MOTOR AND CYCLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 April 1918, Page 7

MOTOR AND CYCLE.

NEWS AND KOTES. At tho (Napier motor race.? on-Easier Monday the. .Vapier Club put oil a two days' meet, hut all the big eveutS were reserved for Easter Monday, Saturday's racing being more in the nature of a try one. On .Saturday Coleman was artked to stand all tho .other- 7 'h.p'.- machines up a minimum of two seconds a lap.'and of course i'ouiid 'tho task too much. When on Monday the handicaps for-op-posing 7 h.p. machines were cut down to one second a lap then the "Indian" came into its own and cleaned- up the programme in all events it competed in save one when a 2% h.p. machine with 3J laps start in ten managed to hold this long start and won by almost a lap to spare. However, Coleman, starting, of course, from scratch, led the rest of tho field into second pla.ee. The two big events of the day, tho Hawkfl's Bay Heavyweight Championship and the 15lap Monster Open Handicap were both won by Coleman- The championship, I with all riders off the same mark, was a very simple matter for Coleman us he lias always shown with, his "Indian" that given a reasonable chance nothing" else has any chance with his eight-valve "Indian." The most interest of the day was in the lu-lap Monster Open Handicap. The "'lndian" again was tho last machine to start and the first to finish— Coleman conceding a start to <;? cry other rider in the race. This was a notable performance for both man and machine as they had had a particularly gruelling day and tho manner in which the pair gradually cut down all other competitors was an unqualified testimonial to tho power and reliability of the "Indian." It is remarkable tho mileage that can be obtained from a well-made motor car, driven with care and discretion. x\n authentic case is recorded where a 20 h.p, car travelled over 26 - 2,000 miles; consumed 15,000 gallons of petrol, used more than 200 tyres and had ibeen driven by twenty-live different drivers. It is estimated that tho car is still good for another 100,000 miles. The distance already travelled is equal to nine and alialf times round the world. Motoring has had a further set back in England. Just when tho use of coal gas was beginning to be adopted in lieu of petrol to enable owners to get some use out of their vehicles, the Board of Trade has decided to bring coal gas under the same regulation as applying to motor spirit It is not intended to prohibit the use of gas for motor Vehicles in so far as, subject to other considerations, it may be available, nor to license the quantity that may -bo used, -but to confine its use to essential purpose* only. This probably means that coal gas will only be available for commercial use, doctors, etc., and the everyday motorist who used his car for utility purposes will still have to Keep it in the garage. In commenting upon this decision tbe Light Car (Eng.) says that "It cannot be denied that the announce-, ment by the Board of reported covering tho use of coal-gas is a bad blow for those who had great hopes of this fuel rendering us independent of petrol supplies after the war. For the moment, the anti-motoring interests, assisted by the quiescent, attitudj of our motoring associations, have triumphed. The unrestricted use of coal-gas, .at its present stage of development, is undoubtedly necessary for it to make the progress that is desired. It is the carowner denied petrol who will experiment With gas. Licensed users of petrol will go on using that fuel to a ,-ery great extent. Tho announcement appears somewhat contradictory in its terms, for it is stated that it is not intended either to prohibit the use of coal gas or to license the quantity purchased. It seems clear, however, that the intention is to prohibit all unnecessary motoring, or tho use of cars for purposes which Many would regard as necessary, but a sold official mind would consider to be otherwise. We regret the step thai is forecasted. It seems to upon a desire to reduce expenditure upon labor in the manufacture of gas containers. In face of tho indifferent attitude displayed to tho enormous waste of labor on the manufacture of luxuries, a subject upon which the daily press as a whole remains discreetly silent, we can enly view the coming action with regard to the use of coal-gas in motor vehicles as paltry." An instance of long cycle tyre life has just 'been brought imder the notice of the Dunlop "Rubber Company. A cycle shod with Dunlop tyres was purchased by a Victorian shearer in 1010 and despite that heavy loads have been carried over thousands of miles of the roughest of roads and bush tracks, the same tyres have been in use up to March this year. Nearly eight years continual riding on one set of covers is a remarkable record of durability. During thi3 period 14,970 miles were travelled, recorded by cyclometer, and only two punctures were sustained (in the back wheel) during their life. As a, tyre record this takes some heating.