MOTOR NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 213, 16 February 1915, Page 6

MOTOR NOTES.

BRITISH EXPORTS INCREASE IX . WAR TIME. Exports of British-made, motor cycles in November actually increased from £87,540 in 1913 to '£9:5,233 this yenr This is the finest tribute possible to the efficiency of the British Navy. Just imagine record exports during war time. It will reflect throughout the world the normal state of the country and particularly the motor-cycle industry. The imports of foreign-made motor cycles arc, of course, considerably down, and are, indeed, but a fraction of what they were. The import and export figures for the month of November, and also the figures for the eleven months ending November 30th, are given hereunder:—

VALUE OF MOTOR CYCLES AND PARTS THEREOF. Nov. 1912. Nov. 1913. Nov. 1914 £ £ £ Exports 70,880 87.549 95,233 Imports 14,428 27,910 2,103 MOTOR CYCLES AND PARTS THEREOF FOR II MONTHS ENDING, NOVEMBER 30th. 1912. 1913. 191!. £ £ £ Exports (W 1,945 908,103 1,094,709 Imports 187, S4O 241,050 153,351

THE OVERSEAS MARKET FOR MOTOR CYCLES. Another reason for the increase of the exports of British-made motor cycles is that manufacturers at home are at least paying attention to the special requirements of motor cyclists overseas. During the eleven month -, of the present year, and despite the fact that the war affected the Overseas market during August in particular, over a million pounds' worth of British-made motor cycles have been shipped abroad.

CONTINUOUS HIGH SPEED IN AMERICA. I,i a three hundred mile race at Savannah, U.S.A., at the end of last month, the winner, who was mounted on an Indian machine, covered the distance in shr 2m. 32sec. This equals an average speed of practically sixty miles per hour, iThe course was 11.25 miles to a lap over good roads.

INCREASE IN MOTOR CYCLE TYRE EXPORTS. The war no doubt has been the cause of British exports of tyres and tubes for motor cycles Increasing from £4,180 to .17.047 during November, 1013, and November, 1914, respectively. Germany enjoyed a large export trade in tyres prior to the war, I n the eleven complete months of this year our motor cycle tyre export trade'equalled £03,031.

LIGHTWEIGHTS FOR DISPATCH RIDERS. It is not unlikely that lightweight machines will be. tried by the War Oflice for the work of despatch riders during the winter campaign. There is no doubt that they would score on rnin-soddened by-roads on account of their handincsa, light weight; and extreme mobility.