1928-03-21 — Page 10

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MOTORING NOTES

DIRT TRACK RACES.

THOUSANDS ATTEND LON- DON'S LATEST SPORT,

England was introduced to motorcycle diet-track racing for

(CONTD.)

FRANCE REDUCES MOTOR ACCI DENTS

FEWER IN PROPORTION TO

CARS REGISTERED.

Automobile accidents are declin

the first time yesterday, when over ing in France, according to 10,000 persons witnessed & port L'Quest-Sportif, published at Le which in Australia rivala, grey-Mans. This paper points out that hound racing, says A London in some departments the figures show an actual numerical decrease and that to all sections there is a decrease in proportion to registra:

paper.

THE HONG KONG DAILY PRESS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21st, 1928,

AMERICAN CARS.

FOREIGN LANDS ABSORB

: 560,000 IN 1927.

American motor cars, buses and trucks are desired by people every where, the world-wide survey by the National Automobile Chamber of Commerce indicates, according to WF. Culberson, president of the Pierce-Arrow Pacifo Sales Com

pany.

*

↑ THE TRANSPORT OF HEAVY

ARTICLES.

£240,000 CARS STOLEN.

AVERAGE OF FOUR A DAY IN

SYDNEYAN

In many cases the cars were

Others were smashed irretrievably found, damaged considerably, milee from where they were stolen. by joyriders

Unrecovered cars were fewer than a dosen. Ab the others had been, counted for by the police either recovered or otherwise, no-

Nowadays four detectives do nothing but handle car thieving cases and matters in which care aro concerned.

NEW KIND OF LORRY.

SYDNEY N.S.W. The conveyance of ungla heavy | Samo idea of the extent to which articles, such pina pieces of motor thieving has grown in machinery, electric transformers, Sydney may be gained from the / boiler, etc., presents problems fact that more tine 1,300 cars were which but few transport concerns stolen during 1937-an avarage of ly, the services of those which can Assuming that the average value

prepared to tackle; consequent nearly four a day

A undertake such work are in great of each car was £200, £240,000 demand, and the coat must neces worth of citizens' property was sarily be somewhat high, sometimes handled by the thieven apparently out of proportion to can motor vehicles were sold in carrie concerns specializing in such During 1927 over 560,000 Ameri- the actual value of the articles

approximately 100 countries. Sales work have, in some cases, devised of American automobiles are invehicles of their own for the pure creasing in all foreign lands. Euro- | pose. Certain of these are weird pean distributors of United States able of undertaking the work may

and wonderful, and although cap manufacturers believe that more not be sa efficient in every respect than 100,000 American cars will be as would be the case if they had sold in Europe this year.

been designed by makers already fully conversant, with, the construc *** In 1924,” says a recent issue of The National Automobile Cham-tion of commercial vehicles intend- this paper, there were 1828 un-ber of Commerce last year under-ed for heavy loads.

vehicles of smaller capacity, pro- fortunate victims of automobile seing automobile manufacturers of mercial Motor there has recently simplicity and low costs

took, with the co-operation of lead- In this connection, says The Com-viding that careful design ensured cidents, representing 1022 per cent. England, France, Germany, B-been produced a remarkable eight of the number of automobiles and gium, Italy and Austria, to give wheeled tractar-lorry specifically motorcycles. In 1830 the 9180 the European people some idea of designed for leads up to 25 tons. the advantages of highway' trans- in which low loading is achieved deaths represented .021 per cent portation. The work will include by the simple expedient of lower that is to say I per cent. less in a general survey of world highwaying the end of the trailer and free comparison with 1924. In other conditions to ascertain the best ing the rear axles, of which there method of speeding the building of are two, so that the axles and words, the number of fatal acci- more and better roads.

wheels can be entirely removed. The production of such a vehicle dents is developing less rapidly In addition to the survey meet. Incidentally, the rear portion was that described reflects grent than the number of vehicles regisings with bankers, public officials the vehicle hinges down to form a credit upon the commercial vehicle

manufacturers and automobile loading rump

manufacturers concerned, and dealers will be held to prepare for

shows that the British maker is The paper further points out and encourage motor transport de

prepared to cope with any trans- port problem which is brought to while the cornering is most specta- that in the departments of Sarthevelopment. cular, na the machines have to be motor fatalities in 1926. totaled driven round the bends in a series | seven, as compared with eight in of skids.

The site chosen for the assembly was one of the most beautiful near London at the back of the King's | tion. Oak Hotel, Highbesch, near Cough, ton, from which there is an un- rivalled view over the northern part of the metropolis. The course tself was, however, in Epping Forest, the trees of which were freely need by the spectators.

The track, which consists of a mixture of einders and dirt, is only a little over 13 feet wide. It is oval, and about a quarter of a mile in circumference. Speeds up to 70 or 80 miles an hour can be stored”. attained on the straight portions,

Two "Australian crack siders from the dirt-tracke in that con

try had come over to show how it

1923, though automobile registra tion in that section has nearly doubled.

should be done, and they did-until "INTOLERABLE TAXATION” they met with a mishap which put them out of action.

