MOTOR CYCLE NOTES.
1,000 MILES FOR 10 SHILLINGS.
HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1931.
SPARKS
FROM THE PLUGS
WHAT IS ROAD SENSE? A PROOF OF CHEAPNESS
::
Ättempt to defINE A VERY ELUSIVE, QUALITY,
BY CAMSHAFT"]'
AND RELIABILITY,
THE UTILITY MOTOR CYCLE.
Never before has the economy of the modern motor cycle been de monstrated so convincingly as in
BRITISH DRIVER'S TYRE BURST AT 110 MILES
ESCAPE.
BALANCED BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH IN THE ALPS.
The British motorist, Mr. Donald Healey, had a thrilling escape on the first stage of the 1,800-mile Al- pine trial course,
Ascending the Floxen Pass, Hen-
ars in the narrow, winding road to ser a charnbane bearing down on him. On one side towered the great mountain, and on the other there was a drop of several hundred feet into a river. Trying to squeeze
off.
AN HOUR.
· CAR-RACER'S ESCAPE.
Montihery (France), August 7- Mr. G. E. T. Eysice, the British
racing motorist, who is attempting
SERVICE AT ITS BEST.
CATERING FOR THE OVER-
SEAS MOTORIST.
OLD" CROCKS" TRIAL.
THE MOBILE POLICE.
LIFE IN THE OLD DOGS YET.
WHAT ARE THEY DOING Service is such an important fag AND WHAT ARE THEY FOR? tor in the sale of a motor-ear that With motorcycle trinis hold in it is of interest to note the devolop The Mobile Police have been numbers every week-end at Home,ments made by a leading firm of established long enough now for to set up frosh figures for, Glass it is only natural that the general London Distributors, to increase their usefulness to be apparent, but cars (1,100 cc.), had a remarkable public should have lost interest in their extensive facilities for cater we find ourselves wondering exactly escape from disaster at Montihery them; but there was no lack of ning for the Overseas visitor who what their achievements in the this morning when he burst a front terest in the "Old Crocks rialwishes to use a car during his stay general scheme of things amount to remarks The Motor. They are car which took place recently in Eng in England. land.
This firm has for many years tainly to be seen in pairs, com an hour.
Described as the "Pioneer run to offered visitors exceptional terms in fortably seated in two-seater cars, eles and quadricycles of historiced car and buying it back at a ling as speedily as possible for some Brighton for motor-bicycles, tricy scheme for supplying a new orbit they invariably seem to be mak- interest," the event attracted entry of 60, of whom, despite the pro-arranged figure when the owner destination without evincing any vagaries old age mounts, & attral leaves the country particular concern as to what is tenham Corner, of" Derby "fame,
the recent 1,000 mile test of ley turned one of the sharp corn-tyro, travelling at over 110 miles Francis-Barnett machine under the observation of the Auto Cyclo Union,
The tyre was cut to'ribbons and
I make no apology fur reprinting the following article from the Motor Cycle. It deals with a sub- ject which is of never-failing in- terest to all riders, and makea-an attempt to define something that is usually looked upon as indefinable, Not all who read the article will agree with the writer's views. Whe-formance. Here, however, is a test past, he struck a post and bounced skill he avoide: what seemed cery started. The start was at at Their service has always been of going ou around them
Petrol consumption can be faked to extraordinary agures by robbing the machine of all its useful per
:ther or net motor cyclists aro which not only extended over possessed of n greater degree of several days on the road, but con rond sense than their four-wheeled cluded in tests for speed and hill brethorn is a moot point. I would climbing on Brooklands Track with imagine that a motor cycliät and a out any adjustments whatever to cur driver, of equal ability and ex- the machine. perience, would ench possess the saine amount of rond sense; other frise bow could they be of equal
nbility t
The machine, was a Francia. Barnett with a 172 c., two-stroke valiers engine, perfectly standard
His car swung round, hending straight for the precipice. He kept his head and rammed on his brakes, pulling up with his front wheels projecting inte space.
Edgs Crumbles Away.. "For a minute," said Henley, "we balanced between life and death Then I tried to back on to the road and, as my front wheel came back in all respects, including the casto terra firma the edge of the pre- buretter.
