1934-05-15 — Page 2

Page

AN OVERHEAD -VALVE FORD

NEW RULES IN THE T.T. RACE

Better Performance A Full Equipment Is

Claimed

The performance of the 8 hp. Ford, or the "little Ford," as it is often called. has always been good, but a special conversion by the been designed set has well-known engineer, W. A.

Dagenham Whatmough. Motors, 8, Balderton Street, W.. providing for a

head with an

for

new cylinder overhead inlet

valve, the exhaust valve remain- ing at the side as in the standard .design.

been

The cylinder head has shaped so that only the area of the valve chest surrounding the exhaust valve has been retained while in the combustion space,

been the inlet-valve port has plugged, and a push-rod, operat- ed by the normal tappet, passes right up through the middle of the space this plug. through orginally occupied by the inlet valve, and operates the overhead rocker gear.

The Induction Systeri

A lead is taken from an exis- of the the side ting plug

force oil to the crank case to

boxes, and the rocker rocker bushes are drilled and the roc

channels themselves have kers

to lubricate the push-rod ends.

Both valves are of the same springs double valve size, and

The plugs are over "are fitted.

A 30 mm, the exhaust valves. carburetter is fitted at the rear the water of the engine. and outlet is also designed at this point. in order to ensure that the warmest water shall sure The inle passage. round the

Inlet passage passes right along the top of the cylinder, head, and the gas flows straight down through the inlet valves. "Dyna- trole" balancing pipes are led from a point just below the car- the buretter. projecting into manifold in order. equalise

to for the" separate the mixture cylinders. The compression ratlo of the standard engine is 6.2 to 1. and this has not been increased. since the extra performance due Lo adequate alling at high speed is claimed to be entirely satis factory. It is said that the maximum speed is increased by a good 10 m.p.h., giving some- thing just over 70 m.p.b.. and that the engine runs exception- ally smoothly. The petrol "con- sumption too, is not adversely affected, so it is stated, even when the engine is driven hard. A new and handsome "DM" 8 h.p. Ford two-seater has also, been

Dagenham designed by Motors with this type of engine fitted, and will cost £175. The "radiator has been lowered, and every care has taken to keep the overall height as low

as possible. As a conversion set to existing models the head easts £18 10s, plug 30s. for fitting charge. The 30 mm. carburetter costs an additional £2 10s. in this" case, and a thermostat and dash- board thermometer are optional

extras at £3 10s.

Other New Models

In their recent Ford Show Dagenham Motors exhibited this

To Be Carried

have bren Drastic changes made by the Royal Automobile Club in the rules for the Tourist Trophy motor-car race, which will take place or Saturday, September 1, on the

Ards Cir-

cult: near Belfast. For this year the race is to be limited to "catalogue" cars, or cars, as sold to the public.

Superchargers are banned, and every car entered must be of a chassis of production type, and

the type entered must have beer. built in sufficient quantity to satisfy the R.A.C. that it is a commercial motel.

car

of the The specification must correspond exactly with that laid down in the catalogue, which, presumably, excludes the use of specially high compression ratios.

Full equipment, including hood, must screen, 'wings, and lamps. be carried throughout the race, mechanic and driver and the have to "put up the hood and take it down; again within five minutes under official observa- Hon.

The carrying of mechanics is гасе for the The optional. scratch cars will cover 478 miles The smallest cars will be handi- capped at 70.45 m.p.h. and the largest at 78.31 m.p.h.

+

A considerable stir has been caused in the motor racing: world by the announcement of these regulations. The banning of superchargers, In particular, is being widely criticised on the grounds that there are signs that the supercharger will in the near future be introduced in standard- cars and that some catalogue" cars already have them.

The R.A.C. reply that neither the manufacturers, nor the mo- shown any toring public have

of inclination towards the use the supercharger for ordinary motoring, although every oppor- tunity for its development and adaptation to everyday use has been provided during the past ten years.

The new rules wili ban some been of the cars which have

in most successful in this race

other hand. the past. On the they seem to offer opportunities for the private owner who is a skilful driver.

