1927-08-20 — Page 9

MOTORING

SUPPLEMENT

OF

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH.

SATURDAY, 20th AUGUSTM, 1927.

Being The Official Organ of

THE HONGKONG AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION.

Glaring Lamps. "

CURRENT

COMMENT

Jobstruct other vehicles using the It is interesting to note that at pier, and it is hoped that this note

will reach the eye of those who have displayed thoughtlessness in the past

their last meeting the K.R.A: dis-i cussed the question of glaring head lights in Nathan road, it being stated that such blinding Long Leads.

lights hefogged pedestrians and We have recently witnessed a made it dimeult for them, to dis-number of instances when motor linguish between trees, Jamp

lorries have been carrying long posts, and pedestrians. The iques- tion of glaring headlights is anlouds in such a way as to cause old and thorny subject, but now danger to the public. We realise that the K.K.A. have taken serious that timber and iron must be notice of the matter it appears transported through the city, but likely that something will & done. we think that particular attention The danger is equally shared with should be paid to the manner in which such freight is loaded. We the pedestrians by other motorists, believe that it is the practice at and it must be confessed that the Home, to so place the long, that, greatest offenders in this respect as far as possible, the extending are the buses. It is a common portion diminishes to a centre, sight to see a bus switch its lighta thus minimising the danger when completely off when meeting the vehicle is turning a corner. another vehicle, and to leave them Owing to the narrowness of some off for some short distance. The of our streets, it might even be only reason for this must be that wise to restrict the hours during they are not fitted with a dimming which such loads may be carried

This

and through the city.

arrangement. should be altered.

Regulation Rescinded.

Queen's Pier.

can

130 MILES TO THE

GALLON.

Consumption Test with Harley Davidson.

LOCAL RIDER'S RECORD.

The immense progress made in the design and efficiency of the modern motor cycle, is reflected in the records that are being con- tinually set up, only to be broken again, in all spheres of activity apertaining to the motor cyclist. Foremost in the public eye usually come high speed records, but the test of petrol consumption is one that is equally as interesting as high speeds, especially to the men with a limited pocket.

It is of interest to note that an Sunday last a petrol consumption test was carried out in the New Territories. by Mr. R. W. Barnett, of the Hongkong Telegraph riding a side valve Harley David- son single, when he registered) 130.4 miles to the American gal- Ian. The test was under the supervision of Mr. A. Gascon, the local agent, who was assisted by a number of other people, and was hek in connexion with a world wide competition organised by the

makers.

on

its

and

the

LONGEST BRIDGE IS OPEN.

The world's longest highway bridge has been opened

It's the Cochrane bridge," across Mobile Bay, in Alabama. part of which is shown here, stretching for 10 miles and costing $2,500,000. It eliminates part of "the ferrying that tourists along the Old Spanish Trail had to endure.. Now this famous trail from St. Augustine to San Diego has only four ferries and expects to eliminate these soon.

ITALIAN RACE.

99 Kilometres in a

Storm....

The Motor car

Circuit of

market for two years the makers decided to take a world census of Modena (Italy) in which a large opinion

capabilities, especially with regard to economy, number of entries had been made, and offer a silver zup to the was held recently, winner.

A large crowd was assembled on the 12 kilometre track which had to be completed 30 times (369 kilometres).

·

The speed was very swift up to about a third of the race but this erald not be kept up owing to a very violent strom which, raged, during the rest of the race.

A FREE WHEEL MOTOR-CAR.

Take Your Foot Off and Coast.

I am able to give, writes. the motoring correspondent of the Daily

Mail, the results of a practical test a British invention that promises to provide us with a new and fase- nuting form of motoring.

It is called the Humfrey Sandberg freewheel clutch, and if develop- menta prove satisfactory it should do for the motor-car what the free- wheel did for the bicycle.

Motor Gymkhana.

