MOTOR & CYCLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 April 1920, Page 12

MOTOR & CYCLE.

■/•-■ '■ UEWS AND NOTE? - Radiators should be kept full, and periodically cleaned. Hot soda water, allowed to lie in .them for a few hours and then well cleared away, will remove a tremendous amount of deposit which would otherwise detract from their efliciency. The draw off plugs are generally far too small. If the draw off cap at the bottom were of the same effective area as the filling cap at the top, the cleansing of*the radiator with a iiose pipe Jould he much more effectively and efficiently accomplished. Yet- as a rule, makers are content to use a small dribbling tap at the bottom #r releasing the water. This becomes an annoyance when waiting for the water to clear out. Although European manufacturers are disposed to concentrate during this year on productions rather than to interest themselves in racing events, several firms are said to be actively engaged in the production of special speed models. People are turning their attention to the bench at France Island, off Denmark, which lias an excellent stretch for attacking speed records. Special racing cars arc now under construction, and it is probable that they will be seen at France this year. It is understood that the Fiat Company are engaged in the production of a special racing •car with which to make an attack on the records made by Duray at Ostcnd in 1913—also on a Fiat—when the astonishing speed of 142.9 m.p.h. was attained for the flying kilometre (1094 yards). The custom of carrying mascots or "charms" is as old as humanity. Many readers will have recollections of oldfashioned people wfho always carried charms against certain specific evils or dangers, such as rheumatism, drowning, or the influence of the evil eye. They seldom talked about these things, and were, perhaps, a little ashamed of them; but nothing on earth would have Induced them to part with or neglect to wear them. The up-to-date motorist laughs at the recollection of tiiese oldworld folk, and will tell you, in nine cases out of ten, that he carries his mascot "for the fun of the tiling." Perhaps, he does; but there are cases in which he most emphatically does it for a much more serious reason. At any rate mascots by the hundreds are now on the market varying from dainty artistic productions to the ugly * ana grotesque. What a remarkable long distance rider A. T. Goullct (Australia)' is! His successes in six-days' bicycle contests are unique in the history of those events. Year after year he has been winning these races for the last decade. As far back as 1012, he, teaming with P. Hehir, established an Australian record by covering 2055 miles ICSO yards in the six days. During the past three months Goullet has, with a team mate, carried off two such events in New York. In December, paired with E. Madden, he was successful in the big annual Madison Square Garden event, and now it is cabled that, partnered with ,T. Magin, he has again proved his superiority by winning another race of the same description, the prizes for which totalled £ISOO.

The long-standing one-hour paced bicycle record of 63 miles 255 yards, to the credit of Paul Ouingnard. at Munich (Germany) in 1919, was tackled in America recently by the Belgian cyclist, A. Vandcrstuyft. The attempt was made on the motor 2-miles cicular speedway at Shecpshead, New York. Paced by an Indian motor-cycle, his principal times were: Two miles. 2min. 42 2-ssec; 4 miles, 4min. 20sec; 0 miles, Gmin. 11 l-ssec; 8 miles, Train. 5/isec: 10 miles, 9min. 30sec; 12 miles, llmin. 2Sscc; 14 miles, 13min. 181-5 sec; lfi miles, 15 min. 134-Sscc; 18 miles, 19min. 91-5 sec.; 20 miles, 19min. 10 2-ssec; 22 miles 2-lmin. 213-ssec; 24 miles, 23mtn. 27 sec.; 20 miles, 25min. 14sec; 2S miles. 27min. 23sec; 30 miles, 29min. 32sec; 32 miles, 31min. 40sec; 34 miles, 33min. 50 4-ssec; 36 miles. 35min. 58sec; 38 miles, 37min. 40sec.; 40 miles, 30min. 43sec; 42 miles, 41min. 402-sscc; 44 miles, 43min. 2Ssec-; 40 miles, 45min. 142-ssec; 48 miles, 40min. 59 3-ssec: 50 miles, 4Smin. 50 2-ssec; 5$ miles, 50 min. 39 1-ssoe.; 54 miles, s.2min. 261-5 sec/; 50 miles, s+min. l&l-Sseel: 1 5S miles, 56sec. 3 4-ssec; i! 0 miles, 57min. 57 2-ssec.; 617-S miles one hour. Vander.qtuy.ft had the had luck to have hii= big 32 li.p. pacing machine rendered useless through a broken cylinder head, or the chances are that with this contraption he would have got near the Guingnard figures. As it was he broke the American record of 50 miles 3 yards, I held by H. Caldwell, bv nearlv 12 miles.

Owing to the increasing price nf heavy powered motor-cycle side-car outfit? it's questionable whether they will hold their popularity. The ncvt'two or three years will decide the fate of this class of vehicle, whether it is to remain the popular form of cheap transport nr be smothered by the advance in cheapness of first cost of cycle cars and cheap light cars. With a view to determining the relative efficiency of the above classes of vehicles it is proposed in England that ft 1000-miles trial be h-eld over the Scottish roads, to decide which is the most satisfactory and economical typo of these vehicles from the users point of view. Only standard types permitted, and the classification to be according to retail selling price. No doubt such a test would be productive of great interest, particularly if each vehicle were in charge of a trade expert. The probabilities are that on present market figures, the side-car outfit would scone, but all the same the data obtainable would be interesting and instructive. The two most important Victorian motor-cycle speed events of the year will be decided during Easter week. The old time Mortlake' ''2oo" has now been transferred by iihe Victorian motorcycle Club to a new venue, the 200 miles course being near Sale, in Oippsland. At Mortlake a new event, a 100 miles han--1 dicap for a prize of £7">, has been promoted by the local Club. Both events 1 have drawn good fields, and some fast racing is anticipated if the weather is propitious. A novel motor tyre non-skid chain has been patented in America and is creating interest amongst motorists. The device can hardly be called a "chain." The links, which are interchangeable in case of breakage, are flat on tho running surface. The entire link is "U" shape, the tyre fitting into the opening of the "U." The face wbich strikes the road, is two indies square and is corrugated. Extra links may be added in a twinkling to make the chain fit a tyre of any size. When properly applied the chain will be noiseless. It will act as a tyre protector and it is claimed that when the tyre is removed after the chain lias been used for a season, the tyre will be in the same condition as when the chain was applied. In case of puncture it will not be necessary to repair the tyre, the broad links of the chain making a smooth running surface and the car may be driven to the nearest garage without the slightest injury to £yre or rim. The rim or the tyre is

not clanged. It is estimated that the chain for 30-inch tyres will weigh approximately 14 pounds when manufactured from malleable cast iron. The idea is certainly striking and if it can accomplish what is claimed by its inventor, would prove a great boon to motorists.

Mr. S. F. Edge, the well-known English motoring authority, states that after investigating the mattor of present English car prices, he is satisfied that firms arc justified in asking the prices charged. More than that, he is of tne opinion that any motor manufacturer who has not advanced his price at least 100 per cent, on pre-war figures, will not be able to pay pre-war dividends. The reason broadly is that workers are drawing twice their former pay whilst materials and cost of manufacturing have more than doubled in many instances.