1930-02-12 — Page 2

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How Use for Old Austin" 20.!!*

A

There are some places in dear old. England which are in mich the same condition to-day as a hundred. Some modern con- years ago. veniences, however, recommend themselves even to the most rural .communities. A modern fire engine for example is quite desirable, and the Fathers of Bampton village in Oxfordshire recently scrapped their old manual in favour of motor equipment. The manual had done service since 1965. Bampton in thus getting up to date did not waste any money, but purchased on eight year old 23 H.P. Austin chassis and had it converted by a ccal garage. The fire engine is now and is coupled up to a Shand Mason pump, and the capacity is 350 gallons per minute on three

branches of bone.

Electric Starting for outboards.

Perhaps the greatest development in outboard motor boats ever re corded is the sanouncement by the

new Johnson Sea Horse manufae turers of an electric starter. In spite of the wide advertisement of outboard engines as being instan- taneous starters, the public hare fought shy of this sport because af the difficulty in getting the motor te fire. However, with the inclu- siam of an electric starter, outboard engines will now attain more popa- larity.

THE HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1930.

MOTOR NOTES.

stands up to its work (at present it is everything that could be de sired), they have been running a

Batum of the Cycle-car.

This year's Motor Cycle Show at Olympia may go down in history 30 eft. - truck, and they find theas marking the commencement of Whippet pulls better, rides better, the second wave of popularity of the and is much easier to drive. But cycle-car. my most serious complaint is that, while I have sold this company every day for about eight years ten or more galous of petrol a day, my trade has fallen to about 5 gallons, and under this condition in about two years they will get the truck for nothing, and I am that much the loser in trade. Surely I deserve your sympathy at least. (What are you going to do about it 1)" Professor Low on Headlamps.

It surprises and rather shocks me," writes Professor A. M. Low in The Motor, "to see what variation occurs in headlamp conditions Most of us know the driver who loves to illuminate the thatched roofs of cottages and the top of telegraph poles..

in- Then there is the strange dividual who sets his headlamps with an outward cast, but the com- monest of all is the driver who sits behind a gentle glow.

very im.

In its carly days," says The Light Car and Cycle-cer, it was largely the plaything of amateur constructors and motoring enthu siasts; later it became neither motorcycle nor car, yet was open to being accused of possessing the drawbacks of both. Of recent years it has been, the virtual monopoly of one or two manufacturers, and now it seems to have been dragged from relative obscurity and thrown into the full glare of the limelight.” Dirt Track Racing.

47

Those who saw the dirt-track race at Crystal Falsee, London, as shown by the Fax "Movietone Nows" at the Queen's Theatre sometime back were no doubt thrill ed to see and hear the riders plough up the cinders as they The skidded round the track, riders at the time must have been travelling at about 45 m.p.h., with at full bore and doing as much as 5,000 r.p.m.-No wonder the Dirt-track racing was first origin ated by American riders, who took the game to Australia and Europe where it has developed into the popular spert it is to-day. Hers na account by Eric Spencer, - a Douglas dirt-track rider, who tells how it is done.

Motor-cycling in 1930.

Motor Cycling believes that 1930 will be an historia year in the motor-cycling world. In a leading article in a recent issus it is point

PUBLIC VEHICLE

SPEEDS

DANGER OF 30 MPH.

All branches of the passenger road-transport industry are giving. strong support to the contention that the limitation to 30 m.p.h of the speed of heavy pneumatic-tyred pas the Road Traffic Bill, is unnecessary "The outlook so far as light cars seager vehicles, under the terms of are concerned is promising. Within and unwise. In the main, the argu the past few weeks two new makeşments which have been advanced

mechanical point of view, of private of small ear have been introduced, have been based on a comparison and there are at present well-sub between the relative safety from a cars and motor coaches and buses, the speed of a popular type of vehicle' supported by the plea that to limit

traffic stream and result in consider- will merely tend to slow the normal ablo overtaking with its consequent dangers to all road users:

and then when the increased speed puts us into a real slide we get nervous and shut off. This brings the machine upright and throws us off on the right side, which very often results "in a nasty fall. The ed out that: "For the firet time stantiated rumours of further new proper way to fail, if fall yon mast, the TT. races will be run as a sub-comers, and the light car move is to keep the gas full on, when the sidized spectacle; & new hand willment shows no signs of waning in machine will then slide itself right be guiding the destinies of Brook popularity." round to the left and almost come lands track; the 'classic' reliability The Radiator of the Future.

Much attention is being directed to a standstill. You can then step trials will receive only that support

from the trade which their apparent at the present time to the use of off the machine gently, pick it up,

་ ·

merits seem to deserve; dirt-track chemical solutions 3.5 and start off once more."

a cooling racing will no longer be able to medium for cars, instead of water. Reliability Trials Threatened.

