MOTOR AND CYCLE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 267, 21 April 1915, Page 7

MOTOR AND CYCLE.

NEWS AND NOTES. STANDARDISATION OF .MOTOR TYRES. j The recent decision of the English Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders in connection with the standardisation of the size of pneumatic motor tyres is a move which should eventually serve the best interests of car-users and manufacturers alike. A multiplicity of sizes lias ever been a source of petty inconveniences, and many motorists have suffered the annoyance of being lieid up at some out-of-the-way spot when the rims of their wheels permitted only the employment of a size of tyre that happened to be unobtainable in that particular locality. For* the manufacturers themselves a saving will ultimately lie effected by the fact that they wiil be able to curtail the number of moulds and a certain amount of plant. Retail traders will he saved trouble, as they will have to stock only certain standard sizes, and will avoid the delay now often experienced in being obliged to send to the head depot for a tyre of unusual measurements. For the sake of private motorists it is satisfactory that the manufacturers have not placed any difficulty in the way of including in the standard schedule certain large sizes that have a tendency to become increasingly popular. It lias been decided that eventually only eleven different sized covers will be made by all tyre manufacturers, the proposed sizes for European cars being: 700 x SO, to fit USO x (55 rim (light cars); 700 xB3 and 710 x 00, to fit 710 x !'() rim: 700 x 90, 810 x 9ft. 815 x 105, 820 X 120, 880 x 120, 895 x 135, 935 x 135, 915 x 175. As the hitest list of the Australian Dunlop Co. shows that 39 sizes in millimetre, covers are manufactured, besides 15 to suit American rims, it will be readily realised what a saving of time and money will be eventually effected by the standardisation. Needless to say, it will take some time before the effect of the new arrangement will be felt, but in due course the many odd sizes that are now in use will gradually vanish, to the benefit of all concerned.

j One of the outstanding chapters of tlie history of the war, when it comes to l>e written, will he that relating to tlie important part taken in the transport, department of tlie military operations by motor omnibuses—a type of automobile which has lien largely pressed into service by both the British and French War Offices. It is common -knowledge that on the outbreak of hostilities every motor 'bus in Paris was commandeered by the French military authorities. While London was more fortunate in not having to experience the same dislocation of public traffic facilities, a very large number of the London General Omnibus Co.'s vehicles were withdrawn from London and shipped to France, and since then the company has been working night and day in filling Government orders for Imscs and motor lorries for service in France and Flanders. One of the important services the company was able to render to England was the supplying of -2000 expert motor drivers for use in France and Belgium, whilst, all told, 4500 employees of the company arc now serving their country in one form or another.

The Vandorbilt Cup, the classic motorcar road race of America, was decided in San Francisco last month, resulting in a win for the English driver, 1). Resta, wllo had previously gained considerable fame as a Sunbeam driver. Resta's time for the. 300 miles race was 4hrs. 27 min. 37sec.—equal .to an average speed of 67,3 miles per htfur. The winner drove a Peugeot car. The contest was held on a special speedway, nearly 3 9-10 miles to the lap, erected at the Panama Exposition. A tremendous crowd witnessed the event. 1). Resta a week previous also carried ofT the other bi;! American motoring event, the Grand Prize, negotiating 104. laps (about 390 miles) in heavy rain and slush, in 7hrs. 57min. f)7see., 58 miles per hour. In both events AVilcox (Stutz) was second, and, strange to say. was seven minutes behind the winner in both races.

The voices of motoring may be said to constitute a paradox. When the mo-tor-car was in its infancy, and the influence was weak and doubtful, its voice was loud, raucous and disagreeable, the subject of much chaO' in some quarters, and of annoyance in many others. Fifteen years or so ago this voice was heard grunting, snorting, bellowing along the country roads. In fact, one of the evils from which the new. mode of locomotion suffered was that attributable to its noisy voice, which acted as a disturber of the peaceful solitude of the country-side, frightened pedestrians and horses, and was the cause of much of the early antagonism. Now, when the influence of the motor vehicle is strong and virile, with unbounded possibilities before it, and its power is felt on land, on sea, and in the air, its voice is little more than a murmur. As the strength and hold of the motor movement increased, its outward and audible sign diminished to a comforting, rhythmic purr. No longer can the voice of the motor be "accounted a disturbingelement, and it will now be. readily acknowledged that the benefits its existence has conferred on the whole community amply compensate for the noisy voice of its infancy.

Nowadays when the detachable wheel is fitted to most up-to-date cars it is essential that motorists carry a strong reliable jack with a good base, for should a car when jacked up (with detachable wheel off) slip oil' and bump into the ground, considerable damage is likely to result to the axle. It is folly at any time to jack up a car without at the same time scotching the wheels, and especially does this apply when out on the road, where inequalities in the surface manifest themselves. Also, the usual procedure of detaching the spare wlieel, in fact, having everything ready to hand for tlie replacement before detaching the wheel to be replaced, is much the safest. .Tacks, as supplied with the kit of the average car, are by no means all they should be, and a jack with a small base is ever a dangerous thing unless many precautions are taken. As a matter of fact, unless tlie original jack supplied with the kit is moderately good, it is wiser in the end to purchase one of the many excellent types at present on tlie market.

The value of the soldier cyclist lias been proved up to the hilt in France, with the result that the French military authorities have decided to form numerous cyclist companies in which will be incorporated practically all the 1015 recruits who can ride a bicycle. This decision means that practically all the men 'who would in ordinary circumstances have joined the cavalry arc to become cyclists.

A now form of mull'ler for the exhaust gases of automobile and aeroplane engines has just been brought out l»v a firm. It consists of a. small

turbine wheel which is revolved rapif'ly by the impinging exhaust gas, breaking its force and converting tlx; explovivo noise into a slight hissing sound., j'jut of tin' gases are caught by a baffle plate, but the back pressure caused by this is so small as to be almost negligible. There is no loss in potter'"from the motor, and the , inertia of the revolving wheel assists in drawing the exhaust gas from the pipe and manifold, even alter the force of the piston movement has i issed. The device takes a smaller space than the ordinary baffle plate ninll'!. r.