The suggestion that Hongkong A local regulation which has should hold a motor gymkhana been rescinded, which is of con-crops up at Intervals, and again siderable interest to the penerut this week we have been approach- public. is not so well known as ited in the matter. It was in 1923 might be. We refer to the regu-that, in response to requests, the This type of machine, which has lation preventing taxis, (when Hongkong Automobile Association attained popularity by its excep- they were running) and public undertook to organise such an tional comfort, reliability cars from being on the roads be- event, and the date, was duly fixed economy, was produced for the tween one and five o'clock in the for November 3rd of that year.first time, as a sister to the better morning. This regulation, we Much work was done, advertising known big twin. combination in have been informed, is no longer and posters were prepared, prizes 1925, and after being on in force, so that there is now no offered and entries began to roll restriction of any kind on public in. There was, however, one vehicles with regard to the time serious obstacle, which ultimately they must be garaged. The aboll-wrecked the venture, namely, the tion of this regulation, which wasgranting of permission to use considered by many to be vuneces-ground suitable for the purpose. sary and very offer very incon-Several locations were suggested, venient, will find favour generally, but in every instance, those who Consequently they organised a especially by those who occasion-controlled the grounds withheld petrol consumption test for all ally require a public car in the the necessary permission on the newspaper men throughout the early hours, and were, formerly, assertion that motor traffic would world, the event being open to unable to get one.

prove injurious to the

turf. owners of Harley singles only, or overhead Although every effort was made to either side valve persuade the officials concerned to valve. We have been requested to air reconsider the matter, they re- a complaint-quite a legitimate mained adamant, with the result one, concerning certain motorists that the gymkhana had to be who leave their cars unattended abandoned. Since that time, the under the archway of Queen's number of motorists has greatly Pier.

It should be generally increased, and it is reasonable to

Tank Sealed. understood that cars cannot park assume that a good response would there, the archway being intended|be given to invitations to compete

The party set, out for Castle as a covered way under which in various events, but we mention passengers may alight when pro the above facts for the informa-Peak-on Sunday morning, and on ceeding to the pier. Statuetion of comparatively new arrivais arrival there, the spare tank was Square is nearby: and an who may be unaware of the dif-drained and the tap sealed open.

While the engine is pulling the place. It ficulties encountered upon the last Prior to the stipulated American the highest lap speed of 99,585ear it acts in a normal manner, but nuthorised parking nut hurdly necessary to mention occasion when a gymkhana was quart of petrol being put into the kilometers per hour, which speed as soon as the engine speed is re- small tank, Mr. Barnett adjusted is really very high if we think duced to the point when the car is that cars left at the pier entrance mooted.

his jets to give highest consump that it has been obtained by pushing against the engine the free tion, using fuel from the big tank standard car of only 990 cc.

wheel operates and the car automa- in doing so. After this had been accompanied the tap of the main

Weber and Zanelli tically "coasts." tank was sealed closed, the car arrived 2nd and 3rd completing With an ordinary clutch the en- burettor run dry, and the test the course with maximum revine in similar circumstances acts gasolene, which was Shell, was gularity in 4 hrs 8 mins 45 sec and as a powerful brake. poured into the empty small tank. 4hrs 9mins 4sec. Zampiri on

Mr. Barnett then set off in the Amilcar arrived fourth, direction of Fanling and reached the bridge which is under repair at Taipo where he turned round and proceeded back again towards class Agazzotti in a Bugatti came

LOOK OUT FOR THAT OLD CAN-~~ IF IT HITS

YOU, YOU COULDN'T GET A CENT FROM THE

OWNER!

LOOK AT THAT NEARLY HIT ME !!

AND IF HE HAD, WE COULDN'T. COLLECT BECAUES) ALL HIS DOUGH IS TIED UP IN THAT SWELL

#2: B06 //

Mr. Barnett being the only eligible competitor in the Colony, he carried out his test on Sunday lust, escorted by a number moler cycling enthusiasts.

