MOTORING AND CYCLING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 224, 21 March 1914, Page 7

MOTORING AND CYCLING.

AIIVAXT AGIOS OK MOTOR CI.UBS. The motor registers of the various local bodies in the vicinity of Now Plymouth arc annually Incoming greater, anil that of the New Plymouth borough alono must be formidable. With all these motor-ears and motor-cycles it seems strange that, except m Maniua and Stratford, no determined effort has of bite been made to form motor clubs. These organisations, if conducted in 11 proper manner, are of great help to motorists. The mere matter of providing facilities for the gathering together, of motorists to exchange experiences, etc., is but one of the advantages to he secured from such an organisation. The greatest value, however, is in the organising of competitions, for these help a motorist to ascertain the maximum capabilities of his machine, and also to find out the most economical method to get maximum results. There is at least one club in South Taranaki whose members were able to extend their knowledge of the finer points in motoring in a very short time _ by the organising of petrol-consumption, hill-climbing and other tests. The result is that, those members now find a new interest in motoring. The stimulus given to motor riding by tins friendly rivalry is wonderful, and there is no doubt that motoring would become even more popular if gatherings of riders could be arranged regularly. It only t° tivko the initiative to bring about the results indicated.

GREAT MOTOR CAR FEAT. The fastest and finest achievement yet accompliedied in Australia on a motor t car is undoubtedly Murray Aungor's great ottsdand drive from Melbourne to Adelaide'. His gross time from capital to capital was 14 hours 54min 42scc, his actual driving time being over thirty minutes less. Needless to say, very fast speed was maintained along the good stretches of Toad to establish an average pace of nearly 40 mi|e= per hour. Across one i'G-milc stretch of a dried-up lagoon, a speed of 80 miles was sustained—tall travelling for u 4-cylin-der car with an engine of Oam.m. bore by MOm.m. stroke. An outstanding feature of the trip was tl|o fact that only 25 gallons of petrol were used, averaging oyer 20 miles to the gallon, which would be a good fuel consumption for a 15-h.p. car travelling the route under normal conditions. The car was fitted up with a light aluminium body, tapered off to a tail at the rear to reduce windage—a big factor in such a run.

BENZOLE. The experience of benzole users for motor cycles appears to be that it has a chemical action on the metal of the tank. Several such instances have been recorded. The new spirit, too, is said to have a deleterious elTect on the valves, one motorist stating that after a run of 400 miles his exhaust valve becomes completely burnt out, although the inlet valve remains perfect. An English chemist, however, points out that those results are brought about by the production of an inferior grade of spirit. From the purest form of benzole no trouble is experienced. T3iere is greater difficulty in starting upon benzole on a cold day than with benzine, but once the engine becomes hot more air and leas fuel is required with benzole than with any other spirit. A NEW CYCLE ENGINE. A new motor cycle engine has been produced in England. This is the Goto self-starting and reversing motor cycle engine. Its greatest advantage (is that it will run on paraffin. The engine is controlled through its valve gear. THE AUSTRALIAN RIDERS. Don. Kirkham, the crack Australian road rider, who is now in Franco, states that none of the Australian team will compete in the six : days' /:;.ccs, but will turn their attention towards the road. Kirkham states that the average gear used by the French road cracks is under 77, unless a following wind is blowing, when a higher gear is subtsituted. In some events they use free wheels, especially when cycling in mountainous country. Each member of the team is being provided with ten machines by the Clement - Gladiator Co., built to their own requirements, the idea being that in the event of a rider smashing lib machine up others will be ready built up to bis own requirements. The team is to I'ide Mid train over the various eoursen,

.'■ '" NOTES. Since 1011 the number of automobiles in the United States of America has advanced from 522,039 to 1,127,040, an increase of 50.3,(101. These figures, which are oflicial, include commercial vehicles. \ He Palma, one of the crack American drivers, has succeeded in carrying off ti<e Vandorbilt Cup, which a few years back was the most important motor road event in America. This year, owing to the dilllctllty of obtaining a safe .and satisfactory course, the race was held at Santa Monica, in California. The distance was 204 miles—3o laps round an B'/ s miles circuit—and De Palma averaged 73% miles per hour.