MOTORDOM

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 414, 24 July 1928, Page 6

MOTORDOM

GAR A GE GOSSIP

A new model Willy s-Knight is now on the market in the Standard Six, a cheaper priced Willys that combines the well-known Knight engine with new colour and beauty in the bodywork. * * * It is probable that a three-mile stretch of the Panmure-Howick road will be paved with concrete. The Main Highways Board, whose finances are strengthened by the petrol-tax money, will grant of subsidy of £3 for £1 for any scheme of permanent construction, in place of the subsidies of £1 for £1 before the introduction of the petrol tax. * sjs sje Humour has been busy in Detroit (U.S.A.), building a large fleet of new cars from the meagre details gathered by glimpses of a mysterious new car seen flitting about in road tests. The position has been clarified by an annoucement that the De Soto six, an entirely new production, is soon to be sold. Its sponsors were not revealed, but is said to be one of the biggest independent manufacturers in America.

The business of Iloyes Motors, Limited, Upper Queen Street, which is in process of voluntary liquidation, will be taken over on August 1 by the Todd Motor Company, which has branches in Wellington, Christchurch, Timaru, Dunedin and Invercargill. The Buick and Oldsmobile agencies will be relinquished, but the personnel of the liquidated firm will be retained, together with the older hands in the service department. The Todd Motor Company is Dominion distributor of Chrysler cars. * * * A traffic tally was taken on the Riccarton Hoad, Christchurch, recently, and the figures a.re impressive, despite the fact that the weather was wet. Ten men were employed on the task. The following ar e the figures for Wednesday and Thursday of the week taken:

IT SEEMS TO ME Drivers who take corners on two wheels are probably Scotchmen. This method saves wear on the two outside tyres.

The "Wanganui Automobile Association is linking up with the North Island Mutual insurance scheme and in a circular to its members announces a meeting to be held to explain the benelits of the policy. The association has also organised a scheme to supply motor spirit to members. lieductions are offered and delivery from the pump is also available to financial members of any association. s* * * The automobile manufacturer calls upon the cotton textile industry annually, for more than 226,000,000 square yards of tyre fabric alone, for which about £12,600,000 is paid, says an article in the “Goodyear News.” This item is only one of the many cotton products used in the manufacture of a completed car. During 1925, the 4,346,754 motor vehicles manufactured called for the use of 109,000,000 square feet of cotton leather for tops and coverings, the whole basis of which is cotton. Upholstery cloth used about 30,255,000 yards, while top and side curtains called for 20,810,000 yards of materials, of which cotton textiles were important components. * * * Gasoline prices in the United States range all the way from 10 cents a gallon to 27 cents for straight run and from 13 cents a gallon to 29 cents for high-test gas. This wide variation was revealed in a “check-up” by automobile clubs affiliated with the American Automobile Association. This showed that in one day in November, 1927, gasoline was selling at 47 different prices. The lowest prices were 10 cents for straight run and 13 cents for high-test gasoline at Peoria, 111., and the highest were 27 cents for straight and 29 cents for high-test at Phoenix, Ariz. There were 115,000 entries for the “B.P. Petrol” slogan competition held recently in England. Some of the best slogans submitted were: “Deliver the Goods Without Deposit”; “One Good Turn Needs No Other”; “The World’s Champion Scene Shifter”; “Never Holds You Up, Never Lets You Down.” Punning was employed with happy effect, such as in: “A Tonic for a ‘Tyred’ World”; “There is No Pink in the Green Pump.” The winning slogan was “The Petrol that Pulls with a Punch.”

Without recourse to any extremes in design or any sacrifice of comfort, Dodge Brothers have added to their fame with the marked beauty of the Dodge Senior Models. These cars have a pleasing effect on length and lowness. They are unusually distinctive; in fact, each car has all the characteristics of a custommade car.

We learn that the Dodge Senior line is manufactured in a separate and specially equipped plant which cost close on a million pounds, and that the precision standards employed are those usually found in custom-built manufacture.

The Essex County Club’s six-hour endurance race at Brooklands was typical of the newer type of racing event which grips the imagination of the private motorist, being for cars, accessories and fuels which the public can buy.

The five principal awards were won at amazingly high speeds by ordinary “standard sports” models—Bentley, Alfa-Romeo, Austro-Daimler and Austin —and this on ordinary Shell petrol and oil such as anyone can purchase at every filling station in the country.

