julian. On the way back, the same day, at precisely the same spot, Mr. Julian’s car remembered its morning experience and decided to cut things a little finer, the result being that it poked its nose over the edge, and relied on running boards and under-carriage to prevent it and the occupants hurtling to destruction. Mr. Casey’s car and that of Mr. J. B. King, were commissioned to help the erring brother back to the road again. PASSENGER LIABILITY

Barely any motorist who picks up a passenger but thinks to himself, “I wonder what the risks are?” Some make a point of remarking at the time that the passenger is travelling at his own risk, but a few do not care to. Mr. R. J. Laird, of Auckland, has tried to get over the difficulty by designing a small black plate with silver printing, which can be screwed on the dash-boards, and on the back of the front seat in front of passengers. It is a neat affair —with a kick. It reads: MR. PASSENGER You ride at your own risk. Please shut doors gently. Don’t misuse this car. FIRST CHANGE IN FORD DESIGN The poor quality of the American fuel has forced Henry Ford to make the first radical change in his motor since 1908, according to what Mr. Smith, a Canadian representative, told North Island dealers and salesmen in Auckland last week. With the high grade of fuel dispensed here, the benefit is not expected to be so pronounced as in Canada, but an increased mileage is expected. The new models, when they arrive, will have a hot-plate vaporiser, which will convert the fuel into a vapour at an extremely high temperature. This vapour, will in turn be cooled before passing to the combustion chamber. It is asserted that by this innovation it will be impossible for fuel to be forced on the engine too quickly, as under the present system.

The result will be, as nearly as possible, a perfect mixture, that will benefit the engine, and give better running and more mileage, while at the same time there will be no possibility of \v 1”-'i 'inding its way into the engine, to drain down the cylinders and dilute the oil in the crank-case.