"special 8 h.p. two seater in com

standard several! with pany

8 h.p. Ford chassis having special.. closed coachwork and also V8 · chassis fitted with. attractive body types. A new and particu- larly smart tour-door saloon on the V8 is the Dorchester saloon made by Holbrooks, of Birming- ham, and selling at £395, This 'car is nicely proportioned and semaphore traffic signals are in- rear, the fabric corporated in quarters. Other models shown on the VB chassis were a fixed- head coupe, a drop-head coupe., and a four-light drop-head close- coupled saloon.

SACHS

Outboard

Motor.

The mall engine of highest Power

Speed Simplicity

Reliability

Economy

For free demonstration apply to

F. FELD & Co., Ltd.,

Pedder Building, HONG KONG.

HONG

KONG DAILY PRE S, TUESDAY, MAY

15, 1934.

MOTOR JOTTINGS

THIS SPEED BUSINESS

Who Wants Very High Maximum Speeds?

There seems to be a risk of maximum speed-in the abstract, and not in reality so far over- shadowing other considerations as to be a handicap to the deve- lopment of cars on the best lines for ordinary people: Anyone who comes in contact with those re- "sponsible for selling cars would expect, having, absorbed the pro- nouncements of some of them, to And the roads seething with velo- cipedes rushing about at 60 and 10 mp.h. "The car-buying public high maximum have .. must

A mile a you gather: speeds," minute is a commonplace; motor ists of to-day think in the sevent- tes.

But do they? What you find in actual fact on the main roads is that the general cruising speed has gone up, perhaps, to 35 or 40 m.ph, for those with,newer cars. But at 45 m.p.h you will overtake. the majority even on a by-pass: at 50 to 55 you will seldom, in- deed, be overtaken yourself in

Where are the a whole day's run. people who are supposed to do. seventy as a matter of everyday habit?

Cases can be cited, I know, of occasional ears seen travelling at high speeds for ordinary reads. but they are rarities. So much so that, myself, I can remember six for instances individual months past during a consider- able mileage in various parts of the country. and including driv ing on the by-passes around Lon- don a great deal, at all times of the day, every day of the week.

High Maximum

That this should be so is not a matter for lament-rather the reverse; yet. It seems that cars, to an appreciable extent, are de- signed and bult with speed as one of the most important" fac- tor in mind. The manufacturer himself, as represented by the de- sign staff, may not agree with this tendency; he is driven to it. by his sales side, who demand that they shall be able to "guar- antee" seventy or thereabouts as their first talking point in deal- ing with buyers who think they know their subject,

The curious thing is that, with few exceptions; "those. buyers do not appear to make practical use It of their cars' capabilities. may be a form of vanity, a wish to know that the car of one's choice can do 65, 70 or 80; or there". may be a more practical and com- mon-sense answer in that some motorists feel a fast car, because It has so much in reserve, will be easy running and safe at the or- dinary speeds they wish to main- tain. The fact remains that most buyers' interest in sheer speed. is theoretical...

"

My criticism is that because of this fetish-and this is the only real word for it-much more sm- portant features of cars generally. than mere all-out speed are not receiving a full measure of im- provement sufficiently quickly. Speed in itself on the right car... at the right time, and on the right road, is a perfectly good thing, in competent hands, but such a combination of ideat circumstan- ces is seldom obtained in this country, and the practical use. able limit of speed, with due re- gard to safety, is not very high. " I exempt a few full-blooded speed models from this generalisation. The Real Factors in a Fast Journey The things which really count are acceleration, giving the ability. to overtake other vehicles with certainty and minimum loss of time; first-class brakes the bet- ter the brakes obviously the fas ter the car" becomes from point to point; and real stability on the road, coupled with accurate steer- ing, so that where vision ahead is open corners can be taken fast. yet safely." Those are the factors needed for a good average speed, and that is what matters to those who use their cars in any way Jelsurely pleasure

apart from Journeys

Given the main points leration, brakes, road holding,

eny and steering-to the

have in mind, the actual maxi-

mum speed of the

matter within reason.

arcely

be possible to reach

55 to 6b

m.p.h. quickly, but average speeds

approaching those attained by a train can be achieved without ex- ceeding 65 m.p.h. on even the most favourable stretches of the journey if a car possesses the all- down. important features laid

at 55 and can cruise effortlessly to 60 m.p.h. That I mention last; It is obviously of the utmost im- portance in the high-average- speed ear. but I put the gure comparatively low.

