1926-07-28 — Page 8

DUNLOP

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JULY 28TH, 1926

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Motoring Notes:

A Weekly

Review dealing with matters of interest to

all local motorists.

[BY AN OWNER.DRIVER.]

We had.a remarkable escape from what might easily have been a great calamity last week. The typhoon that seemed to be heading straight for Hongkong, on Thursday morning suddenly decided to change its direction.

It was a sort of a last minute decision. There must be some scientific reason for this unexpected behaviour, but typhoons appear to be so whimsical that it is difficult to follow their peculiarities. With all due respect to the weather experts, there is still a great -deal- to be learnt about them,

THE "LAST STRAW. The wind at Waglan on Thursday morning was blowing at over 75 miles an hour if that wind, followed by a heavy rainfall, had come to Hongkong the local roads would have been in a terrible con dition. Motorists must then have been more or less "cooped up" for weeks. -It is alway-the last-straw-that-breaks the camel's back. The last few inches of rain on to the already sodden earth causes the embankment to slide. In the meantime we may be truly thankful for

lucky escape.

At the time of writing some of the most important roads have been cleared. During the week end quite a number of motorists went out to Repulse Bay and Deep Water Bay.

the storm.

In the Wrack of the Storm-New Secretary for Hongkong Automobile Association.

'RESIGNATION OF MR. P, M.

HODGSON.

A PERSONAL TRIBUTE.

Members of the Hongkong Automobile Association will learn with great regret that the energetic secretary, Mr. Pati Hodgson, has tendered his resignation

We may be sure that every effort has been made to persuade him to continue in the office, but it is no secret that his health has not been of the best during the last few months. It is a fact that Mr. Hodgson was most reluctant to take the step that has separated him from his hobby, for there is no one in Hongkong keener or more active on behalf of the A.A. than the secretary who has just resigned. Year after year new Presi dents were elected but the same Hon.! Secretary continued.

GROWTH IN NUMBERS.... During the last few weeks about fifty new members have been enrolled in the The total ranks of the local AA number is now rather more than 500 which must be a good proportion of car Owners,

When we remember the number of public vehicles and motor lorries in Hongkong, as well as some of the youth

number.

It is remarkable how well the road be-ful owners of motor-cycles we realise stood the effect of the heavy rains. The on behalf of the AA. to secure that tween Caine Road and Repulse Bay how active Mr. Hodgson must have been road surface itself was hardly affected in any place. It looked as if it had been thoroughly secured, and in many places. it must have resembled a nullah during The moral of the story of last week's heavy rain is clear. It is that the modern tarred surface for roads, is prac tically impervions and it carries away the water so rapidly that, when the road is properly surfaced and cambered it is unlikely to be affected by heavy downpours.

A GREAT TEST.

It may be mentioned that the Bentley is an expensive car. The light touring. chassis is listed at £795 and the complete cars from Eaod. With standard, -chassia. the complete cars are from £1,995, t seems a big price and only the wealthy ones can think of such a hxury. There is, however, a five years' guarantee.

The chassis price of the Lorraine 20/70 horse-power ear in England is £198. A speed of so miles per hour is guaranteed by the makers.

power engine. With the big engine there

The racing car of to-day is the founda is not so much gear changing and it tion of the sports type of car for next picks up easily, but there are many year. It is quite true that no one ought corners in the roads of this Colony and to attempt these high speeds on the a small car has the advantage in negotiat- road, but in the evolution of the quick ing them.

revolution and high compression engine There are, however, fow ladies who racing has done a great deal wish to commence learning on a big The manufacturer and the designer car. It is probably safest to gain ex- and the truth of the adage" an ounce of perience with a small car and then go practice is worth a pound of theory." on to the big one later,

A

In these days, when help is always at hand in the case of a breakdown, there is no reason why Indies should not be as much at ease at the wheel as are men.

il

The three Lorraine-Dietrich cars that took first place had each a total cylinder capacity of 3,477 C.C. The distances covered by the cars in 4 hours, were 1,585.99 miles, 1,874.9 miles and 1,493.4 miles.

The average speed of the fastest car was therefore 66.08 miles per hour, which is a world's record for the road. Three British cars were entered, all Bentteys.

THE ELECTric car.

Some years ago there was an elec trically driven motor-car in the Colony,

Not only was the race a test of the but it was not a success.