The Run.
My own opinion is that road seuse is gained mainly through ex:{ The rider trhoughout the trial perience, and, in a somewhat lesser was Mrs. T. G. Moeten, of Mecten
egree, through the natural apti-Motors, Dorbing. tude of the rider or driver. Even 80, one might well say, which Comer first, aptitude or road The first day's run from London senar?" or "Can a man be an apt to Wetherby, in Yorkshire, was driver. or
rider without road over the easy slopes and curves of sense?" It in-all a very complicat the Great North Road. This sec ed question, and certainly cannot betion of the journey was noteworthy: dealt with fully in this article, for the smoothness of running of which is, after all, merely an inthe engine, which purred away hour troduction to the contribution which after hour,, never missing a beat. follows.
"What is this thing men call road sense, about which we hear so much and know so little? A few years ngo it was unheard of, and to-day It is a household wird. Is it a quality No. It is just sense and nothing else. To put it another way, it is knowing what to do and when to do it, without having to reason why,
The tanks had been supplied with carefully measured petrol and oil at the A.C.U. headquarters, in Pall Mall, London, and replenishments, during the lent were inade with! eurupulous accuracy by the ob server.
The second day saw Mrs. Meeten leaving Wetherby to face 200 odd miles to Edinburgh: The weather remained, favourable, and a speed
The
low in all directions, fragments striking Mr. Eystes in the face This caused him momentarily to le control, but with unsurvaate
tain disaster.
word
As cont as though nothing had and the finish at the Aquarium, the best, but they have recently There are also motorcycle sidecar Brighton. The machines were added to their extensive Servion combinations to be seen carrying happened, he changed his tyre and divided into three classes, acording Station, some extremely interesting two white armed constables, who procorded to set up new figures to age, and bonus, works were equipment that substantiates their generally appear to be out and
Before the accident Mr. Eyston awarded to the more antique.
Felaim to refer to their premises-about on some mission which is best. broke the cords for the 50 kilo
situated in the heart of Londonas known to themselves. By far the A curius feature of the trial was a Super Service Station. Here most efficient type of vehicle for the metres and 30 miles with times of the number of define makes rothers is a machine over which auso had purposes of this force is, 10 m.p.h, and 108 m.p.h, respec presented. The 37 starting manustomer can drive his own car and in our opinion, the sale motor- tively. Afterwards he broke the chines were composed of 31 different obtain an instant reading of the cycle, but following records: 100 kilometres makes, and of these only 13 are on
far siaur, observations at 108 m.p.b.: 100 miles at 103 the market today. The majority of each of the road wheels, whilst might expect them to he, and there retarding power of the brakes on go these are not so numerous as one m.p.h; one hour at 108m.ph..those still manufactured
special arrangements have been have been occasione when traffic British and 200 kilometro, at 108 m.p.h.
made to carry out the necessary density really has called for their There was no prize award brake adjastrucrits at a moment's services-such, for instance, as the od for the best performance notice. Another machine records Air Force Display at Hendon-but of the day, the botter com- the alignment of the front wheels they wure notable by their absence. petitors being given Plaques and detects faults in the steering. They were brought into existence and the less successful Certificates, and this is also at the disposal of ostensibly as traffic guides and All the machines were 17 years old any customer who may care to uso helpers of drivers who occasionally, at least, and some over 30. Yet of it. For chassis lubrication, a rotary but not necessarily intentionally, do the 57 starters, 40 reached Brighton lift is employed to raine the car five the wrong thing in traffic or else and wore thus eligible for award feet above the ground, where each where at the wrong time, but, so far. Only seven of them failed to secure point is easily accessible and grease as we can sas, "this important part the coveted Plaques.
Vis applied to the working parts at of their services has oither not yet Although over a dozen foreign a pressure of 3,000 lbs. per square been fully developed, or else is machines competed, most of the inch.