Quoting from data of runs on a great number of cars, I have done in the past hity-one mues in sixty minutes, the speedometer once holding a reading of over 90 for some distance; and, as an- other instance, forty-seven miles in the same time without at any time exceeding 67, and running This is not mostly at 55 to 60.

an average speed controversy in the ordinary sense, nor even a series of personal reminiscences, but those. Agures, as examples show so little worth-while differ- ence as to rule out any advantage, possessed by the "speedometer 30" car in the present discussion.

Crusing There is real charm in a car at 55 to 60 which will cruise m.p.h.-and by cruise I mean attach more than some people to the rather flexible term. The engine must be absolutely happy. not at or near the limit of com- fortable revs, and the car itself must feel rock steady, on straight or curve, as well as answer to an Inch to the steering. Gear ratios are often unduly low for ease of running at the higher speeds, and car weights too. high for really brisk acceleration,

.

Cannot makers concentrate on giving us this kind of ear, at the same time doing all that is within their power to convince people of the advantages of his average algh maxi- das oppostaj

do not e two mum speed?

Sheer necessarily go together. speed in itself is largely a mat- ter of price, but even ordinary cars are now being put forward as being capable of seventy or so. It is not the slightest use having a car possessed of these powers if It does not feel safe at over 55.

Experience of testing many ears; getting the last mile an hour, leaves recollections of only a handful in which I have felt at ease when running at the maxi- mum, even on the great expanse of Brooklands track, with no other vehicle in sight; I should not lightly attempt such speeds on the road with half the cars handle during the past year or way, and two, though in their within their limits, most of them were excellent machines.

The plain truth is, as I see it,

that engine, development is in danger of outstripping chassis dé- velopment, though, among other things, 1934 has certainly brought us very much better frames in a

Fo- number of cases.

speed, wer.. and ↑erefore has gone up out of propor- tion to soe the other essen- tials and

remains to be done to a and perfor vital need their adju greater dist case 'even

2

the specification

e outlined. One

akes which retain

nt for a" much

than is often the Modern brakes. adjusted py, are extremely powerful; Ere are cars that have far t dal movem red miles

th lost brake pe- fter a few hund-

driving.

people, immedi- for producing bén: in two in

04 Support Some, thus ately respons cars-which stances in mi

to be fast mac- hines--fully scribe, I know, to this average eed as against maximum spe point of view. In fact, it was thomments of one of them, sttheped only a few days opinions known

ful drive which decid these person

Great thi and most of worthy pro use: it is onl mum speeds all and end quirements t has come to Arst."

by similar another, well- fast, success- in competitions, 6 in setting down Yews.

have been done. present-day, cars ona for generál“ hen I hear maxi- ked of as the De

of motoring re-

I feel the time

of "Arst things

THE MOVIE MOTORIST

Fortunate Fellow

Have you ever thought what a fortunate fellow is the motorist we see in films?

He finds his ear responding to the starter first go off, at any time-even when surrounded by heaps of snow in the far north. hts He has, at

command the most wonderful acceleration that makes a 1924 car seem like a super- "

1936 high-powered charged

He is able to straight-eight. drive along glorious roads with- out a bump and completely de- void of troublesome traffic.

He generally manages to find a very pretty girl, with a superb figure, waiting for him by a stile whenever he goes searching for petrol along

road.

a lonely country

He has merely to lift the bon- net, when his car breaks down. touch something, slam the bon- net down again and proceed gaily on his way.

He drives happily along at 80 miles an hour through large towns with policemen touching their helmets to him the while.

He finds his way like a homing pigeon in districts quite strange to him by twisting to the right, then to the left, and then to the right again

His brakes are always ciagnif- cent and his steering so wonder- ful that driving seems to be mere child's play even when the roads "are crowded.