The great trouble is the gradients, cars, but it was arranged also with the The electric limousine is quiet and idea of testing three different bat econo

genteel but it is really suitable only mical methods of road construction." It is now more than The idea was to prove that these three for town work. twenty-ave years since Queen Alexandra economical systems could be applied to had her first motor-car. She selected any roads. The results justified the one that was propelled by electricity and optimism of the French Automobile Club- sometimes drove it herself, although she that arranged the demonstration. was not young even in those days.

6.

It is curious that there has been no THE FRONT WHEEL DRIVE. great development, of the electric car in the interval although, of course, it is bound to be always something in the nature of a luxury, on account of the cost of current for charging the batteries and the weight and upkeep of those batteries.

In the new Italias, built for racing purposes, there are many novel features, but the one that seems to be the most. revolutionary is the front-wheel drive.

We are now used to the idea of front- wheel brakes, but it will take us some Probably the real cause of the small time to be persuaded that the trans- amount of progress made by manumission.gear from the engine should be incturers of electric cars, however, is the connected up to the front wheels of a difficulty of maintenance of the batteries. car, although at first sight it seems that At present petrol is almost unchallenged it is the simplest way of transmitting" as a motive power for touring cars Steam the power. The engine is much nearer was more popular twenty years ago but to the front-wheels than to those at the petrol supphed the heat for the boiler.

redt.

It must be about five years since he first took over the duties of secretary. He has been a keen motorist for years and he has worked indefatigably on be- half of the interests of motor-car owners.

A great deal of the work done is of It only some genius would invent an It will be interesting to note bow a fairly private nature. There is always almost everlasting and foolproof, elec- this innovation stands the test of rough some member that has a real or sup-trical storage battery the electric car usage. posed grievance. As is proper, he writes would come into its own." to the Secretary of the A.A. who gives him such information and advice as will

help him.

SPEEDING UP.

In the year 1901 the Paris-Berlin race was won by the 60 horse-power, Mors car driven by Henri Fournier. It cover

Many valuable suggestions about road On the whole there were comparative- ly few washouts of the roads. The chief improvements are made by members and trouble was caused by landslides which the Secretary is always glad, to have brought earth down on to the road sur-them and forward them to the righted the distance of 687 miles at an average

place.

face. Almost every wash out" of a Load surface was caused by the failure. of a nullah. Water bursting from its usual path-fell from a height and the great impact was too much for any road. の A TRIBUTE."

All last week the officials of the Public Works Department 'slaved to cope with the problems put to them by the storm. Everyone who owns a meter was anxious to have, once again, the "freedom of the roads." Ten years ago many of the roads were not built; yet now they seem as absolutely essential for our comfort as is the water supply.

THE NEW SECRETARY.

speed of 44.1 miles per hour.

In the récent trial for the Grand Prix With his usual thoroughness Mr. d'Endurance at Le Mans there was a Hodgson had thought over very care terrific struggle for 23 hours for the

fully the problem of fading a-new-secrecoveted trophy... tary for the A.A. before handing in his resignation.

J'

After "ounding" the individual con terned he put forward the name of Mr. Upsdell, a master of Queen's College. Mr. Upsdell is a member of the Educa tion Department and Government servant. It is understood that he is willing to undertake the duties.

箍

He has been a keen motorist for years. He commenced his professional career The P.W.D. officials worked like with a course of training at a technical trojans. They were up against it" but institution in London and it is said that they went on with the job despite the his object was to become an electrical hampering effect of the rain on days engineer. subsequent to "wet Monday." Many No doubt his technical training has of the officials were to be met well away been of value to him during his time in from their offices, hustling on the coolies. Hongkong because it enables anyone to A great deal of work was done in a understand more easily the why and the quiet, unassuming manner in all the de- wherefore of the mechanism of a car partments of the P.W.D. Despite the During the strike of about thirteen strain naturally caused by the anxiety months ago Mr. Upsdell helped the and overtime in the hot weather the Traffic Authorities. He showed great officials seemed patient and dealt good tact and energy, qualities essential for humouredly with the interruptions of a successful secretary. some who might have spared them cross- examination, about when this or that road

would be cleared.

༽

ارد

EXPERIENCE COUNTS.

