MOTOR NOTES

Wairarapa Age, 24 March 1920, Page 6

MOTOR NOTES

The result of the British enquiry into the retail uprice of petrol—which costs about £7 10s to produce and sells at £23 —draws attention to the fact that the ultimate solution is home production from alcohol or coal. From an Australian point of view the question of reasonably cheap motor fuel is of paramount importance to the advance and welfare of this country, for the automobile is destined to play an important part in the development of the Commonwealth. In Australia we cian produce our own alcohol, and our own benzole, yet nothing tangible is attempted; in fact cold water has been thrown on any proposals that motor fuel should be locally produced. The recent 10,000 miles benzole trial in England demonstrated the absolute superiority of this coal product over petrol-V-the long test proving that benzole' has absolutely no bad effects on any part of the mechanism of an internal combustion engine—if the right quality or grade of this fuel is used. In this country we have unlimited supplies of coal and ahale—and

the opportunity of establishing an industry capable of supplying all oui demands for motor fuel—yet nothing is done. It's worth remembering that America has alone nearly B,OOQ,UoU cars and trucks running on petrol—and at present we get some of her petrol because she can spare it, but what of the time when increased auto-j mobile use in the United States calls for all her motor fuel being needed for home use? The war demonstrateo the absolute need of a country beinj. self-contained as regards motor fuels, in fact the Allies would have lost tlit war if their petrol supplies had failed It therefore behoves this country thai steps be taken that will render Aus tralia independent of imported motor fuel. Here's a key industry that callt for immediate development. An effort has been made in England to revive some of he pre-war automobile sporting events, but the motpi trade has only made lukewarm offen of support and the prospect of anj motor car road races before 1921 iinot promising. The fact of the matter is that the factories in whicl. British cars are produced are still en gaged in the process of settling down, the transition period from war tc peace-time activity having been ron dered unexpectedly difficult by material shortage, labour trouble, anc , latterly, the moulders' strike. Even. when the moulders return, to work the 1 time lost would be difficult to recover, and for many weeks to come the factories would be hard pressed to overtake their arrears. The strike, cou pled with the immense number of orI ders now on manufacturers' books, re presents an influence altogethe. against participation in sporting events that must involve a. consider i able expenditure of time and energ; j in the preparation of competing chas j sis. Upon the whole, therefore, th. | prospect of a inotor car roacl race dui | ing this year is practically non-exisi I ent, but the failure of such, a oompt tition to materialise will not, it i anticipated* prevent the successful or ganisation of the more important h.li climbs and also of race meetings 01 Brooklands track. All earn are cap able of improvement, though the; may be admirable enough a» example of automobile excellence when studio in. relation to the epoch in which the; have their being. In car design ther is no finality, and the period is stric'. ly limited during which any goo model may command a universal saK At present the cry is for (production and although the first law of econom oal production* is to adhere to on model and avoid modification, yet i; this country the public taste is fickl and inclined to favour the ind'ividur car rather than the motor for th< masses. • Therefore all 1 keen automc bile manufacturers show wisdom i they pay "Close heed, not only to th cry of the motor user for his ideal ii care service and equipment, and to th progress of their immediate industria competitors, but also to the work tha is being done in other, allied branchei of engineering, foremost amongst which is aviation. All Britishers wisl to see Great Britain as a leader ii thovinotor industries or the world, i not at first in then m qua] ity; During the war the British ea manufacturers went largely into ih< aeroplane industry, and to 'many O: these there came a unique opportunity to absorb—in fact, some were com pelled to learn modern engineering methods of obtaining interchangeability and of working to fine limitb the use of high-grade material, am the disposal thereof to good advantage as exemplified in aeroplane am 8 aero design. Compet-'tive events wil 8 in due course enable the Ehglisl. | makers to demonstrate the advance ment made in automobile engineering practice based on war experience, and they are wise in first endeavouring tc perfect their- post-war models before rushing them into competition work. In fact very few really post-war cart have yet been evolved —most*of these now being marketed being war models plus slight modifications. An interesting and unique sporting event is to be held at. Lyons in France this month. A race fcetvveen variouF types and makes of military tanks over a circuit full of natural difficulties was being arranged. Such an event should be full of incidents, and 8 draw a big crowd. B Paris is to have its "Brooklands"— for a big automobile racing track is to be erected near Villeparis ; s—some nine miles from the French capital; The speedway is to be a five kilometre | circuit (31-10 miles), whilst tho Width 8 will be 98J feet. The track is to be utilised for motor car and motor cycle racing and car testing. The Sports Committee of the Automobile Club of Victoria struck the right note in connection with the Club's forthcoming hill climbing com-

petition. One of the conditions limits contesting cars to those made in Allied countries, thus debarring cars of | German and Austrian origin. It's a step in the right for why should a club —with great war associations behind it—jgive German and Austrian cars —although built before the war —the opportunity of keeping their automobile trade names prominently before the Australian public? I Easter time will see two important ' motor cycle speed events decided in Victoria. The Motor Cycle Club will conduct a 200-mile race at Sale (Gippsland), whilst a 100-mile event for a first prize of £7.5 will be decided on the Mortlake circuit, over which some particularly fine speed performances have been registered in past years. ■C. W. Korner, of South Australia, and the first motor cyclist to negotiate the overland route between Adelaide and Melbourne in 20 hours, is now completing arrangements for . an early attempt on E. Baker's (U.S.A.) 24 hours' worlcL's road record. This performance was, recorded on the Mortlake circuit (Vic.), the distance being 1027 miles, and Korner and his Dunlop shod "Indian" have a stiff proposition ahead to better the Ameri- I can's ride. I