Fsecondary to the calls upon their premier nwards went to British
The motorist who has not used banditry. Yet their cost and up- time connection with motor machines Triumphs led the eld with nine startors, all of whom these modern methods of keeping keep are met out of the Road Fund! finished, securing eight Plaques and his ear in efficient running order It is known that in the course of a Certificate: In point of numbers can have no conception of the their duties a number of machines the next mort popular make was the saving of time and trouble that are being smashed up, and that Belgian F.N., with an entry of five; they effect, and anyone who is think-
IRISH GRAND PRIX PHOENIX PARK DUBLIN 1931
Familiar names appear in the with the Babies." Mr. Cushran Austin team for the Irish Grand will be remembered as the skilled For instance, when the car in front of hout 3 miles an hour #as Prix, which took place in Dublin, and fearless driver of Alvis cars in stops dend," you, following, are sel maintained. The schedule of the as the supercharged, Sevens entered many thrilling races. In last year's dom taken unawares-that is, if you run was based on an average of 20 by Sir Herbert Austin were driven possess any degree of road sense m.ph. But as time wis neces by Mr. Leon Cushman, Captain
Grand Prix, Captain Frazer-Nash Something told you that he was 80sarily lost in passing through the Frazer Nash and Mr. J. D. Barnes. drove his Austin Seven into third ing to puil up. Perhaps you caught numerous towns, the speed in the In many races Captain Frazer place. The photograph reading a glimpse under a stationary car of a pair of feet. Perhaps you saw country had to be higher than the Nash and Mr. J. D: Barnes have from left to right shows (1) Capt.
a shadow. You may even have act schedule in order to keep up the been seen in the Austin colours, A. Frazer-Nash, (2) Mr. Leon Cush
ed independently of the man in front, but you did it all instinctive- ly. That's road sense.
A Sixth Sense.
Sometimes it would seem almost like thought-rending. A curuless pedestrian steps out from the kerb, rending a newspaper. Yet almost before his foot leaves the pavement your toe is on the brake pedal and the situation is in band That, too, is road senso
Somehow, rond sense seems to be more developed Among motor evelists. than Among most "other" visor's. Cyclists and drivers of horse vehicles are learning that it
average.
The third day dawned with leaden but Mr, Cushman made his debut man and (3) Mr. Donald Barnes.
skies and gale from the south-
west. This meant long stretches of
full throttle in the mountain seccipicncrumbled away. It was the tions between Edinburgh and Car- narrowest escape I have ever had." Meanwhile two among the liste. · The drength of the wind in-
60 competitors battled with each creased towards afternoon, to such
an extent that the throttle had to other throughout the 300-mile run, be opened wide on the long down-and finished with honourL hill slopes of Shap Feli Rain eren. Princess Shelagh Liechten: began to fall, and the conditions became decidedly unpleasant,
Adverse Conditions.
FOREIGN, CARSTM“MADE IN ENGLAND."
WORK PROVIDED BY
MCKENNA DUTIES.
There was nover a better exam stain, daughter of the late Mple of the auccess of the McKenna Hoscoe Brunner, who was driving a Dutics thun in the new British-as- big Gremau car, gained a big lead sembled and upholstered Chrysler, from Mrs. Lionel Martin, but the and De Soto cars, now being pro latter pulled up in the second ball duced at Mortinke, " and both cars rolled into Inne bruck within half a minute of each
Official Certificate.
The new models present newide held of choice to the buyer, rang ing from the De Bete six-cylinder Balcon of 19.8 kp, coating under. $300, up to the £1,000 Imperia
Chrysler limousine saloon, with it! sight cylinders of 33.20 h.p. rating, developing 125 h.p.
and
T Inspected these 1932 cars, BuyĄ 4 motoring correspondent, found them equipped; with all thy latest devices for comfort. The new Chrysler six-ylinder models range in pripe from £302 (saloon) te 30 for the convertible soups, giv ng remarkable good value.
But good as the care were in looks and performance, much bet
On the fourth day a start was nade from Warrington in pouring rain. This continued hour after other. hour. In several places flooded roads were encountered and taken in the days work. It was realised is necessary adjunct to existence, by Mrs. Meeten that these catreme-in mind that the machine was stan. although, of course, there are ex- adverse conditions must increase dard in overy respect, including a ceptions. In fifty per cent of consumption, but she endured the perfectly standard carburetter set pedestrians it is conspicuous by its discomforts with courags and spirit, Ling. absence, and will be so until they came with a determination to get and drive through everything that
fake to wheels. The other half is the best out of her machine.
