1923-08-25 — Page 3

MOTORING

SUPPLEMENT

OF

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH.

Saturday, August 25th, 1923.

(Being the Official Organ of the Hongkong Automobile Association),

LOCAL MOTOR NOTES & NEWS

“IT'S A LEMON!”

Funny Story from the States.

HONGKONG'S TAXIS.

Where They Will Be

Stationed.

WHY DO CAR SPEEDS VARY?

Importance of the Power to Weight Ratio...

Loyalty to one's car comes second only to loyalty to one's

The Hongkong mod Kowloon family in the creed of most Taxicab Company is making Today is the date fixed for the vented a method of measuring and opera. In the usual excoption, arrangements for the commen Capt. E. de Normanville says-A Writing in the Daily Chronicle' first motor car and cycle trials testing, using what is now known places are simply reversed, the sement of its public service. So render inquiree why an 119 b.p over held in Hongkong. These the standard disc. This disc car coming first.

far, nineteen stands for the taxis car which he has just bought can weather during the wook has been consists of a number of irregular anything but promising, but as grey shapes superimposed on s No matter how decrepit, how have been planned for Hongkong, only do 41 m.p.h. "all out." when to-day's contests do not require a dead black background 18 inches cantankersus or spattery the old four for the Peak district and ten another 11.9 h.-p. car belong to a very big stretch of road, it is in diameter. As it is impossible bus may be. 999 owners out of for Kowloon. These will give friend can do a genuine 50 m.p.h. hoped that it will be possible to to standardise colours, the grey 1,000 will tell how good she is, accommodation for 119 taxis. whenever opportunity serves.

The two main reasons are tho carry out the full programme effect is actually produced by anyway, extolling all her virtues The provisional list of stands, as arranged. The competitions alternating strips of black and good points, recounting her approved by the police, is as actual borse power developed by: arranged for today are Acceleraard

the engine, and the ratio between w bite. The visibility long and valiant service and con- this tion Test and Hill Climb, for cars, of

disc

that power and the weight of the corresponde doning any present faults.

car. For example, the Smith 11.9 solo cycles and cycle combina-rougbly to that of a pedestrian |

There has been a splendid dressed in a colour offering very traitor to the brotherhood. He

But there is in Washington one Quarry Bay (Entrance to tions

bp. engine may develop an ac ship-yard) entry, and much keenness bas little contrast to that of the road not only condemns his own car, Causeway Bay

tual 18 b.-p. and the car weight 16 opposite

cwt. On the other hand the Rob been aroused in the competitions.) surface. Consequently the dis- but does it publicly, flagrantly

entrance to Jockey Club

inson 119 h.-p. engine may Many types of cars and cycles)tance at which the diso and in a way to attract maximum

Stables have entered, and everything has effectively illuminated indicates attention.

develop 24 h.-p. and the car been planned to provide ■ fdealso the distance at which

weigh only 12 owt. afternoon's sport.

pedestrian would be clearly sight-

B

It's a good looking car, almost ed with the aid of the car lamps. new. But across its sides and This distance is measured not At the moment, it seems-an- only in a direct line in front of likely that the Fuel Consumption the car, but also at various Test, arranged for Sunday, angler, so as to indicate when a September 2nd, will be held on pedestrian would be first seed that date. The Taipo road has were entering the road from suffered badly in the typhoon, and the side.

it will take some considerable time before it is fit for traffic again: However, notificatione regarding this Test will appear ister in the Telegraph.

Car and

14'S CAR

NO GOOD!

It'e a

Up to this point we have only indicated how the test assista in assuring safety by making objects visible to the driver, and without back he has painted in blazing The attention of motorists is by dazzle of the headlampe. To

regard to the dangers occasioned yellow lettere a foot high: drawn to the fact that questione test dazzle, the disc is placed)

"STUNG! NO GOOD!, relating either to local aspects of alongside the

tbe "This Car is motoring or to technical points angerver approaches from in Lemon." will be answered weekly in this front until he reaches point Supplement by "scrutator."

Alat which the dazzle of the lampa has painted a huge lemon, the On the doors on each side he ready some queries have come

these in. and

answered seeing the disc. These notes, of explanatory phrase: "Thie Car's Bize of a wooden backet, with the elsewhere in this inoue: We

course, only give would also direct attention to idea of the test, which has

rough Lemon.* the series of special articles now been standardized by the

on

motor

aro

станов

to

prevent him from

}

Follows:--

Hongkong.

Junction of Leighton Hill & Wong-Nai-Chung Roads... Golf Club.

No. 2 Police Station" Arsenal Street,.. City Hall

Chater Road near Hongkong

Club

Star Ferry East side...

Pedder Street, outside G.P.O. Canton Wharf, West side

4

2

Macao Wharf, West side Island at junction of Des Voeur Road West and Connaught Road West Jubilee Street, North end Tram Station, Garden Road Junction of Robinson and

Castle Roads

Glenealy, junction of upper

Albert & Caine Roads Bonham Road at junction

with Park Roed Holywood Road outside

Central Police Station

The Peak.

