THE MOTOR WORLD.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 May 1922, Page 11

THE MOTOR WORLD.

SOME INTERESTING NOTES. The Royal Automobile Club of v Vistorla, which, by the way, has now over 3000 members, will this week decide whether the Club will run a 1000-mile Alpine Reliability Contest this year. The great success achieved by the club with its 1921 event created the feeling amongst ■ club members and the trade that this fine sporting test should be made an annual event, and the probabilities are that it will be. Should the event be held next November, the sports committee entrusted w.cn the running will have no enviable task, inasmuch as a far larger number of contestants may be reasonably anticipated, which means that probably well over 2000 people would have to be accommodated each night of the contest, which will more than likely be spread over seven or eight days. Last November the accommodation was severely taxed, so that a much larger field of contestants this year may call for a division of the field, the small cars starting say a day before the larger cars. This arrangement, while easing the accommodation trouble, will call for a much larger staff of officials en route. It is quite possible that several deviations may be, made from last year’s route. Mallacotta Inlet has great attractions, and would add considerable enjoyment and interest to the test, but lack of the necessary accommodation for a large party is the stumbling block, but motor lorry caravans could be used to overcome the difficulty. Again, the magnificent scenic route over Mt. Hotham (6100 feet) between Omco and Mt. St. Bernard is another fine section of the Alps that would add charm and also extra severity to the test. On thing is certain; many motorists are looking forward to taking part in this year’s Alpine test. Early announcement by the club is anticipated. and it is advisable, so that the automobile trade, not only here but in Europe and America, can make arrangements to compete if they so desire. « • • • An instructive demonstration of the motor trunks for luuilmtr of

road-making material was recently held near Brisbane. The trucks were used to haul sand and metal to the new reservoir at Tarnagindi Bill. It was demonstrated that each truck could deliver eight loads a day, equal to 24 tons, while horse lorries could only make two trips of one and a quarter tons each, or two and a half tons per day.

Now that steel disc motor car wheels are getting fairly numerous on our roads, it would be interesting and instructive to hear whether the use of these rigid metal wheels has any effect in increasing tyre wear as against the use of wire wheels. The general experience of the automobile trade and motoring public is that the wire wheel, the most popular form of automobile wheel on the road to-day, tends to long life of the tyre, a fact that has been borne out by many lasts carried out under varying conditions. As tyre upkeep is an important, factor with most motorists, the -question of wheel design or tyre wear is an important cne. There is no getting away from the fact that the wire wheel of today is \yeight for weight the strongest wheel that has been devised. It is interesting to note that it was the invention of the wire wheel that made cycling practical.

The experience gainwl in this connection was applied to the motor car wire wheel.. and after years of testing on the

cars of hundreds of thousands of motorists it lias become recognised as the ideal ' wheel for safety, comfort, and the lightening of tyre wear. It ie instructive to note that for cars built for speed lot any of the world’s leading sporting events, the wire wheel is always selected. Some time back an interesting test was conducted in England over an aggregate of 250,000 miles. One hundred tyres were selected, all of one size. Fifty were fitted to wire wheels and fifty to wheels that were not of wire. The covers on the wire wheels gave an average of 3454 miles each; those on the loss resTliont 'wheels ran an average of 2050 miles. Tn the face of such facts the rigid steel disc wheel has been adopted bj r several European car manufacturers, probably as a means of cheapening production costs. Good features of this type of wheel are its great strength and the fact that it is easy to clean, but in the writer’s opinion these advantages are as nought, if tyre wear is increased by its use. This is a. matter of considerable importance to motorists in -this country, and is a subject that calls for further enlightenment. Here is an opportunity for some of the automobile clubs' to carry out. some instructive tests, in which no doubt the motor ti;ade would be willing to assist.