1927-10-15 — Page 13

CLEAR TEXACO MOTOR

OIL

TEXACO

TEXACO GASOLINE

THE VOLATILE GAS

DISTINCTIVE

UNIFORM

QUALITY

JOIN

ASSOCIAT

THE HONGKONG AUTOMOBILE

ASSOCIATION

A Few Advantages:

10% Off Moter Car Insurance

Free Legal Advice.

Reliable Drivers Supplied

Free Mechanical Advice Associate Membership of the R. A. C. and A. A. Louden.

All Communications for Membership ete. to REV. G.E S. UPSDELL·

Hon. Secretary,

P.O. Box 116.

Bean

A. I.

Ask a Bean owner his opinion of this car and he The will tell you "A.1." Bean is built to give pastinted Service, built to satisfy the most exacting motorist-built to the design and specification that will instantly recommend itself to you. Let us show you these famous cars and describe their outstanding features.

Front Wheel Brakes and Dunlop Tyres on all Models:

Sole Agents

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH,

DO WE OVER-USE OUR BRAKES?

(By James I. Cunningham in the Morris Owner.)

Do the average car owner drive too much on the brakes? Judging by some of the "fast" drivers to be met with on the road, who dush in and out of the traffic with much gear changing and brake manipula- tion, there appears to be at least portion of motorists against whom the accusation can be proved.

MOTORING SUPPLEMENT. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1927.

utilised on three, occasions. The first time was near Grantham, when a racehorse being led along at the side of the road suddenly swung round and lashed out with its hind legs. The second occasion was be- yond Wooler, in Northumberland, where a sheep-dog rushed out of a hidden gate and across the narrow road directly in front of the car, There is no doubt that the brak-which was then doing an easy 35 ing system can be used to obtain m.p.h. The third time was in the a little extra speed when worming very outskirts of Edinburgh itself, a way through slow-moving traffic, and was caused through a cyclist but there are a certain number of skidding in some greasy tramlines drivers who make too constant use and falling off his machine just a of the brakes even when on the few yards in front of us. open road.

When Braking is "Necessary.

Here, again, there are points in favour of the intelligent use of the brakes, especially of the hand brake, which can be used to steady

Each one of these occasions, it will be observed, was in the nature of a true emergency. Actually, in my role as observer, I formulated an opinion that an accident could have been avoided on the first and third occasions without resorting

a rar when taking a corner at speed, to the brakes, but an element of and can also be of assistance in risk would have been encountered. making a quick "get-away" when In the use of the sheep-dog a pulling out of a line of traffic in violent braking effort appeared to order to overtake.

be the sole means of avoiding a canine tragedy.

Nevertheless, there are some drivers who do make immoderate

In detailing at some length the use of their brakes, with con results of these interesting sequent wear on the transmission,periments it is not intended to ad- the tyres and the brake linings. vocate that all car owners should go

The real purpose of brakes on a road vehicle is to enable a quick stop to be made in the event of an emergency and in order to keep the speed in check when the descent of a really steep hill is made..

The writer had the good fortune to act as an observer in some very interesting brake tests that were carried out a short time ago, both in London and in the country. termed Rather they might be

ex-

driving about the country with their the only brakes. The purport of gears and engine compression as the tests recorded was to show how far the gears and compression could be used to pull up a modern car. That was the sole purpose for which they were carried out, apart from the fact that certain sums of money were wagered on the result.

Across the Metropolls.

If, however, it is possible to drive, "brakeless" tests, for the purpose a car scross London. from north to of them was to demonstrate the south without using the brakes, possibility of driving a car without and, furthermore, over 400 miles making use of the brakes at ull.

of main road with only three emer-

The first test consisted of an at-gency applications, it does tend to show that some drivers must make tempt to traverse London north to south without waing the

from

immoderate use of them.

brakes. The start was made from; Non-motoring novelists still write Golders Green, and the route lay on occasion that the "car stopped through Swiss Cottage, Baker with grinding of brakes"-what- Street, Oxford Circus, Piccadilly, ever that may mean. If they have Westminster Bridge and Balham, the expression wrong they give the to the finish at Tooting Broadway idea right, for many a motorist when stopping draws up with » jerking on of the brakes rather than by taking his foot off the ac- celerator some little way before He wants to stop and letting the engine compression do the rest.

li Can"be Done.