A clause in the Road Traffic Bill cover its deficiencies by the plea Discussing this question in The at present before Parliament seeks that it is still in its infancy; and Light Car and Cycleçar, "Focus" to prohibit "trials of "speed" be sand and path racing will have to writes: In the event of sero tween motor-ayeles.

exist without trade backing." engineers finding such solutions which permit smaller radiators and Motoring to Cost Loss?

bigher engine temperatures, an era of much improved thermal efficiency with proportionately reduced fuel

picuous and vulnerable position. tors may be banished to a less cons As I have often remarked be fore, a radiator is anything but a thing of beauty. It is easily dam aged in a minor collision, and fundamentally, I supposo, it is saly sheer accessity which gives it its commanding position at the extreme front of a car.. 43

"There is, however, one other aspect to which it is as well to direct attention," states The Com mercial Motor. "In these days of cheap motor-cars and motorcycles, coupled with easy hire-purchase ar rangements, many drivers, parti. cularly those engaged on coaching tours, whose wages are augmented by not inconsiderable gratuities, run their own machines of these types. There is, admittedly, a great differ- once between driving for a liveli bood and for pleasure, but the psy

"The question uppermost in the minds of most of us," says The Light Car and Cyclecar, "is whe-consumption will dawa, while radia-thological approach to each class of

"It would seem that this term is sufficiently flexible to forbid trials organizers having timed sections or stopping and restarting tests on hills," says Motor Cycling. "Ither motoring is going to cost more tests are not a 'trial of speed be would be difficult to argue that such

tween motor vehicles,' and it is most sincerely to be hoped that the clause will be the subject of amendment be- fore the Bill is passed."

or less in 1930. The present in- dications are that there will be little change, although a slight decrease in the price of petrol during the first three months of the year can fairly safely he prophesied.

"Other commodities, ruch as oil,"

pearance, principle, and operation approved by the Ministry of Trans- their low-geared engines screaming occasion when an acceleration test tyres and accessories will, it is cooling solutions came into use, cars

In developing electric starting

"A lighting system is for the new Johnsen outboard en- gines, the engineers have departed portant feature of a car, as you radically from traditional design. may discover if the lights suddenly The starting mechanisma in the Sea fail when rounding a dark bend at Herse motors is different in ap- a speed which we hope will soon be from the familar starter of your port...

Wires offer resistance to elec- automobile.

Messrs. Alex Ross are local districity and are far too often skimp- tributors for the Johnston outboard ed, so that the 12 volts offered by motor boats and engines, and with the accumulator is eventually 10 the coming summer season, an out- volts at the bulb. A few dozen on a cold night with board motor-boat should "prove startings ideal for picnics to the many bays petrol turned off will rapidly break down the useful pressure of elec around the Island..

tricity until the merest glow re- Bulta

Versatility of the Motor Track.

More and more is the all-around

"A badly adjusted cut-out, the utility of the motor truck recog-purpose of which is to prevent the nized. Not only does it occupy a accumulators discharging when the well-defined position of its own in engine is switched off, gives you the field of commercial transporta the extraordinary type of headlamp to tion, but is invaluable in supple which seems sympathetically nicating other forms.

brighten up as speed increases and the voltage from the dynamo con-

Manxland Up In Arms |

With open arms, the railroads have accepted the motor truck. Itsequently riscs." has proved the logical solution to their short-haul problem, enabling them to earn a net profit on a phase of service which had hereto fore registered a heavy loss...

Steamship lines use the motor truck extensively. For instance, the Goodrich Steamship Company operates a fleet of Federals, mov- ing freight from inland points to their vessels. This is an important braath of service and one for which the motor, truck is particularly adapted,

Even the latest form of trans- portation, the aeroplane, inds use for the truck. The Curtis Aero- plane and Motor Company, Buf- falo, NY, has a two-ton truck with special drop frame semi-trailer for transporting finished planes from plant to airport.

This recognition by other forms of transportation shows how firmly the motor truck has entrenched itself as

public necessity-how indispensable it is to modern civilisation. Driving After Dark.

Commenting upon the fact that negatintions are in progress to have the date of the 1930 T.T. week altered from Whitsuntide to some more suitable time, a writer in the current issue of Motor Cycling says " People in the Isle of Man are very disturbed because the Auto-Cycle Union, has provisionally fixed next year's Tourist Trophy races for Whit-week,

"Practically speaking, it may be said that the Manx visiting season commences with the Whitsuntide rush, and it would be a serious in- convenience to close the main roads for the races on three days of Whit- week, including Whit-Monday.

"It is well-known that Manx people look to the T.T. Races to provide a considerable portion of their revenue, and they argue that they will lose financially by reason of the provisional date of T.T. week coinciding with Whit-week.

As Manxland has spent a great deal of money on the T.T. course and grand-stand, and having voted, Now that after-dark driving is in only a month or two ago, a large vegue, the man (or woman) at the sum of money to the A.-C.U. to- wheel in bound to take an interest wards the cost of the races, it is once again in the vexed (and vex not unreasonable that the Manx ing) question of headlights-whe viewpoint as to the date of the

bark!

