GARAGE GOSSIP

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 331, 17 April 1928, Page 6

GARAGE GOSSIP

Four cars driven by children obviously under 15 years of age, were seen out on the road on Sunday afternoon.

Sir Herbert Austin recently visited New York to receive offers from a big American syndicate to mass manufacture the famous “Baby” in the States.

Some cars have a gaping hole under the radiator to use for the cranking handle, but the new Chevrolet has this hole plugged with a cap that can also be used as a spare benzine tank cap.

The Auckland Automobile Association has appointed official solicitors in 20 North Island towns. This action was taken on account of a prosecution which was completed in Palmerston North against an Auckland motorist who in ignorance exceeded an absurdly low speed limit while on tour.

A property of two acres at Hunua has been offered as a gift to the Auckland Automobile Association. The donor imposes a condition that within two years buildings to the value of £SO shall be erected for the convenience of campers. The site will be inspected by members of the council of the A.A.A.

A technical adviser and lecturer is to be appointed by the Service Committee of the A.A.A. His duty will be to give impartial reports on overhauls or second-hand cars to members. A man with extensive practical experience and consulting qualifications has already been recommended. Office arrangements will be made.

A proposal for the issue of annual badges for ear radiators has been rejected by the A.A.A., and the present system of supplying badges for a refundable deposit will be continued. If was thought that if the badges were sold they would pass into the hands of non-members when cars were sold, while discarded annual monograms would be picked up and displayed by unauthorised persons. * * * Called the Air Maze, a new type of air cleaner is fitted to the Reo Flying Cloud and "Wolverine cars. It consists of a number of oily wire screens of comparatively coarse mesh. It is claimed that, while the air is perfectly cleaned, it encounters no resistance at. any speed or throttle opening. The screens are easily cleaned abotit once a year by rinsing with petrol, after which a fresh supply of oil is added. * m * Notable refinements have been made recently in Packard car engines. The six now develops over 80 h.p., and the eight 105. * * * That the sterling qualities of British lorries are steadily becoming better known is shown by the record profit of £395,000 recently announced by the? well-known English firm of Leyland Motors, Ltd. This company also announces the receipt of a record number of overseas orders. The 1928 programme for the Moon motor-car is far the most extensive yet attempted during 21 years of manufacturing high-grade motor-cars. * * * • Upon the invitation of Premier Mussolini, the fifth World Motor Transport Congress will be held in Rome in September. Car manufacturers are equipping cars with motors of higher power and higher speed capacity. Many advertise, as a talking point, the “quick getaway.” It is becoming the tendency of motorists to accelerate the -speed of the car as quickly as possible, particularly after being held up at street intersections by the traffic inspectors and at railway crossing, etc., says an article in the “Goodyear News.” Quick acceleration of a car is one of the major factors in increased tread wear. Under the high speed of the motor the tyre pulls on the road before the car is in motion. tyre often spins. The effect is the same as if the tread was sandpapered. * * * The Yellow Taxi Corporation of New York lias purchased 600 new Buick taxicabs at a cost of more than £200,000 and has taken most of its old cabs off the streets. * * * Charles S. Crawford, chief engineer of the Stutz Motor-car Co. since 1922, has resigned to join the engineering staff of the General Motors Export Co. A motor-car and a tram nearly collided at a suburban tram intersection one day last week, because the driver expected the tram to give him the right-of-way under the off-side rule. Under the new Government regulations, trams are specially exempt from conforming to the off-side rule. There are now nearly 200 approved hotels on the official list of the South and North Island Motor Unions. An order for more than 100 cars and commercial vehicles for South America has been placed with Bean Cars, Ltd., of England. The sum involved is something more than £ 40.000. and as several of the biggest American corporations were in the field, this is looked upon as a distinct victory for British quality and workmanship.