•

re-

In spite of this the 509 Standard Flats made a brilliant show sulting 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the 700-1100 eme, class, Mr. Valpre la arrived first and not only finished the course in hours 12mins 53sec,

Motor gliding is probably the best. term for describing this new deve- lopment. It has been fitted experi mentally to several private cars and lorries with satisfactory results and it now remains to be seen whether cat be produced on à commercial basis.

Briefly, the free-wheel clutch an average speed of 93.958 kilom- operates as follows: ters per hour, but also obtained

Messrs.

AD

In the 1500 eme. class Ferrari arrived 1st on Alfa Romeo in 3hrs 20mins. .25sec. In the 2,000 cc

If you take your fot off the ac celerator of an ordinary car it quickly slows down, owing to the Braking effect of the engine com- pression. But with the new. de- vice when you throttle down the

Fanling. Eventually, after Bin 1st. 3hrs. 33mins. 47sec.; while engine slowa but the car continues somewhat tiring ride in the heat, in the 3,000 cmc. class the result under its own momentum. at speed varying between 15 and was as follows: Chicregato on à

20 miles per hour the tank ran

Alfa Romeo in 3hrs. 27mins. 12sec.

covered.

This type of machine, which is

оп (second)-Cirio (third).

There are times when it is neces-

dry, when 32.6 miles had been Ramazzini on 4 Alfa Romeo sary to use the engine as a brake, a Lancia and for this purpose a control is Atted which enables the driver to do so,

classed as a 3 h.p. in America,

is rated at 350 c.e., but it is not

Autos as Personal

of the same power as an English TRAVEL FACILITY. machine of that measurement, being less powerful. It is to be noted that the quart measure used was an American quantity, which. as is known, is less than an Imperial quart,

that had Imperial measurement been used an even better consumption would have been recorded.

80

Baggage.

The car I tried, fitted with a free- wheel clutch of this description, was an ordinary small family tour- ing model. A point that impressed me was the very long distance it is possible to "coast," even at speeds of 20 miles an hour and under. Driving was a series of glides.

New York, July 16-American tourists, may now take their auto- mobiles to Europe as "personal garage, where the cars are lashed In view of this exceptionally baggage," with no extra charge to posts and covered with tarpau-

lins for the son voyage. small consumption' it would be in- made for the cars as 'freight. teresting to know of any similar

This policy has been adopted France co-operates by granting tests which have been held in the on the new French liner "Ile de French registration numbers and Colony either privately or other-France," besides Its two sister driving licenses without examina-

ships. The liner has a veritable tion..

ge.

GOOD NEWS

11

WE HAVE PLEASURE IN ANNOUNC

ING THAT THE 1298 ·HARLEY-:

DAVIDSON MOTOR OYCLES ARE

DUE HERE ON SEPTEMBER 20th

SO WHY GET A 1927 MODEL

WHEN YOU CAN SÉCURE A 1928.

NEXT MONTH?

Many Improvements.

For further details telephone K. 1242.

THE GASCON MOTOR CO.,

2. Kwong Way Road (Opposite The Steam Laundry)

Telephone K.1242.

REPAIRS UNDERTAKEN ON ALL MAKES OF MACHINES.

BARGOYLE

Full Engine Protec-

tion Is Up To You.

The life and power of your 'motorcar engine are in your own

hands.

For you are the one who deter mines what all goes into the engine, and you are the one who must see that the oil is changed regularly.

Almost any oil will coat your cylinder walls, pistons, and piston rings with apparent thoroughness. But that is not enough. There come times of extra stress in starting, in quick bursts of speed, in a sudden, hard pull on the ldp,

Then your engine demands the protection that only Mobilofl. cin give-protection against wear, loss of power, and annoying noise,

Use the grade of Mobiloll re- commended for your make of car on the Mobiloll Chart.

Change

oil regularly, every 1,000 miles, and drain off the carbon, dirt, benzine and water. You will find that the use of the correct grade of Mohlloil, and the correct use of Mobiloll will add many months of

Mobiloil quiet power to the life of your

Make the chart your guide

motor car engine.

VACUUM OIL CO.