MOTORDOM

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1054, 19 August 1930, Page 6

MOTORDOM

SAFETY FIRST A.A.A. CAMPAIGN Tho Auckland Automobile Association is embarking on a comprehensive scheme for the promotion of “safety first" on the road, desires to make it I known that it is endeavouring to rej duce the number of accidents which are occurring by means of educational propaganda. It is felt that there are many hundreds of motorists who are honestly endeavouring to drive reasonably and are committing minor breaches quite unconsciously. If their attention can be drawn to these matters, there should be no doubt that the information will he appreciated and will result in a marked improvement in the standard of driving. It is very easy for one driver to I criticise the action of another, but he may quite unconsciously ct nimit tho I same fault himself without really being aware of his mistake. * The A.A.A. is also appealing to local bodies to adopt the same attitude, which is an endeavour to lsad rather than drive, the association being of the opinion that while there are road users to whom an appeal in the interest of “safety first" would be without result, there are many th aisands of motor vehicle drivers who would cooperate to the best of their ability to reduce the heavy toll of life and limb due to motor accidents. NEW SHELL OIL The placing on the market by the Shell Company of the new Single Shell Motor Oil marks a distinct step in the direction of lighter lubrication for the modern motor engine. Its working on the test benches of the company shows that it maintains an unbroken film of oil on moving surfaces under all working conditions, and successfully explodes the theory that body or weight of oil has anything to do with its lubricating qualities. Actually, heavy lubricant clogs the working system and prevents the oil from quickly passing up the cylinder walls when the engine is started. It is estimated that the friction from this source-—from the slow movement of heavy oil during the starting process—is responsible for more engine wear than all other factors of wear combined. Realising this, all the latest improvements in lubricating- oil have lain along two directions: first, an increase in the viscosity or oiliness of the lubricant. and second, a decrease in the weight factor, so that absolute fluidity is assured from the actual moment of pressing the starter. The new Single Shell Oil is claimed to strike a perfect balance between these important elements of viscosity and lightness, and should effectively solve -the starting troubles usually attendant on cold weather motoring.

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HEADLIGHT

BRITISH MOTOR TRADE IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS Important developments are now proceeding at the works of the Humber-Hillman combination with the object of greatly increasing production. The two works are being unified, the plants remodelled, and large extensions are being effected at the Hillman works in order to render efficient big-scale production possible. New machine tools to the value of £700,000 are being installed, and by March next, Messrs. W. E. and It. C. Itootes anticipate a production of 100 cars a day, which they, as selling agents, will be called upon to handle. This year the Humber models in particular have been in unprecedented demand, an output of nearly 200 a week having been attained. The new enterprise entails world-wide sales upon which the brothers Rootes have been concentrating vigorously for a considerable time past. NOTABLE VISITORS To mark the first stage of the vast changes which are taking place, the Jlumber-Hillman combine entertained Mr. J. IT. Thomas, Secretary of State for the Dominions, and Mr. Stanley M. Bruce, the former Prime Minister of Australia, at the Coventry works, were they were welcomed by Colonel J. A. Cole, Sir George May, and Mr. Belisha. From the speeches it was apparent that a new spirit of optimism prevails concerning the i)ossibilities of increased overseas sales, and that in future the companies concerned will manufacture for the Dominions models of the kind overseas buyers require, ignoring in such types the possible disadvantages for the home market from the taxation point of view. Tn this connection it appears doubtful whether the handicap of a relatively high tax is so great as it has been hitherto considered, since, if it were so vital as it has become the habit to regard it, there would be very few American-type cars sold in England. In a long address to the HumberHillman workmen, Mr. Thomas pointed out -that of 6,000,000 cars produced last year. Great Britain contributed only 211,000. Our Dominions, excluding Canada, bought 600,000 cars, or nearly three times the total output produced in Great Britain. Mr. S. M. Bruce did not mince his words. “I am one of the people," he said, “who have abused the motor industry of Great Britain; probably I have abused it a little more hardly than anybody else. I came to the Imperial Conference in 1923, and we had a meeting of the motor manufacturers, and there I left little unsaid of my opinion of them and their inefficiency and the way they were losing a great opportunity. “GO ON WITH IT" “I came back in 1926, and I did not think they had reformed particularly. I said it all over again, and on this occasion was a little more offensive. What roused me to it is that there are three Dominions alone I (Australia, New Zealand and South ! Africa) where there is £18,000,000 aj year waiting for the British manufacturer to pick tip. I have never been | very optimistic until 1 came back this time. . . For heaven’s sake, go on with it, as the market is waiting you. I tell you that the Australian people want the British car. You are now getting out the right type of car."

