PROVING GROUNDS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 704, 2 July 1929, Page 6

PROVING GROUNDS

INTEREST IN THEM IS GROWING Interest in what is being accomplished on automobile proving grounds, is apparently growing, if one can judge from the number of questions asked in city motor-car salesrooms regarding stamina and performance qualities of various makes of cars. Proving grounds have raised the standard o£ motor-oar manufacture because tests conducted at these great open laboratories bring about an analysis that could not be obtained by any other means. Years ago, it was the custom of every maker to put each car through a road test of from fifty to one hundred and fifty miles. This was an expensive operation and greatly added to the cost of the machine. Later, practically every manufacturer built a track in the vicinity of his factory where cars were tested. These tracks are in operation today and, with the completely equipped laboratories maintained at each plant, makers are enabled to go ahead and make the cars the very best they know how. The result is the wonderful stamina shown by present-day automobiles. Probably the three great outstanding proving grounds are those which have been constructed in recent years by General Motors, Packard and Studebaker. These have cost an immense amount of money, but, according to officials of these companies, fully justify the expenditure. At these proving grounds, tests are carried on every day, under much more severe conditions than any car woiild ever be called upon to go through in the hands of a private owner. Cars are driven at top speed from thirty to fifty hours at a stretch. Amiable Victim: “It’s perfectly all right, thank you. I’m not a bit hurt.” Motorist: “I say, you're behaving jolly well about it. It’s a real pleasure to knock down a thorough sportsman like you.”