BATTERY OPERATION.

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 94, 12 July 1927, Page 13

BATTERY OPERATION.

NEED FOR SERVICE. HELP FOR THE MOTORIST. Many developments have taken place In battery operation since those early nays when the motorist relied upon acFomulators for his ignition. There were troubles galore, and motorists grew to appreciate the good and the bad points of this useful electrical device. The obvious need for the continual re-charg-ing of the accumulator was the trouble assailed the early motorist. . This was eliminated, and we now P*ve, in the car equipment, accumulators for starting which are charged automatically by the engine. With the new use of accumulators of greater Capacity and higher voltages has come |he need for battery’ service because, although the system is nominally selfjenergising and correcting, there are conditions under which accumulators become run down, sulphate, and suffer Other lowering tendencies. In practice. so good are the systems now installed, there is not much need for the motorist to worry over-much about his accumulators beyond replacing distilled water, lost by evaporation, in order to keep his plates submerged. But engine troubles may develop from Other causes, such as carburation, ignition, etc., which may cause him to put too big a drain upon his accumulator, the result that he may put it out of action, and then the services of the battery specialist become a needful requirement. Hardly ever will he find himself stranded very far from a battery service depot, where his troubles will dc put right and where he may leave his accumulator and take over a new tnd fully charged one at a nominal payment. Clearly seen signs are exhibited at garages and depots, telling where this convenience can be enjoyed, and the accumulator service station bids fair to become almost as general, and as closely connected, as is the fine fillingpump service which has grown up in pvery part of the country.

MOTORING CLASSIC. THE INDIANAPOLIS EVENT. Recent advices from America announce the result of the world’s motoring classic—the Indianapolis “500” which is held every’ year on Memorial Day, May 30, on the brick paved speedway’ at Indianapolis. This year before a record crowd of 150.000 people. George Souders gained the honouis with a Duesenberg Special: time shrs 7min. averaging 97.5 miles an hour. Devore, driving a front-whecl-drive Miller, was second in shrs 17mins, and Gulottan (Miller), third in shrs 22mins. The record average speed of lOlzn.pJi. for this event is held by’ de Paolo, established in 1925, but in that year cars were permitted a maximum piston displacement of 122 cubic inches; the following year the size of engines was reduced to 91? cubic inches, _or 1500 c.c., and has so remained, making the attainment of speeds over 100 m.p.h. much more difficult. Last year the race was called off by the officials after 400 miles had been run, on account of a blinding rain storm which rendered * further racing too dangerous. The Chrysler Corporation has recently opened an assembly plant at Surrey Hills. Australia, covering a 3Aacre piece of ground.