A.A.A. ACTIVITIES A report from tile touring manager of the A.A.A., which was adopted by the council of the association during the week, stated that it had been understood that this year's programme o£ highway construction in the North would provide an all-weather route through the Dome Valley between Warkworth and Wellsford. It was not thought that this road could be metalled with permanent material for the coming winter, but it was understood that possibly a surface similar to that on the Puhoi-Warkworth route might be provided. Representations will be made to the Main Highways Board by the A.A.A. to use every endeavour to have this work completed. It was pointed out that if this were carried out it would then leave only the gap between Topuni and Kaiwaka to provide an all-weather route between Auckland and Kaitaia. Tlie. report stated that in view of the financial position it was not likely that the Highways Board would be in a position to carry out the reconstruction of "what would be practically a new road between Topuni and Kaiwaka, during the coming year, and as an alternative suggested that the A.A.A. should approach the board to provide finance to lay down a coating of metal between Te Arai and Mangawai, where there was now only a short distance unsurfaced. GLARING HEADLIGHTS The necessity for drivers to have the headlights of their cars adjusted was further stressed at a meeting of the council of the A.A.A. during the week. The president, Mr. A. Grav. son, said he had noticed a large number of cars with glaring head-lights. It was decided to request the Main Highways Board and the City Council to have their inspectors stop any car with glaring lights, and warn the drivers of their offence. PICNIC SPOTS A new booklet, describing a large number of day and week-end motor tours, within a 40-mile radius of Auckland, will he published shortly by the A.A.A. The facilities available at each resort will be described in detail, and the mileage from the C.P.O. and the condition of the route will also be stated. A supplementary map is to be included in the booklet, and by means of refei-er.ee to the map, the locality of the resort and the shortest route will be noted at a glance.

HIRE-PURCHASE CARS SERIOUS OFFENCE TO SLIT A cable message from South Africa stating that the Government there has decided not to institute criminal proceedings against persons disposing of motor-cars before they have completed the payments under the hire-purchase agreement., draws attention to the fact that in New Zealand sales of this kind are viewed very seriously, and the lav/ provides for a substantial penalty. One Christchurch garage proprietor interpreted the South African Government's decision as a move to restrict the sale of too many second-hand cars to people who could not afford them. It would certainly strike a blow at the motor traders, lie said, but it would make them more cautious in their dealings with prospective buyers. Also, he added, it would leave them at the mercy of unscrupulous people. In selling a car here, he explained, the usual practice was to ask for a third of the cash price as deposit, the balance to be paid in instalments extending over 12 or 18 months. So far as most of the garages were concerned, these deals were financed by guarantee corporations that operated throughout the country. In every case the garage concerned had to back the bill. Over 80 per cent, of the cars that were sold in New Zealand, he estimated, were sold under a hire-pur-chase agreement, and though not infrequently owners missed a payment, there were very few' cars that had to be taken back. “They seem to find the money somehow,” he said. Tn particularly bad times, of course, cars came back on the garage proprietors’ hands more freely. This was being experienced now in both Australia and America, where the second-hand car markets had received big setbacks.

PARKING IN PARIS The Parisian authorities are vigorously attacking the traffic problem, increasing jams threatening to block the streets completely. It has been suggested that five great underground garages or car parks should be constructed at five of the most congested points of the city, while private enterprise would be invited to build more garages where cars can be stored on several floors. The large shops are also to be approached with a view to their constructing underground or roof parking areas for customers’ cars. The question of underground roads is also to be considered.

