MOTORING
SUPPLEMENT
OF
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH.
SATURDAY, 17th SEPTEMBER, 1927.
Being The Official Organ of
THE HONGKONG AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION.
A Valuable Check.
CURRENT
COMMENT
venienced' to help put right the other man's thoughtlessness. An excellent system has been Along the Castle Peak road there instituted by the Hongkong Auto- are plenty of, wide parts which mobile Association whereby mem-give ample room for the turning bers who leave their cars at either of a car. Drivers would ease local the City Hall or at the Kowloon troubles and dangers if they woult Ferry parking space, may "ascer-take the trouble to find
wider sections before tain that their vehicles have not those been used during absence. The attempting to do what is obviously patrols have been provided, with wrong.
recording cards, on which are The Buffalo Danger. spaces to be filled in with the
one 01
number of ear arriving on the Some time ago a correspondent stand, and the times of arrival and drew attention by a letter in these departure. If any member has columna to, the danger of buffaloes reason to believe that his driverocing allowed to roam over the has been joy-riding, or that his car main motor roads without any, or has been taken away for an hour but little, attempt to control their or so, he merely has to drop a chit movements. The accident which to the Honorary Secretary asking occurred last Sunday, in which five for the parking record of his car people, including the driver, were on the day concerned. It will be involved, luckily without injury generally agreed that this system again brings this matter before the is most valuable, and furnishes yet public eye, and merits some con- another reason why every ownersideration from the powers that
should belong to the Association.bc. The practice of allowing and, furthermore, carry the bade on his car or cycle. "That's Service!”
OLYMPIA SHOW.
Open's Next Month.
An unusually attractive exhibit of Cycle and Motor Cycle products will be displayed at the "Olympia Cycle and Motor Cycle Show from October 31 to November 5 next, when for the first time since the War, German manufacturers will be represented.
The number of applicants for space shows an increase and parti cularly in the hope that it will accommodate Overseas buyers, only one week will elapse between the closing of the Motor Show and the opening of the Cycle Show!
It is much hoped that Overseas Buyers will spend the intervening period in London, where in recent years an attractive autuma season has been) staged be the theatre, hotel and amusement proprictors,
The period around the Motor and Cycle Show is regarded as the height of the season and sucial events of importanee and interest abound.
DUTCH TROPHY
RACE.
British Machines Triumph.
these animals to stray at large is increasing and while the import- ance of their retention by the Chinese villagers is obvious, yet Whilst referring to the patrol some attempt should be made to system, we were given an example compel the villagers to keep these of another manner in which "mem- animals under control. On Sun-
This year's Dutch Tourist bers of the Association benefit day, a motor car, in swerving to from the vigilance of the patrols. avoid a buffalo which suddenly Trophy Race, provided a striking During the week, a member who ran across the road, about half demonstration of the superiority had left his car outside the City way to Castle Peak, dropped a of British Motor-cycles in general, Hall, was somewhat perturbed to distance of 13 feet over the side and of the high speed reliability Motor-cycles in see it raining heavily, knowing of the road, turning turtle at the of "Matchless" that his car was not covered. bottom. It was pure luck that no particular. In the 500 cc. race Realising that it was rather late one was seriously injured or kill-four Matchless Motor-cycles were to do anything, he reconciled him-ed. Such an instance proves con- entered and all four finished in self to the prospect of finding his clusively that action should be the first nine in the international car soaking wet by the time he taken in this matter to prevent category. They actually won 2nd wanted to drive home, Imagine the villagers, however innocently 4th, 5th and 6th places in the his
when from allowing this practice to national classification, which must pleasant surprise.
be considered a really remarkable arriving at the City Hall to dis- continue.
performance. cover that the patrol had put the hood, and fitted the side cur tains. "That's service!" remark- ed the member, as he related the incident to us. Thoughtless Drivers.
Sixty Horse Power.
15.
Quite a lot of interest has been evinced in the sixty horse-power Fiat touring car which is on show at the Agent's showroom in the old It is pro- Fire Station building. bably correct to say that this par-
LUXURIOUS TRAVEL.
“INDIVIDUAL DYNAMOMETERS.”
To Ensure Perfect Braking.
(By Israel Klein.)..
Individual "dynamometers," na shown here, assure properly adjusted brakes.