The car was 1926 model, and the test was entirely successful. An ordinary weekday was chosen for 'the attempt, the effort being made at 3 pm., when the traffic in the West End was at its thickest.

In the same way many a driver. hangs on to top gear in traffic, and

On twelve, occasions the traffic hangs on to the brake lever as well,

necessitated a dead stop made, and each

being instead of taking the trouble to time the vehicle change into middle and save his was brought to a complete atand-transmission and energy. still without the brakes being touched.

The method was to change down quickly when a stop appeared in evitable, then to crawl'on low gear, and at the correct moment awitch

After acting as observer in the above tests I tried one or two little experiments on my own, especially when descending hills. By putting my car. which has a three-speed gearbox, into middle or low gear, off the engine and let the compres-und switching off the ignition. I sion bring the car to a standstill. have succeeded in descending such Nine times out of the twelve the notorious hills as Countisbury In driver adroitly switched on again North Devon, Muswell Hill in Lon- at the last moment and kept the en-don and Sutton Bank in Yorkshire, gine running, On the other three without having any recourse to the Occasions (two of which occurred brakes.. on a slight downhill grade) 'it was found necessary to resort to the self-starter.

To readers who may be fired with the idea of "braking on the trans- mission"--which is the technical

The average schedule of 15 m.p.h.nume for this practice a word of

agreed for the test was adhered to warning may be appropriate. with half minute to spare, which

would not be a bad running time

The sole idea of avoiding con- car tinuous use of the brakes is to save in the ordinary way for a traversing the heart of the West wear on tyres and the transmission End shopping districts in the mid-system, such as is caused by sudden dle of the afternoon.

More Audible Warning.

קטן

jerks or strains. Slowing against compression imposes no such strain. When, however, it is necessary to change down to de-

The horn was sounded about crease speed the gear change must double as much as would be neces-be made smoothly, at the correct sary under ordinary circumstances, engine speed, and with no jerking and cross-roads were approached at of the clutch.

a lower speed. Otherwise the driv-

ing was entirely normal.

To change from top. to middle gear at 30 m.p.h. means using care The second test was more am-and judgment, and a good change bitious, no less than an effort to down at this speed can only be made

Unicas drive the same car from London to after practice.

a clear Edinburgh at an average speed of change can be made, the wear on 20 m.p.h. without touching the the transmission and tyres will brakes en route. This attempt assuredly be greater than if the failed, but the failure was glorious brakes were utilised in the more

The in its way.

brakes were ordinary fashion.

SONG OF THE STREAMLINED SPORTS

Toom, Toomf. Toomi. Toomf.

I feel an eager thrilling, though

I'm throttled down, I ache to go; Unleash my pace, Display my grace,

And dare the world to pas8. Within my silvered body, alim,

I nurse a power that nought can!

dim,

It walta the band

That gives command

To suck great gulps of gas. Tra-Troomph-tran-n-akh, Exhaust tone rising to a shriek I gather speed, a flashing streak;

LANE, CRAWFORD Ltd. two-tone horn

A-hoot with scora

For humble cars and slow, .. And specks that dot the rond

ahead'

Come rushing to me, though they

fled

At my approach. Sedan and coach'

But follow where I go.

Hoo. Hop, Hoohoo Hooo000DU. Strong, loud, triumphant, is the

song,

I shout to lift my wheels along;

A laughing note,

From copper throat,

A mirth some call, Uncouth,"

But they've not felt the joyous

urge

To fuse into a motor's surge;

The breathless greed.

For greater speed,

My middle name la: "Youth."

PETER PAN.

BIG PLANS.

German Roads Scheme. Now busy building its own cars, Germany is beginning to con- centrate on good ronds.

A programme mapped out by the road authorities contemplates 9,000 miles of improved highways to be bullt within a few years. These roads will connect every important town and lure motor tourists into the country.

BANG!

BANG!

BLAM CHUG!