The Art of Commering,

You come down, the straight as fast as the motor will let you. About twenty feet from the corner, you shut off and wrench the front wheel over to the left. The whole machine then slides bodily into the corner with the engine ebut off. This part of the procedure requires great strength of wrist and fore arm to hold the machine from slid- When you ing completely down. have arrived in the corner you turn on the gas (full). The power of the engine then causes the back wheel to skid outwards. You turn the front wheel into the skid. You are then in what is called a Trac- tion, which means that the rear wheel is tractioning the machine round the corner while you are steering and riding on your front wheel. The front wheel in this case is not. sliding, only the back. How to Fall Off!

"Now comes the part where moet of us are beat the real slide with both wheels. When you have reach- ed a point say three parts of the way, round the corner you will have attained so much speed that you will have to lay the machine nearly over on its left side to keep it away from the fence. As your speed in- creases and the angle of the machine proportionally increases you will find the front wheel slid- ing as well as the back. The great thing at this stage is to keep the throttle full open and turn the front wheel almost straight again. It is fatal to shut off and this is where beginning. We get into a traction

ther they should be diamed on T.T. Races should receive some con- most of us make the mistake when

approaching another car, and whe-sideration."

ther they should be used at all in town. There is no experience more nerve-racking than that of driving through the outskirts of town after. dark on a wet night-the wind- screen covered with myriads of drops of rain each glowing like a diamond, on either side the sense- less glitter of street-lamps (which should properly be screened from the eye, and shine downwards only), and every moment the blinding glare of headlights from an ap- proaching car, intensified by the enormous reflecting power of a wet road. If the car approaching enaps its lights on and off, so many do, the confusion to the eye and brain is increased a hundredfold, and most motoriste: pine for the day (or night) when there shall be an authoritative and all-reaching. pronouncement on this question of dimming" lights. Many an acci- dent is caused by the temporary blindness of the car driver, with the fortuitous circumstance of a pedes- trian or cyclist being on the road at the precise moment. In any case most of us would agree to prohibit headlights within the area of public street lighting..

A Serious Complaint.

Messrs, Overland Sydney. Ltd., distributors in Sydney, N.S.W., ro cently received the following seri ous complaint from one of their dealers.

Dear Sir, On the 31st of August I delivered to Ford & Black. well Motor Bus Prop, plying be- tween Branxton and West Mait- land, one of the new-Whippet Bix Trucks, After going into this mat- ter, I find I am going to be a big loser" in this transaction and really within the course of two years will have made a present, of the truck to this firm, providing of course it

FIRST IN HONG KONG BRITISH MOTOR

*** 1930 "'

CYCLES

NORTON

MODEL No. 18 4.90. H.P.

"Ucapproachable" as the machines have proved in the past, 1920 witnesses an even finer production in NORTON. Many important improvements are embodied in the new NORTON designa including enclosed valve gear mechanism and push roda, detachable cover for Bocker Box, improved arrangement of cylinder head layout, efficient silencer, nud Chromium plating. COME AND INSPECT IT AT

THE SINCERE Co., LTD.

SOLE AGENTS.

"We cannot call to mind a single or a timed section on a hill in a reliability trial has in the slightest anticipated, show practically no degree endangered either a com-change, but insurance premiums are petitor or a spectater, and it seems most improbable that those who in the melting pot, for, following drafted the Bill intended that this the adoption of compulsory inaur

ance in the almost certain event of clause should interfere with harm- less sport of this kind. It is to be hoped that our organized spokesmen the Road Trafic Bill becoming law,

| almost anything may happen. are bearing this matter in mind."

"Perhaps if high-temperature would be reversed, the engine being at the extreme rear and the driver's Beat being over the front axle. We should then have quieter cars which were much more pleasant to ride in, whilst in traffic, in fog and in heavy rain they would be a great deal easier to drive than they are at

present,"

it must not be forgotten that, in some cases, drivers actually use work may well be the same, whilst motor-cycles for journeying between To ask these men to adapt themselves their homes and their work. to different. sets of circumstances in the space of a few hours is to in- crease their responsibility, and, with traffic conditions in their present complex state, this is certainly not

desirable thing to do.

"The primary task of the driver of a public-service vehicle should be to control his vehicle, and any factor which tends to distract him from

An insistence this important work reduces his alertness of mind. upon safe driving is imperative, but safe driving and speed limitations are not necessarily correlated, as experience is showing daily.'

LONG ECONOMICAL LIFE

For SPEED... ECONOMY and

LONG LIFE.

H.K. $2,500.

(All prices and specifications, subject to change without notice).

WILLYS-

The Sleeve-valve engine

Among the outstanding advantages of the patented Knight double sleeve-valve six-cylin- der engine are: longer life-fewer parts- constant power and efficiency-lower cost of upkeep-fuel economy-better radiation- increased power at various speeds-quiet oper ation—unusual freedom from adjustments, repairs and carbon troubles.

It will pay you to visit your nearest Willys Overland dealer and see the Willys-Knight 11⁄2 ton truck, which is powered by this superior

engine.

KNIGHT 11⁄21⁄2 TON TRUCK

Agents :

MODEL T-103'

GILMAN & CO., LTD.

4A, DES VEUX ROAD..

TEL. 0. 290.

Garage & Service Station:

MOTOR CO., LTD.

"DURO

99

132, NATHAN ROAD, KOWLOON

TEL. K. 226.

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