Heretofore, the matter of brakes part of the men doing this work, adjustment has been a question of for the adjustment of brakes is left
The brakes, being to the machine itself.
This apparatus consists of a set try and test, only on the two rear wheels, re- quired mere tightening and a run of corrugated metal rollers driven But four brakes on a car now of the car. Thus the automobile is on the road to test their efficiency. by an electric motor, for each wheel need perfect adjustment, and equali- made to run, by the power of the zation that has taxed the ingenuity motors, on four sets of these rollers. of engineers. The equipment has They are in fact, individual dyna-
Testing four brakes on wheels of the car, to remain equalized to a reliable mometers, the rollers revolving the degree. the road, by the mere judgment of the driver, can no longer be relied on.
As the brakes are gradually up- the brake drum and the brake lin plied, the friction created between So engineers have designed vari-ing on each wheel is weighed by & ous meters and put the cars on the set of scale beams. This pressure dynamometer block, so that they is measured in pounds and is shown may adjust each brake to its cal- on a dial connected with each set culated efficiency; and so that all of rollers. four may be equalized to work as The exact brake pressure for a unit. But the human factor, front and rear wheels is known, which is more or less fallible, could so that the brakes need a Kttle hardly be excluded from this work, adjustment either way, while the
dial on the scale, operator is guided accurately by the through improperly adjusted.
Now a new type of machinery is being used in various automobile almost entirely eliminated. plants, by which the human factor There is no more guesswork on the
Several instances "have been lately noticed in the New Terri- ticular vehicle is the largea: pas- Millionaire's Air Yacht, and occasionally a car has come tories, of drivers endeavourin to senger car which has been seen turn their, cars completely round in Hongkong, and although there
A remarkable new air yacht has on the main motor roads, in some are but few motorists who would been built for Mr. H. S. Vander- cases quite close to corners. This acquire such a monster, to the few bilt, the American millionaire. It is a practice to be condemned first who favour "something different." is the most luxurious machine of and last, chiefly on the grounds of this "Fiat 519" offers that "some-its type ever constructed. danger and inconvenience caused thing." The lines are most grace-
It is a Fokker monoplane fitted.
to others. In the New Territoriesful, and truthfully convey the with a British Napier engine and an ordinary sized car, if placed suggestion of supreme power com- is capable of a maximum speed of across the road, allowa no path for bined with comfort. In apite of 115 m.p.h. and can cruise for five other vehicles. This fact should the fact that the car weighs some hours at 90 m.p.h.
The passengers, it has accom- be borne strictly in mind by two tons, and is powered with a drivers. More than one motorist sixty horse-power engine, the modation for five, are in a glass has lately had to pull up quickly mileage to the gallon works out at cabin, which enables them to on rounding a blind corner to find fifteen, which, taking the tyne into another car across the road, en- consideration; is quite economical deavouring to turn. Cases have also been know of cars getting for the result achieved.
stuck, partly on the road and The Autocar." partly off. This, again causes in-
convenience, for while the road
watch the landscape or seascape over which they are passing. This cabin is fitted with easy chairs and the floor carpeted with thick pile rugs.
Although Mr. Vanderbilt is a Members of the H. K. A. A. who qualified pilot, he employs a chauf- may be sufficiently clear for traffic wish to subscribe to "The Auto-feur pilot who was an officer in to pass, yet assistance is bound car" may place their order at any the US. Army Air Force.
to be asked for of passing people, time with the Honorary Secretary,
who, while they may give their who will forward orders on to Lon-
help cheerfully, are being incon- don as received.
AILSA CRAIG TRIBUTE.
Fierce Gale off the Irish Coast.
with a new engine in his boat, an Ailsa Craig Kid 10-16 h.p. 4-cylinder unit made by the Ailan Craig Motor Co., Ltd., of Chiswick. London.
Mr. Coll owes his safety to the fine performance put up by his Ailsa Craig engine under the wildest conditions. But for its The recent fierce gale off the wonderful reliability he would West Coast of Ireland was dis- have suffered a like fate to that astrous for the Donegal fishmen. of the other boats less fortunately There was a heavy loss of boats equipped.
-and- gear, and it is feared lives
have also been lost, as a number
of crewless boats have been TRUCKS ARE LOANED. washed ashore.