LV-

HEADLIGHT

Still Running 1914 Sunbeam Holds N.Z. Beach Record One is tempted often to wonder as to what is the ultimate fate of racing cars after their initial successes are over. Many of them seem quickly to pass from memory, and it is interesting therefore to note that several of the racing cars of a popular firm of manufacturers are still in use by private owners, and are even proving formidable adversaries in racing circles, adding to the successes which they attained in former days. One of the Sunbeam cars built for the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy Race of 1914 is now in New Zealand. Driven by its present owner, this car won the New Zealand Motor Cup in 1925 and established the New Zealand beach record of 101.5 miles an hour. Incidentally, this was the first car to attain a speed of over 100 miles an hour in the southern hemisphere. Since then the car has been driven at Oreti Beach, Invercargill, at a speed of 109.09 miles an hour. That a racing car built as long ago as 1914 should still be accomplishing such remarkable performances is astonishing. The strain imposed on engine and chassis is so great that only a car of the highest quality as regards design, material, and workmanship, could retain its efficiency as this 14-year-old Sunbeam has done. “SELF-HELP” BOWSERS CANADIAN INVENTION A mechanical device that may revolutionise the “Bowser” service station business, particularly in remote sections and during the night hours, has been invented by S. J. Polock and J. Iv. Richardson, of St. Mary’s. On tario, and it has been favourably passed upon by Canadian Government inspectors. The mechanism, which has been evolved after years of effort, consists of a benzine slot machine. The invention enables motorists to buy benzine by placing a coin in the slot, and automatically, the benzine is pumped into the tank of the car or into any desired receptacle. The new vending machine is similar in design and appearance to the present service pumps, but it is on a self-serving plan. There is no need for the personal attendance of a station salesman. This means that a pump can be used by a motorist late at night or it can be installed far from any habitation. The machine is constructed so that it will serve 25 cents’ worth of benzine at current prices and the purchaser can see the amount that he is getting for that sum. It does not sell by the gallon because this would require odd cash amounts. The machine can be set, however, so that different quantities can bo served for the 25 cents, according to gallon market quotations.

“CARELESS PEDESTRIAN” IS PHRASE UNFORTUNATE ? AN IMMEMORIAL FREEDOM The phrase “careless pedestrian” is an unfortunate one. When we walk we feel in our bones our immemorial freedom on the roads; and we should be a little hurt —and maybe, a little defiant —at being individually called “careless,” although undoubtedly we are all careless at some time or other. It is, however, not so much the pedestrian’s “carelessness” as his continuous extreme mobility that makes him an anxiety to others and a danger to himself. It is this extreme mobility that needs to be impressed upon him, and this point of view should be urged upon the authorities and associations concerned with the safety of the public, as being not only more accurate, but more acceptable, to the object of their care. A man on foot can turn instantly at right angles to his previous course; he can instantly stop; he can even instantaly move sideways. KTo vehicle can turn or stop instantly, nor can it move sideways. Its movements from instant to instant can be foreseen by other traffic; it is when this is not so that accidents occur. The “Vehicular” Way If a pedestrian chooses to venture among vehicular traffic, he would himself admit it reasonable for him to move in a vehicular way—that is, to take a definite course, and in such a manner, that his movements from instant to instant may readily be foreseen by the drivers of vehicles. In other words, it is eminently fair, and, moreover, necessary for his own safety, that he should extend the same courtesy to vehicles that they use toward each other. But to do this requires a constant conscious watching of his own actions. If it were possible to analyse minutely enough the circumstances of every accident involving a pedestrian, it is probable that this hereditary unconscious freedom of movement would be found the root-cause of most of those now attributed to “carelessness.” A Softer Phrase If it be said that “hereditary unconscious freedom” is merely a softer phrase to replace “carelessness,” the answer is that “carelessness” carries the implied reproach of conscious, almost deliberate, indifference to personal safety. It is far more likely that the “carelessness” is caused by a momentary lapse of attention.

Eventually the roads will be closed to pedestrians. Any pedestrian moving among vehicular traffic—save at recognised crossings—will do so at his own risk, and will be held legally responsible for any accident to himself or caused by him. This view will inevitably become the natural one: but the time is not yet.—“Dunlop Bulletin.”

RUINING THE MOTOR DANGER OF FAULTY OIL Too often car owners are careless about the important matter of buying oil, car experts say. The average motorist who buys oil sits in his car and idly watches a motor oil being poured into his crankcase. Most of the time Ire doesn't ask for any special brand of oil —doesn’t care much what he gets. At that same minute, perhaps, some other careless motorist climbs out of his dead car, raises the hood of his motor and finds a big repair bill staring him in the face. He too,, on another day, had probably idly watched motor oil being poured into his crank case. He hadn’t asked for any special brand of oil—he didn't care much what he got. Not just a few, but 7i> per cent, of all motor repairs are caused by the failure of some oil. That’s why it pays to watch your lubrication, they say. These men claim that a motor oil does its work by forming a thin film between all the whirling, flying motor surfaces. As long as the film remains unbroken the vital parts of a motor are protected. But the oil film itself is subjected to terrific punishment. It must withstand the lash of searing, scorching heat, the threat of tearing, grinding friction. Under that two-fold punishment the film of ordinary oil breaks and bLirns. Through the broken shattered film vital motor parts are ’ exposed to the fierce attacks of heat. ; And insidious friction begins its work of destruction. That means excessive i wear—ultimately, big repair bills. Because the whole problem of cor- j rect lubrication lies in a film of oil, j scientists have spent years in studying, I not oils alone, but oil films, to achieve heat and friction fighting qualities. To maintain the fighting quality of j that “film of protection” every drop ! of Veedol is subjected to the severest j tests before leaving the Tide Water Oil Company’s refinery at Bayonne. N.J. I And every drop of this modern scien- ! tific oil must show its fitness to withstand heat 100 degrees hotter than the hottest friction spot in any motor, 1

Wed. Thu.rs. Motor-cars . . .. 3,176 Motor-cycles Motor-lorries— 539 570 Under 5 tons .. 420 543 Over 5 tons .. .. 3 73 221 Buses 36 Horse vehicles .. 167 5,260 17S 4,724