On the same carburetter setting requiring it by painful experience On the fifth day, the weather which had given 100 miles a gailon for 1,000 miles on the road, Mrs. But why should the average conditions were good and the long festen did two circuits of the tracks motor cyclist possess this thing min from Bridgwater to Dorking, at 45 m.p.h. 5.m.ph. was chosen mare-thinn his four-wheeled brevid Exeter and Salisbury, was made
ቤቴ . fast touring speed-the thren, and others. Is it that be in comfort. So ended the road machine was not of full throttle. has a greater range of vision road section of the test. By achiev Then came twenty climbs, of theter who the sight of several hundr Hardly, for road serine is not just in the remarkable petrol consumptest hill-without stopping the
noticing things" Is it that, ton of 100.48 miles to the gallon engine. being more, exposed, he must take she had. demonstrated that 1,000 greater care of limself No; with niles could be covered at a running his wonderfall control and superior cost of ten shillings. It now re acceleration he can bold his own in The tightest of tight corners. Benined to test for speed and hill elimbing capabilitics. No adjust- sides, road sense does not only bano. fit those who have it; it makes forments of any description had been made during the thousand miles naafer existence for all
Is it that the rush of the wind, The tool bag was not opened what-so-ever. the invigorating air; the joy and for any purpose
Without the slightest alteration, thrill of being astride an appar the machine was driven to Brook ently Hring thing is it that these together are bringing out something lands for the speed and hill climb, entirely new, something that people ing tests recorded below. In perusR have not possessed before? A sixthing this record, it should be borns
(Continued on next Volum sense-rond sense,
were working two shifts each work ed employees so busy that they
ing day in order to cope with the demand.
And Onally, the machine was examined by the 4.0. Here is At Mortlake, I watched the car
brief extract from the official and bodies being ahsembled fitted certificateng lanes. A with Accesories, and upholstered by. At the conclusion of the test English workpeople. To-day the the cylinder head nad barrel were Chrysler cars, the De Soto cars, removed. No noticeable wear and the Plymouth four-cylinder was found in the bearings. The model are U5 per cent, British built. piaton rings were fres in the Each month the management bono grooves. The carbon deposit was to incrchão the British-built; pro- black in colour rather her, and portion of thou carn to a near not thicker than ore-hundredth of 100 por cont, sa, possible, b
inch except round the exhausti⠀ What a triumph for those who, ports, where the deposit was placed the 23 1-3 per cent, duty on
vier.
motor vehicles.
three gained Plaques, but two felling of purchasing a car whilst in some of the sound ones ware used to by the wayside. Then the entries England would be well' advised first provide excitement on a policeman's slumped to three each for Chater to inspect the premises of Shaw &liday at the recent sports at Im Lea, Kerry and Minerva, each of Kilburn, Ltd., at 112-114, Wardourer Court But where are they theas makes securing two Plaques. Street, London, W1, where thisving any sort of useful purpose in preventing accidents, say, "on De Dion, Douglas, Humber, James, super service is carried out by pass ronds at night? They seem Matchless, Rex and Rover were re- Shaw & Kilburn will give visitors presented by two machines euch, and every assistance in keeping expenses of darkness, leaving traffic on dan- the remainder were individual on-at a minimum, and their reputation aerous highways like the Great tries, mostly bearing names un- nssures the purchaser of a "squaro West Rond, the Kingston by-pass known to a post-war generation of deal in any transaction with and others to sort itself out as best
which he may entrust them. motorists and motorcyclista.
it max
to vanish from sight at the approach-
ARRIVING SOON
FIAT 522C
6-Cylinders.
A fast car, a brilliant hill climber, and with its marked acceleration capable of keeping up high average speed. Separate hydraulic brakes for front and rear wheels. The four speed gear box is fitted with a silent "Third", thus eliminating one of the most annoying noises,
For
FIAT CARAGE: #319, Hennessy Rea
Tm 24921,
On the open road the silent Third" speed affords the most pleasant possibility of driving on hills, curves and when overtaking
A.
AGENTS:
GOEKE & CO. Showroom's
SPARE PAET DEPARTY
CHINA BUILD
FIAT GARAGE:
Hennessy Road.