ON TWO WHEELS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1030, 22 July 1930, Page 6

ON TWO WHEELS

MOTOR CYCLING FIXTURES July 27.—Social run by Sports Club to Sharpe’s Bush. Henderson; leaving ‘ Western Springs at 10 a.m. August 5. —Monthly meeting of Sports Club. August 12. —Monthly meeting of ; North Shore Club in new rooms. August 16 and 17. —Sports Club’s I annual 250-mile reliability trial for : Pascoe Cup. CLUB DINNER HELD TROPHIES PRESENTED The North Shore Motor-Cycle and Sports Club held its annual prizegiving on Saturday at a dinner in the Domain Kiosk. More than 60 mem- • bers and riders from the Sports Club ; attended.

The programme was in the charge ’ of Mr. A. R. Myers, in the absence of ! Mr. T. Walsh, president. Toasts were j given to the North Shore Club, the • Ladies, Donors of Trophies, and to t Kindred Clubs, and musical items and dancing continued until midnight. The club presented more than 4*> cups and medals won in the sporting events held during the past season. > These included two race meetings, one j at Orewa Beach and the other at i Henning’s Speedway, a 250-mile reliability trial and a sporting scramble. Trophies for a pillion reliability test : had been presented during the season. ; Speakers during the evening com- j plimented the club on the progress ■ made since its formation three years ago, and foretold an even greater growth in the future. On Sunday members of both clubs combined in a run to Manly, on the Whangaparoa Peninsula. Ten machines made the journey. which included several slippery clay patches. The following took part: A. Christie (Big X and sidecar). Alston Christie ; (Norton), A. Myers (Indian 4 and side- ! car), J. Parker (Velocette), M. H. Wiseman (Velocette), A. J. Brunsden (8.5. A.). ‘J. Frecey (Sun). T. Alex- j ander (Excelsior) and D. McLaren i (A.J.S.). Passengers were Mrs. Christie and Miss T. Whittington.

HINTS FOR MOTOR-CYCLISTS

What actually happens when an engine “pinks” is a question about which there is some controversy, but it is generally recognised that the noise is caused by a violent explosion, and the impact of the piston against the cylinder walls. Since there is an appreciable clearance between the piston and the cylinder, when the force of the explosion comes on to the piston on the down stroke,' the piston moves across the cylinder owing to the oblique situation of the connecting rod. Normally the oil film cushions this shock, and when the engine is running fast the piston has actually commenced to descend as the gas expands. When the engine Is running slowly against a load, however, the explosion causes a more violent shock because the piston is descending too slowly to compensate for the sudden expansion. Retarding the spark delays the explosion until the piston has gathered sufficient speed to keep pace with the expanding gases, and so eliminates the knock. On most sidecars the back of the seat is hinged to form a door to a receptacle in the tail of the sidecar body, and can bo opened forward without greatly disturbing the passenger. An accessible place for carrying two spare sparking plugs is provided by the back of this door. To make a pair of clips to hold the plugs obtain two spring tyre-pump clips, benr their semi-circular ends out flat, drill a hole in each flat end, and screw them to the back of the seat. On some motor-cycle engines, especially those fitted with double valve springs, it is often a difficult matter to get oil from even the smallest oil can, through the spring coils to the valves. By using a small pointed paint brush, and a mixture of engine oil and graphite the valve stems can be lubricated very efficiently. This process should be carried out about once during every 500 miles running. %