Wanchal Gap.... Magazine Gap. Government Villas Peak Hotel (when road is

complete)

Doubtless the owner has had cycle matters by British Engineering Standards clash with the agency from which Nortonis," the first of which Association and adopted by the the car appears to-day. The best way in Ministry of Transport and is there-parently, the bus runs all right, was bought. But sp- which to overhaul an "Indian fore of considerable interest to the for one sees it all over town. For Chief is explained to-day, and governing bodies of the motoring a lemon, it certainly does travel! Star Ferry anyone desiring further in communities of other countries. formation on the subject, beyond that contained in the article, should address a enquiries to "Nortohia," c/o the Telegraph.

OWN

of the Automobile Association,

The subject, as we say, is one

"One other paragraph in the article also calls for some com- ment, pamely, 'Tap the raivo caps, wire up a second set of plugs

Kowloon.

Junction of Nathan Road

and Haiphong Road

Junction of Nathan and Jor-

dan Roads .. Waterloo Road Bedford Road

Peace Avenue Ho Mun Tin Kowloon Cricket Club Junction of Observatory and

Chatham Roads

Gillies Avenue, Dock Gate Kowloon. City Ferry Wharf

Total...

FACTS & FIGURES.

2

2

There are (roughly) actual casos from existing examples. And when you study the horse power weightration, the resultis striking. In the first case you have only one hap. for every 1001b of weight and in the other you have ona" | h.-p. for every 56ib,

The difference is enormous, and readily accounts for the variation in road speed, acceleration, and general livoliucas.

8o much for the resson. Rat when my correspondent goes on to complain about his lack of speed, I am not at all sure that I with him. Nearly all motorista are inclined to rate the value of speed too highly.

agrea

TAKING THE CORNER.

C. P: Wood making the turn at Quarter Bridge in the Eslo of Man motor cycle conteste. Note bow the passenger throws himself across the machine to balance it as the turn is made at high speed."

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS.

"Scrutator" Replies to Queries.

Answer

41

Decarboniser.

Hilltop" also asks: What is Is good decarbonisor?

Answer: Johnston's carbon re- move, but I do not recommend this even. It is much better to remove the top or cylinders and remove the carbon this way.

Best Practice in Coasting,

F. H. S. asks: What is the

I am "sometimes accused of being a "crank" for saying that no small car should be capable of a speed în excess of 45 m.p.b. Well, I'm going on being a "oraak”—and hope that eventual- 4lly the shaft" will get home with ["Scrutator" is prepared to Į car manufacturers.

questions relating to Many of these new small type motoring. Queries should be ad- bigh speed cers are spending far dressed to him clo Hongkong proper thing to do, in order to 6 too much time in the repairer'e Telegraph. They should be sent save gasoline, when a car is banda. In my opinion that is in not later than Tuesday each coasting down bill? Sometimes dus solely to the fact that the week. Below will be found some I shut off the ignition and put the engines are made too fficiert questions and answers] for normal man in the street" ihanding. I prefer to put re- liability firet, low maintenance and running costs second, and speed third.

4

&

4 NO EXCUSE NOW.

3

$

4

119

of considerable importance, both place like Hongkong. The more to motorists and the general the magneto is advanced, the Motorists themselves can make public. We have seen cars in greater the tondenoy to knock, use of the columns of the Supple- Hongkong with unduly powerful especially when hill climbing and ment by sending in matter headlamps, which constitute a accelerating. There is plenty of suitable for inclusion amongst distinct danger to drivers of other both in Hongkong, so perhaps the these local notes. Adother medium machines. The dimmers of some best advice would be to leave the is offered by letters from motor cars, also, are far from what they maker's timing wall alone. ists, putting forward any sugges-abould be-there is very little tione for the benefit of motoring difference between the full lights locally. No doubt many readers and the diromed lamps. We have idene of their

on invite the views cf local motorists mumerous points-then let them on this subject. give the motoring fraternity the Benefit of these. Any useful sug- gestions put forward will no doubt

From a motorist who has con-in series and get the extra 10% of

Belgium has bought nearly receive the cordial consideration siderable knowledge of technical power which the addition will 14,000 passenger cars and chassis which is anxious to do anything matters, we have received the probably give you. In this case, from other onaatries, since the

all that happens is that the spark armistice. which will help forward the the article on the tuning up of the least internal resistance, or a bonus for avoiding accidents.

following comments regarding

crosses the gap of the plug having Omnibus drivers in London get interests of motoring locally,

motor cars which wo printed in our Supplement last week, the cross the shortest gap in the United States makes 90 per In view of the fact that Hong-writer of which was the motoring two. Bath plugs will not fire; the cent of the world's motor vehicles. correspondent of a well-known current merely takes the path of kong knows something of the London paper:-"The writer of least resistance and fires one danger arising from dazzling the article which you produced