ATOMISES KEROSENE.

cinimed to make possible the use of kerosene and other fuels with specific gravities higher than petrol, a new carburettor has been constructed by an engineering com- pany in Sweden,

A system of plates in the intake manifold is used to improve the atomising, and tests are reported to have proved that a car can on the fuol at a cost of 21⁄2d for six miles.

GENERAL MOTORS (G.M.C.) TRUCKS.

(POWERED WITH BUICK, 6-CYLINDER ENGINES).

RON

•FOR YOUR LIVES ITS ANOTHER HOLDUP!

BANG!

BANG!

BLAM!

BANG!

This entirely now line of General Motors (G.M.C.) Trucks is powered with the famous Buick 6-cylinder Valve- in-head engine. This is in every sense of the word a modern truck-designed for modern traffic. These trucks are avail- able in the following chassis types.

T-20-1-Ton-H.P. 23.44 R.A.C.

132-inch wheelbase

G.$1,445.

T-482-Ton-H.P. 23.40 RA.C.

136-inch wheelbase

G.$2,370

160-inch wheelbase

2,450

162-inch wheelbase

3,480

T-50-2-Ton-H.P. 29.40 R.A.C.

136-inch wheelbase

G.$2,470

160-inch wheelbase

2,550

162-inch wheelbase

2,580

These G.M.C. Trucks are supreme in flexibility and in on- durance. Equally remarkable is the low price which is only possible because of the tremendous volume of General Motors Production. General Motors (G.M.C.) Trucks and Tractora are also available in heavy duty types, the capacities of which range from 2 to 15 tons.

"

THE DRAGON MOTOR CAR CO., LTD.

Telephone Central 1246 or 1247. 33 WONG NEI CHUNG ROAD

HAPPY VALLEY.

STUDEBAKER

BUILDERS

O F

QUALITY

VEHICLES FOR 75 YEARS

This 4-Door Studebaker Dictator Sedan Companion car to the famous Commander

Now as

including front and rear bumpers, shock absorbers, sto.-more than 3200 in extra *quipment without extra cost.

1575 Think

AND $1675 NETT CASH DELIVERED

The Studebaker Dictator is the most powerful sedan in the world of its size and weight, according to the ratings of the Society of Automotive Engineers.

And according to all comparisons it is the greatest; value ever offered-ä bargain in quality at its new One-Profit price!

#

You must see it to appreciate its beauty-ride in it to know its comfort—and drive it to know its abun- dant flow of smooth, eager power !

$200 worth of #xira ugu pment without oxira coal All Studebaker models have more than $200 worth of extra equipment, including front and rear bumpers; xhock absorbers engine thermometer and hydrostatic gasol line gauge on the dash; and coincidenta lock to ignition and steering. Equipment

also includox.

4

4-wheel brakes; dire wheels; full-size bal- loon tires pino-draft ventilating windshield (axclusively Studebaker); oil filter; auto- matio windshield cleaner; rear-vision mirror; rear traffic signal light; cowl lights and two-beam acorn headlights, controlled from steering whool.

of it!

NEW LOW PRICES

The Dictator

WAB

$1576

Sedan 4-dr.) plush $1645

1735 1676 Sedan (4-dr.) mohair Victoria

1700 1676

for

The Commander.

Sadan Sedan; Regal

Coupe, Coupe, for 4

1645

1576

1755

1675

Roadster, for 4

1485

1485

Duplex Phaeton Tourer, for 5 Tourer, for 7

1400 1490

1450 1450. 1530. 3630

WAS

-$1910 $1875

2066

3905

Vistoria

1900 1876

Victoria, Begal

2050

1005

Coupe, for 2

1005

1875

Coupa, Regal, for 4

2030

1905

Roadster, for 4

1835

1895

The President

WAS

Sedan, for 7

$2675 #2434

Tourer, for? Limousins

2220

2200

2925

2700

Braking Siz

Custom Badan

$1300

$1250.

Sport Coupe, for 4 1300

1250

Coupe, for 2.

1200

-:1200

Bport Roadster.

1300

1200

Tourer

1200

1150

Aliprices not wash delfvered.

HONGKONG & SHANGHAI "HOTELS, LTD.

25, QUEEN'S ROAD CENTRAL.

Beautiful in design-thoroughly modern-mechanically right