MOTOR-CYCLING

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 100, 19 July 1927, Page 11

MOTOR-CYCLING

NEWS AND NOTES SPC-E5 MOTOR-CYCLE CLUB A successful social and srports run was held on Sunday, July 10, to Pigeon Mountain, at Howick. Several riders made an attempt at climbing the hill, but it proved too slippery for fast climbing, only one man reaching the top, and then only with the aid of a rope wound round the tyre. A rather novel event was put on for those riders who did not wish to risk their mounts in the faster event. This was a “slow climb,” the winner being the man who took the longest time on the climb. Plenty of good judgment was needed to keep the engine going at the right speed, as the engine will stall if run too slowly. Several women members turned out, riding various makes of small machines and helped dispense welcome cups of tea at lunch time. One young woman motor-cyclist was partly initiated into the “brotherhood.” She “crashed” on a particularly tricky bit of road, but luckily no damage resulted. Riders maintain that to become a true motor-cyclist one must have at least three crashes. There are now at least a dozen women members. The club wishes to promote .his section of the movement and events are arranged in which women riders can take part. Any girl wishing to join may be nominated by a member of the club. On Sunday, July 24, riders will assemble at Grafton Bridge at 9.30 a.re to takt part in a social run to Helcnsville and “member's’ annual bath.” A 225-mile reliability trial and endurange test will take place on August 13 and 14. This is open to members of kindred clubs. Several prizes are offered and a record entry is anticipated.

The route will be from Auckland to Hamilton and Cambridge, where competitors will stay the night, continuing the next day to Te Aroha, Paeroa, Waitakaruru across the plains to Pokeno and back to Auckland. Messrs. Fletcher

and Coulthard left town on Saturday to arrange accommodation, checks along the route, benzine supplies and measure the distances between various stops, and arrive at a fair average time' which should be taken to complete the trial. TWENTY-FOUR YEARS AGO An extract from “The Motor-cycle," of April, 1903. “A tandem motorcycle constructed entirely of wood was inspected. The engine was a r>e Dion and an amusing feature was an um-brella-stand just below the rear saddle.” Motor-cycling policemen were not favoured .in those days, as it was thought that if they were introduced they would constitute an additional danger when travelling at speed in pursuit of other vehicles. MECHANICAL NOISE A point has been raised about the noisiness of motor-cycle valve gear compared with those of cars. While the silence of the latter is undoubtedly due to the mass of metal in the jacket casting and valve gear cover, there are one or two other factors which affect the issue, namely, lubrication on cam porfile. . __ TT If anyone who owns a noisy O.H.V. engine will apply plenty of heavy oil to the push-rod ends, rocker lingers and valve stems, a marked effect will be noticed. In most cars arrangements are made for a continuous supply of oil to these parts. The second factor, cam contour, has more or less been brought about by the persistent clamour of the buying public for more speed. Other things being equal, a steeper lift and drop to the valve lift curve is one way of increasing power, but a quick lift means increased stress on the valve gear and more noise, and quick closing means stronger valve springs, with the same results.