Mr. James Coll, owner and skip-
per of one of the very few boats The drive-yourself system has to come through safely, states he been extended to the use of trucks. had to beat to windward 10 miles A large Chicago rental service has through a head gala in order to added trucks to its line, for rent- reach his home port. This was ing under the same conditions as his first night out Salmon Drifting passenger cars.
The honeymoon Is over when he forgets how to drive with one hand.
is
MOTOR-COACH DANGERS.
Drivers Who Defy
Safety Rules.
While the brakes are adjusted through these machines in the mat- under the same pressure ter of resistance, they are equalized
brake pedal.
MOTOR-CAR CHANGES.
of the
More "Smalls" and "Several "Eights."
An important feature of the People those safety has beer je Motor Show, which will open at pardised by those motor-coach Olympia in October, will be the drivers who seize every opportunity introduction of a number of new of defying the laws of the road are small family cars round about
These will be wondering why such men are per-rating of 9-h.p.
cheaper than existing family car), mitted to retain their jobs.
both to buy and to run. One cari Observations made recently by a of this type is to be mass-produced Daily Mail reporter show that rac- by a firm of long standing.
,,
ing at a speed which often is thrice! The power output of engines has that of the 12 miles an hour allotted increased to such an extent in the to them, "bullying" of traffic that last few years that an engine of is conscientiously conforming to but 9-h.p. is now considered to be! the rules of the road, cutting-in, equal to the work of propelling "equeezingout" and monopolising four full-sized adults.
the road by travelling abreast are examples of their unmannerly and hazardous tactics:
The 11-h.p. or 12-h.p. vehicle,
not year will be considered quite a formidable car, and the 9-h.p. A Daily Mail reporter who went type is expected to run it close by a long and unwieldy motor-toach as the most economical type of from Manchester to Blackpool family vehicle. I do not mean to found that it was capable of a high suggest that the 11-hp. car will apeed, which could not be deter-lose ita popularity. mined because the car carried no speedometer.
He saw on the road numerous ex-
for amples of disregard
Many More Motorists.
The new family car will doubt- theless bring in a whole host of new simple rules, which might have recruits to the pastime.
In the medium-power class brought injury to the occupants. High speed cornering even when (14-K.p. to 16-hp.) the six-cylinder on-coming cars were taking the vehicle will almost entirely dust Not the bend was quite common.
4-cylinder type. Several more 40 per cent. of the inotor-8-cylinder cars of moderate horse coaches were being driven care-power will also be introduced. -- fully and suficiently slowly-Ex. Ex.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FORE-WHEEL BRAKES, THROTTLE
-CONTROLLED MEACHANICAL
OILER AND AIR-CLEANER
are prominent adyancements.
SPECIAL SPORT SOLOS ARE LEADERS
que
.FIRST SHIPMENT ARRIVING 20th SEPTEMBER By the S.S. "EMPRESS OF CANADA.”
BOOK YOUR MOUNT NOW.
THE GASCON MOTOR CO.,
2, Kwong Wah Road (Opposite The Steam Laundry)
Telephone K.1242.
REPAIRS UNDERTAKEN ON ALL MAKES OF MACHINES. Take Bus Route No. 7. (Passes Door).
Mobiloil
Make the chart your guile
When You Say-
Give Me A Gallon of Oil
You're Inviting
Knock Knock Knock!
What brings quick carbon knocks? Most often-incorrect fabrication. That means: oil of low quality or oil of incorrectTM body. Very often both faults exist in the same oll.
How soon does excessive carbon form in your engine? It depends' on how you ask for oil. Merely saying. "Give me a gallon of oil! is sure to bring extra carbon- quick carbon.
Laboratory tests repeatedly prove that Mobiloil gives unusual freedom from carbon deposits. In one case two gallons of Mobiloll were used in a trial run of a Then famous 8-cylinder engine, two gallons of another oll--a well, known brand-were used. Cond!- tions were identical. After each 'run' the carbon was scraped out
and weighed.
Mobilo left: 15.85 grams of carbon. The other oil left 28.55 grams of carbon.
Mobiloll is not a by-product of gasoline. Mobiloil is a specialized lubricant. Made by the oldest and moet successful company specializ ing in lubrication.
VACUUM OIL CO.