(only." motor car headlamps, it is interesting to note that this ing up a car says:The plugs on Saturday with regard to tun- important question has for some must be of good make, capable time past been receiving the con- of standing the batter spark dus draws attention to the latest addi-6,000 trucks in Spain, sideration of the Royal Automo to a good magneto advance. As tion to the service of the enter More than 20,000 motor vehicles: bile Club at Home. A brief outline a technical point, the spark prising Dragon Motor Car Com were exported in March from the of the experiments made will no is not made. hotter when the pany. doubt be appreciated by local

This is the provision of United States and American motoriste. Numerous headlightsagneto is advanced. The spark special motor lorries which may be branches in Canado.

merely occur esoner, and, pro-hired for haulagepurponse-afvery Canadian automobiles now of special design have from time siding other things are equal, ie necessary adjunct to the present namber beyond 500,000, Club for test, and it obviously hotter. The position of the transport facilities of the Colony

A 髅

to time been submitted to the

magneto armature with relation

An advertisement in this issue

became neccessary to ei laavour to the pole pieces goverra the to standardize these tests in such intensity of the spark, providing away as to afford a practical and the other parts of magneto and reliable comparison of the devices the plugs are correctly adjusted. Care will be glad to know that submitted.

There are 47,426 garages in the United States,

Imports of motor vehicles into the United States totalled 456 in 1922.

There are 5,000 motor care and

Fest motor par customers from the Daited States are Canada, Australia and Mexico,

France now requires the mix ture of 10 per cent alcohol with gasoline for motor fuel.

Prospective purchasers of Ford

Mesars. Alex Ross & Oo, can French engineers have been give immediate delivery of the experimenting with a gas oil for touring models. Elsewhere in automobile engines, which they After much experimental work, "In any caso, one has to be this supplement, the latest prices say has proved more efficient Mr. Hugh Gregory, head of the very careful about altering the of the various types of Ford than gasolide. Besides, tho gae Club's Technical Department, in-maker's timing, especially in a machines are published, -

oil is cheaper.

White trouser and cost cuffs, white cap and white shoulder patches add to the visibility of New York trafic. police at night Motorista can't say now, "I didn't see the policeman.”

Use of "Dope."

gear lever in neutral, but more often I just throw out the clutch and fully close the throttle IsvOr, so that the engine just keeps going.

Hilltop skeIs it not a fact that some racing motorists Anas er: If the saving of ga80- are in the habit of mixing a proline is the only consideration stop- portion of ether with petrol? If ping the engine by cutting off the so, in the practice a good one, ignition is the best method, as of and what is the best proportion, course, no gasoline is consumed, baving regard for safety? Can the when the engine is not running. practice be recommended for However, I do not recommand ordinary car usage?

this practice, because it possÉRAÐS

Answer: Yes, this is correct. objections which more than out- Many racing motorists use what weigh the resulting small gaso is termed "dope." The practice line saving. It is laborious, in- is a good one, but the engines volves useless wear and tear on must be altered the geare and the starter and using "dops and the

throws work on the brakes: compression space which had reduced. The

better be partly dope" used is Amyl Acetate, and the proportion done by the retarding effect is somewhere in the neighbour of the engine, if kept in gear. hood of one pint to each gallon of Throwing out the clutch and let- fuel, although the exact quantity ting the engine idle is a better varies accordingtocircumstances. Practice, on the whole, if your It must be clearly understood, clutch bearings are well lubricat however, that the addition of thised and capable of withstanding substance to the petrol does not all the work thus thrown upon in itself produce greater power. them, but my preference is toward It is nothing in the nature of a keeping the engine in gear and fuel intensifier, and in order to be fully throttled down, for even used with any advantage at all, though it involves some waste of the engine itself has to be altered gasoline, it causes less wear and It is commonly known that the tear and gives better car control. higher the compression ratio of an engine, the greater is its out- put of power.

500 Mile Race. straight fuel, the point to which On May 30, Tommy Milton won the compression can be raised in the annual 500 Mile International” limited by detonation. Too Sweepstakes at Indianapolis in an high

compression ratio H 0.8. 3pecial on Firestone gum- produces a power unit which has dipped corde. His average speed. a tendency to knock its head was 9144 miles per hour, being off" and is therefore unusable, the only driver, in the history of When "dope" is added to the this classing race to win a second mixture, however, the burning time. Hartz Murphy and Cooper action of the charge is slowed who relieved Hoarse, finished down or damped sufficiently, so second, third and fourth in the that '`a very high compression order camed, in Durant Specials, ratio can be used without knock-giving a clean sweep of first four ing, and the increase of power places to Firestone sum-dipped obtainable can be utilized,

This card. Eight of the ten winners preotice cannot be recommended ware carried on Firestone equip for ordinary car usuage.

A

Whea

using

ment.