CYCLING AND MOTORING.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 March 1917, Page 7

CYCLING AND MOTORING.

NEWS AND NOTES. Up to the beginning of the war the automobile manufacturers of England, practically without exception, concentrated on the production of high-priced cars for touring purposes, whilst the Americans set to work to produce cheap, serviceable, cars in quantities. Which policy was right? Is England going on with ideas as prevailed before the war. leaving, the field to the United States in quantity-cars, or is she going to change her tactics? A radical alteration must be made if the British automobile trade is to exist in ten years' time. This is the opinion expressed by an English writer, who states that in the past the English manufacturers have been worshippers of (he ideal. They wanted the reputation of turning out the best cars possible. The leading plants produced model cars in small numbers and usually in the most expensive way.i In most instances the cars were built to meet, English road conditions, forgetful of the fact that if England was to hold her automobile e.vport trade, she must cater for oversea road conditions. To an extent the fine roads in Englant and on the Continent (in pre-war'days) have been practically the cause of the major portion of English makers not studying their export trade requirements vhtreas America's inferior road-; made it necessary to cater for those conditions, with the result that their cars arc designed for rough usage—a fact that makes them, especially when their low price is considered —a very taking propo'sit:on even to the man that favors British made cars. The American ear is burg;'/ utilitarian and sound. Standardisation and huge outputs of one model, has pass.rd on to tiie purchaser of the popular priced American car perhaps not. the same quality as found in the English makes. ; t sound car proposition giving good value for the money, a complete car at a price that appeals, in fact a co-amon sense vehicle that does all the average man wants. English makers have lost their nwrkel in this country for the time being. If they, are to rjgain it after the war, then they must cater for Australasian road conditions as the Americans have done. The average motorist in this country would certainly prefer a Brit.sh-maile I vehicle, but he at lMsfc wants something that will fill his requirements as satis, factory as the popular priced American models are doing to-day. He would not mind paying a slightly enhanced price for British quality and efficiency, out there is a big gap between the prices of English quality cars and American tiblitv cars, a difference that is not equalised in services rendered. Let the English makers still make thoroughbred cars, but at the same time let them standardise popular priced models, complete anr. suitable for Australasian conditions, and market them at a figure within the reach of the man of moderate means, and they will then recapture the Australasian trade. Judging by the efforts made by the American houses to secure this trade, it is a business worth having and holding. In the early days the English farmers opposed bitterly the advent of the motor car and did everything they could to have severe restrictions imposed. At one gathering of farmers it was recommended that a new and novel form of governor should be fitted in the shape of a bomb controlled by machinery which would operate when the car exceeded twenty miles an hour, an index being fitted to give intimation when the danger point was approached. No doubt it would have proved very effective in reducing speed, though under certain cir cumstances'it would place the occupants in a desperately precarious condition. For example, if they got on a really steep hill and their brakes were unable to keep the ear in hand, they would naturally prove victims of the resulting explosion. There were many weird suggestions for reducing speed advanced at that period. The above reminds one of the expressions of opinion voiced by seme Victorians at a country town, during the holding of the first Dunlop Reliability Motor Contest between Sydney and 'Melbourne in 1905. It was suggested that bullock chains be fastened across the road to. prevent the blanky things from using the highway and making a nuisance of themselves. That same town now counts its ears by the dozens, One of the most amazing increases in metal production is in aluminium, of which a considerable amount is used in motor construction. It was only discovered 30 years ago. In 1888 tho output was 2831b5, in 1914 13(5,400,00(Hb5. The employment of this metal is now being used in so many directions that its output is going tip by leaps and bounds. It is just over a hundred years ago since the first man propelled himself on two wheels. That was in Paris in lSlfi. The machine was the hobby horse, which consisted of two wheels connected by a beam of wood on which the rider sat astride, and propelled himself by striking his foot alternately on tho ground. Needless to say, it was of little service on the up-grades. The boots used liaa to bo steel tipped to resist the wear, , Highwaymen are operating on many of the country roads of America, and are making a practice of holding up and robbing motorists at night time. Their method of stopping a ear is exceedingly ingenious. A tyro is laid on the road, and motorists, believing that it has been dropped from another car, naturally stop to pick it up, only to find themselves confronted by armed men, with the alternative of being shot or delivering up their valuables. The police are impressing upon all tourists travelling at night time the necessity of being armed.