MOTOR & CYCLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 January 1920, Page 12

MOTOR & CYCLE.

NEWS AND NOTES. . If ITie motor-mJe sidc-tai fa to retain its value ss .1 wXßing proposition "111 this country—■and there are no indications as vet of its failing to interest the public—then greater attention must be given to the sprhvgmg systems employed Not that aide-ears in which the springing leaves little or nothing to ho desired cannot be found, for several designs are noteworthy in this respect, but, as a general rule, instead of merely in exceptional cases, improvements are needed in this direction, Some of the springing systems employed appear to be admirable when the car is new, that is before it has eoiuo under the .influence of the inevitable overloading which i; the lot sooner or later of every "attachment," but after a too brief spell of satisfactory service it is found that the side-car has Jost ita early virtues, and is suffering damage to the body through "bumping" or swaying action. Alternatively the springing is too stiff, and remains so after the car has been run in, during which, latter process the occupant has most likely gone through a bad time, whilst the machine has been traversing rough roads. It is indeed irue in only relatively few cases that the springing is carried out on correct, scientiiic lines, with proper resiliency from the start, absence of undue stiffness or, as an alternative, bounce, and the ability to afford permanent satisfaction under a variety of conditions. What some designers apepar to lose sight of altogether is "that the springing must be bo arranged that vibrations and shocks in both the vertical and horizontal directions must be provided against; the car body must be capable of a swinging but not a swaying motion, and this within certain limits only. "Sloppiness" is not 1 very elegant term, but it rightly describes a class of movement that is very undesirable and must bo avoided in the suspension of a side-car body, and initial stiffness, even though pronounced, is to be preferred. Mr. C. W. Korner, the South Australian Crack who recently won the trophy donated by the Bunlnp Rubber Co. for the first motor-cyclist to negotiate the .180 miles between Adelaide and Melbourne in 20 hours—riding the distance in ]9hrs. 35min. on a Runlop shod Indian—has now decided, to make an effort to establish new figures for the 24 hours world's record. The existing record is 102T miles, ridden by the American E. Baker at Mortlak'e (Victoria) in 19M5. The probabilities are that Korner will select the same course for his attempt, which will bo made earlv in the new year. The South Australian rider has already had experience of all day riding, for in 1913 lie put up a wonderful performance by covering 8">0 miles in '24 hours on a ;fi horse power machine. This fine ride was accomplished on a South Australian circuit.

The gigantic growth of the motoring movement, in the United States of America, is well illustrated in the following figures:

Number of motor manufacturers in the U.S., 550. Number of States possessing factories, 32. Number of passenger cars produced in 1917, 1,718,778. Number of commercial cars produced in 1917, 160,000. Average retail price of passenger cars in 1917, £145. Number of firms making motor parts, 5.759. Capital invested by body, parts, and accessory makers, ,-C'C7".'200,000. Dealers, garages, and repair shops in U.S., 46,000. Number of motor vehicles registered U.R .during 1918, 0.140,817. Number of persons in U.S. to one car. 21. Number of cars to each mile of made road, 15. Number of ears in use in Europe, January 1, 1917, 437,558. Wholesale value of passenger and civilian commercial vehicles produced in 1918. £247.221,383. Amount of capital invested in the car industry,, £259,400,000.

If each car carries 3 passengers 3,000 miles in a year (a very low estimate), the total passenger mileage is 45,000000,000 (forty-five thousand millions). These figures afford a fairly accurate idea of the productive powers of the American motor industry. I When the latest English files left England, considerable interest was being taken in the big motor attraction —the Olympia Automobile Show. In pre-war da>s the Olympia Exhibition was the event of the year in Englu-h motoring circles, and now after a lapse of six years its revival was being awaited with inasmuch as many new innovations were anticipated as the result of war experiences. Chief amongst the new features forecasted were:— Almost universal adoption of electric self-starters and electric lighting. Construction of encino and gear-box as one unit. Tncreasin" number of six-cylinder models. Inf.* proved springing of cantilever type. Four-wheel braking. Improved coachwork. Greater accessibility of all vulnerable parts. Considerable weight reduction in chassis and engines. The cabled result of the big six days bicycle race annually held at Madison Square Gardens, New York, shows that Australia was again to the fore in this rich event. The winning team comprised A. T. Goullet (Australia) and Madden. The first-named is easilv the greatest six days' rider the world has seen, he having won quite a number of these events. The only two races of this de- I "eription held in this part of the world —one in Sydney and one in Melbourne -saw Goullet in the leading team. Another Australian rider, McNamara, finished third, teaming with Muffin. Does the average motorist appreciate at its true value the restfulness and ■•harm of the Australian bush? A real r—t amidst the glims— with the scentladen air floating along under the shade of the giants of the forest—offers a sranii respite from the turmoil and hustle of. the crowded city. The lure of the bush appeals more or less to every Australian, and to motorist,-, is given the means to enjoy its healthful charms in the fullest measure. Motorist* are masters of distance, untrammelled by train or boat, and can reach and partake of the gifts of the bush 1 Willi ease and comfort. The car or j inotur-pvele of to-day will fake one I pwefieallv anywhere. One essential to ' pleasurable trirw is absence of tyre j trouble*. Tim best insurance is to'fit mi with tvres that have won a rcpu- I taiion for heins.' dependable and capable I of standing ni> fo hard work on' our i road and bmh irn.'ks. In this ennnee- j tion there is nothing better thnn the I pop'lar "Duulop,"