REDUCED TO MINIMUM OWNER CARE OF A CAR Owner-care of a motor-car has been reduced to a minimum in the past decade and the modern car, with its centralised group lubrication system and other features of convenience, requires remarkably little effort on the part of its owner to keep the car in smooth trouble-free operating condition. Occasional chassis lubrication and a change of oil in the crankcase, together with battery inspection at stated intervals is about all that is required today. But twenty-five years ago, all motorists were confronted with a hard job to keep their cars in operating condition. lfor instance, one of the early instruction books in the days of the two-cylinder, chain drive models, set forth instructions that demanded some real work on the part of the motorist. “Rcniove chain from car frequently,’’ said one paragraph, “and soak in petrol to remove all traces of oil and dirt, place in kettle of melted tallow in which has been mixed one or two tablespoonfuls of flake graphite. The chain, while in the melted tallow should be moved around so as to allow the tallow to work into the pins of the chain. After taking the chain out. allow it to drain and replace on the car.” Today, the drive shaft, which many years ago replaced the chain drive, is completely covered on the modern car and automatically lubricated, and is seldom touched during the entire long life of the car. Some of the statements contained in those early instruction manuals have long since acquired the flavour of quaint humour. The preface of one of these books says, in part: “There are no hard and fast rules which can be laid down that will insure a person becoming a first-class operator. Some peovle have the erroneous idea that only (hose who have received a firs-t-class mechanical training can become good operators. Some of the best drivers, and by “best drivers” we mean those who handle their cars with due consideration and take pride in having their cars properly cared for, are not mechanics in any sense of the word. We have found by experience, for instance, that a man who is a first-class horseman makes a good driver.

DUKE OR DUSTMAN A young Edinburgh motorist was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment, with a fine of £750, or a further three months’ imprisonment, in the High Court of Justiciary, at Edinburgh, in May last. He was found guilty of culpable homicide, but not proven to be under the influence of intoxicating drink. The Lord Justice-Clerk, in summing up, stated that the jury must come to its verdict irrespective of the accused's social position. “Dukes and dustmen.” he said, “stand in precisely the same position in a court of law.”

MORE HINTS

The Care of the Car REPAIRING THE HOOD An easy way to repair a small hole in the hood is to vulcanize it. Clean the hood inside and out, for some distance surrounding the hole, with a petrol moistened cloth, and place a small portion of mastic or tyre dough in the hole. Hold a hot iron against it on one side while an assistant holds one on the other for a few minutes. They will vulcanise the dough to the waterproof hood and make an efficient repair. DRY SPRINGS Dry, rusty springs will make a car ride uncomfortably even if the shock

absorbers are in good order. Rack of lubricant between the leaves often causes a leaf to break. Spring shackles should be greased every 500 miles. IMPROVING A SPRING WASHER A spring washer will act better as a means of locking its nut if you sharpeii the upward and downward projecting edges of the split ends, by rubbing the faces on an emery-stick, oil stone, or piece of carborundum. The sharp edges will tend to dig into the nut and the metal below, should the former start to unscrew. AMERICAN AIR RECORD Cabled advice has been received, dated August 6, that Captain Frank Hawke’s piloting travel-air mystery ship “Texaco 13,” on that date, broke the existing East-West transcontinental airplane speed record of 18 hours 4 0 minutes, by three hours 50 minutes. The time for 2,500 miles from New York to Dos Angeles was 14 hours 50 minutes. Five 15-minute stops were made. Captain Hawke is to stop an indefinite time in Dos Angeles, and will then attempt to break the West-East record of 14 hours 21 minutes. The “Texaco 13” is a low-winged monoplane, 20 feet 2 inches long, powered *by a 300 horsepower Wright J-6 special racing engine. The wingspan is 30 feet with bullet-like streamlined fuselage. She is owned by the Texas Corporation of America, the world’s largest independent oil company.