He races through mud or thick dust and arrives at his 'destina- tlon with the machine still bright and shining.

all

Yes, I have always thought the. movie, motorist a very lucky chap. indeed, writes a correspondent.

The automatic signals in Not- tingham have proved so success- ful from all points of view that more are to be installed in the near future.

The Minister of Transport has

NIPPY SMALL CAR

Special editions of the small Ford are commanding increased attention, as the lively utile en- gine lends itself, admirably to "hotting up." One of these re- cently tested by "The, Autocar" is the car produced by J. W. Bez- zant, the well-known racing dri- ver of the Pavey Cross Motor Co. Horley, Surrey.

The car is, avallable either as a two-seater or as a semi-four- seater, and may be had with in- dependent springing at the front, since the transverse spring tenda itself to the Bellamy divided axle system recently described in The Autocar. The radiator is 5 in, lower than standard, and has a deeper blocks to, correspond, while a steam valve is fitted in the overflow pipe.

"Balancing"

The engine is assembled spe cially with balanced "crankshaft and flywheel, and attention is also paid to balancing, the con- necting rods and big-end caps. The

pistons are shortened and lightened by the expedient of taking 12 mm. of the skirt. A and exhaust special induction system is used, giving a straight- forward exit. for the gases, while two 22 mm. horizontal S.U. car- buretters are fitted, with a ba- lancing pipe between them, and fuel supply is by an S.U. electric Stronger valve springs pump. and a raised compression are al- so adopted. An oil pressure gauge is also a fitting not supplied on the standard model as well as a special spring steering wheel.

The Bezzant Special Ford costs £190 either as a two seater or as a semi-four-seater, or £210 with the independent front springing. and the important additions of a Scintilla Vertex magneto, a rev. counter as well as a speedome- ter, and a thermometer.

On a test run the car behaved well, revealing good acceleration.

During these tests the screen was folded flat, and in the maxi-

to

announced that certain sections of the Leatherhead and Dorking by-passes are already open traffic, and both will be open. throughout their length by the end of June.

mum speed test on Brooklands track there was a slight favour- .able wind..

The ear. fitted with the inde- pendent front springing, cornered well at speed, though perhaps the rear spring would be a little harsh to one unaccustomed to a sporta Car.

As regards weather protec- tlon, an excellent hood is fitted which disappears into a space de- hind the seats covered by a ton- neau cover. There is a limited. luggage accomodation with the hood folded, which becomes quite generous when the hood is erect-- ed.

The model tested had rather sinall independent front seats, but it is understood that later models will have a one-piece front seat and a tonneau "cover to extend over either one or both of the seats. The wind cowls, though low enough to provide vision for the average man, are too high for the unobstructed view of a shart occupant, such as a lady. although in this respect the car. is no worse, in fact is rather bet- цет. than many other modern sports cars.

It is interesting to recall that performed with this actual car considerable success in the R.A.C. Rally, being placed ninth in its class, and in the entire entry of all three classes, only fourteen cars gained more marks.

To Arbitration

Our factory hands were being paid out one Saturday and a new boy handed in his card with the TMS remark, Shilling short on

card."

Interrogated by the pay clerk..

worked 47 he admitted having hours at 3d. an hour, but defant- ly insisted that the amount should be 12s. 9d. and not 11s. 9d.

To no purpose, a ready reckoner was produced and a careful ex- planation made. Finally, the pat lent clerk said: "Well, sonny, take lis. 9c. and get your school teach- er to check your figures."

At this the poy folded his piece of paper and replied: "All right.. an' can I borrer yer book for "fm

ter check, too?"

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DEAL DIRECT-

THORNYCROFT

SIX-CYLINDERED

COACHES & OMNIBUSES

MOTOR VEHICLES

DIESEL

OR PETROL

Pioneer Manufacturers of Commercial Motor Vehicles

Full Range of Spares carried in Hong Kong and Shanghat,

4 or 6 Wheels

4 or 6 Cylinders

80 Cwt. to 10 Ton Loads

20 to 70 Passengers

JOHN L THORNYCROFT & CO., LIMITED,

Pioneer Building, Nathan Road, Kowloon,

TEL. 56759.

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