The amateurs, however, from the Ilford Motor Cycle and Lighs Car Clab, which promoted the mecting, gave a wonderful exhibition, and their keenness contributed to a fine day's sport.

Thrilla.

There were many thrills during the actual racing, and I was par- ticularly struck with the spirit of sportmanchip which pervaded the mbole meeting. Time and again two riders would come into colision

IN ENGLAND.

REDUCTIONS AND REFORM. CALLED FOR

"In five years the amount yielded by motor taxation in this country has more than doubled. In 1993 the sum brought in was £11,323,831, then considered a very large sum,: and over two millions more than was estimated originally. In 1027 the amount rose to £23,436,378. From the latter amount the Exche quer takes approximately four mil

at high speeds only to pick them-lions as a luxury tax from private selves up, grie cheerfolly at each motorear and motorcycle owners,' other, and carry on.

leaving the Road" Fund with 212,150,378.

There were large notices p stating that no betting was per. mitted, and during the day I did

Now, there can be no doubt what- ever, remarks The Motor, that

not hear one bet being offered or these figures indicate that as an

accepted.

individual the motorist is grossly.

Private people who

One or two eerious spit's occur overtaxed. red, but as all riders wore crash own motor vehicles, comprising car heimets they were little the and motorcycle owners, contributed worse. In ons ease the front of no less than £11,760,012 of the 1997 one maching becamy locked in the total.. Industry, represented by

back of another. The rider of the the motor trade, commercial goods. rearmost machine was thrown off, vehicle owners and the passenger- but the other competitor carried on carrying interests are overburden- with a machine hanging on his tailed by this dead weight" of direct until he could get rid of it.

taxation.

In

The spectators were kept well It is time to call a halt, both back from the nar

narrow course, but so far as the amount collected is several times they had to scatter concerned and also as regards the as they thought cze of the rider's method of chtaining it. was coming into them. This, how America every encouragement is ever, never actually happened.

given to motoring in all its phases. The side-car racing also was not Here everything is being done to spectacular. How two machines discourage and hamper it. The sverage taxation in the United

with the passengers hanging out States is 23 138. 6d. per vehicle; horizontally can pasa each other on here it is the grossly inflated figure the narrow track, is a mystery, but of £14 a. 6d. for a private, car the apparent miracle was perform Laxed on horse-power, 240 188. for ed many times.

motor passenger carrying vehicles One machine caught fire, but this vehicles These figures show a dis and £28 11s. 6d. for commercial was at a fairly low speed, and norepancy which at once emphasizes damage was dore. Altogether the argent need for relief, and that enn recommend this as one of the can only be brought about by re- most thrilling sports I have ever duction and an all-round reform

of our taxation system

witnessed:

SURVEY BY AIRCRAFT

RECENT SUCCESS.

GREAT BARRIER REEF OF “AUSTRALIA,

One of the fields in which there

Our contemporary goes right to the root of the whole thing and contends that the Government should be content with less than the vast sums now being taken from private motorista and other contributors; £1 per horse-power is & monstrously high tax, and whe ther, the system can be changed or not it should be reduced.

is a rapidly growing demand for Sir Alan Cobham's ambitious aircraft is that of survey work, 20,000 miles flight round the and a great deal has already been African continent, is really in the carried out in this direction in nature of a survey fight in addi- Canada, America and Australis.tion to its propagands aims, for Only recently the Great Barrier he has in mind the inauguration Iteat, covering some 100,000 square of various regular dying services miles off the coast of Australia was in order to link up the more im successfully surveyed by the Comportant towns,

monwealth Government by means His double fight between En- of a fleet of Supermarine-Napier tebbe on Lake Victoria and Khar Amphibian machines toum, undertaken at the request Another big air survey has been of the East African Governments concluded by the Anglo Persian and the Colonial Office, was a fine Oil Co. in Fapus with the aid of achievement. He covered 2,700 two - Bupermarine Napier Ben miles in four days, the longest gulls. In the course of this an stage being 820

from

Sves of 10,000 sq. miler was over totum to Mongallo, which was ed with a view to investigating the flown in 8 hrs. 40 mins. Bir Alan general structure of formation in is, of course, employing & Short- which all had previously been dis Rolls-Royce dying boat for his Mesin African tour, equipped with two

Condor

The idea of bringing the plat form, down to the load is new so far as commercial vehicles are con corned, although utilized in 'such devices as breakdown trailers and, of course, on smaller machines, such as battery-electric trucks for

as with illages

The scheme appears to be one which has obvious advantages and which might be applicable to other

(Jontinued os hezt· Column) hini.

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THE

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**Sports" Motor Crde ̈¦ls. particninely suitable for ridem orescas." The mngine porimus s' wide margin of power, and the entire construction is of the strength necessary for one on Indikyent-runda....... The low saddle position gives exceptional stability and confidence to the rider.

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Old Prices?

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New Price ?

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Sedan (4-door) 220

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1,950

Coach (2-door) 2000

1,850

Large four-wheel brakes Rear petrol tank

Roadster

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1,720

164 inches of springs

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Long leg room

2,000

1,850

Silent timing chain

Coupe Cabriolet Coupe 2,300

1,750 4,75′ balloon tyres

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