Mr. Upsdell is to be numbered On the whole the work carried out in the amongst the owner-drivers of Hongkong past stood the severe stresses and strains and he will surely appreciate. the value very well. The roads of the Colony are of any suggestions that are made by built on sound lines. They have been members in connection with trafic prob- costly but they are well worth the money.lems. The man who owns, but who car, cannot possibly The only possible suggestion that can be never drives a made is that new roads should be surrealise the difficulties of a driver. faced as quickly as possible.

The idea in the past has possibly been that the surfaces of new roads must inevitably sink and that therefore the roads should be left unsurfaced until all of the sinking was more or less finished. That would save money.

It is good news that Mr. Hodgson is still anxious to serve the A.A. as much as he is able and no doubt arrangements will be made for him to become & mem ber of the Committee. His policy of conserving the funds of the Association is sound. There comes a time, however, Unfortunately, there is another factor when careful expenditure can be justified. in the problema factor of which we Some money might be epent on provid-1 have been abruptly reminded recently.ing matsheds for members of the Asso- It is that unsurlaced roads are washed ciation at Stanley, and near to Castle away while surfaced roads are able to Peak for instance, resist the heaviest rainfall.

The arrangements for complete drain age of roads are most important. The new system is to provide shallow gutters that do not inconvenience motorists and, at the same time, construct nullahs or drains at fairly constant intervals along the roads so that the storm water wih get away as quickly as possible.

Every official in the Public Works De partment, from the Director to the most junior assistant, is to be congratulated on the achievements of the past ten days. They merit the gratitude of the public for the strenuous efforts made to restore things to a normal state.

Despite the many calls on his time and the grave business anxieties which all commercial men have experienced during the past year the President of the As sociation, the Hon. Mr. D. G. M. Bernard has proved himself to be no mere figure-head He has carried out, with great theroughness, all the dirties of President and in addition has madë many valuable suggestions for the benefit of members.

The new secretary commences with the good wishes of all bis friends, the sup. port of an ideal. President and with the valuable experience of his predecessor at his disposal.

THE LADY MOTORIST.

THE COST OF THE STORM. Various estimates have been made of Every month that goes by sees addi- the actual cost of repairing, the havoc tigns to the number of ladies who drive wrought, by the atorm to care in Hongkong. The fact that there It will probably mean an expenditure are a number of ladies who have by the P.W.D. of at least a million graduated in engineering in England is dollars and it would not be surprising proof, if auch were needed, that members if the final figure reached nearly three of the fair sex can hardle machinery if times that amount.

they make up their minds to do so.

Miss Violet Cordery is the heroine of the racing track. She is just now train- ing herself and her car with the idea of breaking the 3,000 mile record. 41.

Meantime those who wish to use the Castle Peak bathing beaches can motor out to Fauling vid Taipo "and" on to Castle Peak. More than one motorist went out to Repulse Bay on the evening It is noticeable that more than one following the storm.

The bridge on Robinson Road that has been such a source of anxiety to

lady in Hongkong manipulates with ease a high-powered cars

It is, of course, a debateable point as

motorists will probably be rebuilt, as the to whether it is casier to drive a big road near was destroyed by an unexcar with a high-powered engine or a pected water fall.

small car with a seven or ten horas-

The Lorraines won and the Frenchien were true sportsmen.. The Bentley, car at one time seemed to have a chance but it just failed at the end. Despite the intermittent rain and the wet and slippery tarmac, the intrepid driver of the Benttey exceeded 90 miles per hour in places. His average over the long test exceeded 60 miles per hour.

He was the victim of bad luck and a defective brake. At a critical corner all four wheels skidded The car struck a sand heap, mounted into the air and came down on her undershield with s terrific bump. No one was injured, but No one the Bentley was out of the race. begrudges the Lorraine win but next year there is sure to be a great struggle. to snatch away the coveted prize from: the present holder.

INSURE

YOUR

MOTOR

CAR

WITH

GILMANS.

At times the Benttey's engine went right beyond the approved limit of 3,500 revolutions per minute. The failure of OCEAN a connecting rod or some other "vital f part would have been awkward' if not fatal

THE COMPREHENSIVE POLICY

BUSINESS and PLEASURE.”

When the day is finished in the City, the car will be ready for that delightful run in the Cool of the evening,

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BANK OF CHINA BUILDING, 4, QUEEN'S ROAD CENTRAL

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