1928-09-15 — Page 9

MOTORING

SUPPLEMENT

OF

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH

SATURDAY, 15th SEPTEMBER, 1928.

Being The Official Organ of

THE HONGKONG AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION.

A Surprising Decision.

CURRENT

COMMENT

| Dangerous Corner.

It was with the utmost surprise We would like to draw atten- that, on enquiring of the Honorary lion to the dangerous corner at Secretary of the HK.A.A, of the the junction of Ice House Street progress of the Association'sland Lower Albert Road, near the bathing facility proposal for Big Dairy Farm Company's premises. Wave Bay, we learnt that the It is one of the most dangerous Government had declined to give corners in the Colony, and as it consent to the scheme, We are is extensively used by motor not acquainted with the grounds traffic, some effort should be made for refusal, although we cannot to lessen the risk run by motorists imagine that any really serious and pedestrians alike. Many ac- objection can possibly exist. The cidents have been recorded there, scheme is an excellent one in and several people injured. It is every way, and yet, instead of not uncommon to see the railings being able to report progress as damage, obviously due to we had anticipated, wa have to in-vehicle colliding with them, and "form_members of the Association unless an improvement can be that for some taknown reason, the effected, many more mishaps will enterprising proporal pic forward be recorded in the future. The by their Committee has been turn-ideal improvement would be lo ed down by the Authority concern-widen the corner by taking away od.

part of the high ground, but in the meantime, some immediate reliéf might be obtained were

Mogical Attitude.

The paucity of accommodation white lines laid down.

for bathers lsfully recognised, 40

much so that the Government, in Lower Tram Station,

response la public criticium.

appointed the Bathing Bench Com-

body. n

A

Many have been the complaints

sideration for

VAUXHALL CAR FOR OVERSEAS.

Severe Tests Before Distinguished Gathering at Luton. CABINET MINISTER'S TRIBUTE.

The Latest 1929 HARLEY-DAVIDSON

TM 12781

The Rt. Hon. L. M. Amery, M. P. Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, examining the

engine of the Vauxhall after its fall over the bank.

overgrow

mittee, and it is logien to assume in the past concerning the danger that the Committee would whole- and amoyance caused outside the heartedly support any desirable and lower Tram Station, through cars practicni suggestion emanating stopping at the entrance in order from so responsible

to allow passengers to alight. The Not only that but .the road is quite narrow at this point, and drivers of cars descending have Hongkong Automobile A880- clation has an extremely wide their view of up-coming traffic ob- membership, and it is only natural structed by the stationary care at

A steep hill-side in Bedford- ja Vauxhall medium-powered six- that the Committee should the station. It is recognised that endeavour to provide facilities and in order to remedy this state of shire, England, full of sharp cylinder car which is ideal for with luxury travel in England and yet priveleges for members. The affairs, considerable work would declivities, and

Jabroad. cold refusal to sanction such an bave to be undertaken, and the mat-shrubs and tall grass, was the able to stand up to any conditions eminently desirable project, in, or has therefore been under con-

time. The scene on Monday, July 16th last, say the least of it, distinctly dia 1.K.A.A. has also drawn attention of the most remarkable motor cur heartening to those gentlemen who to the danger, and we are now in-test over witnessed. The purpose give their time endeavouring to formed by the Honorary Secretary of the test was to demonstrate to of 6,000 miles each in the Balkans make the lot of local motorists that the various Government De- more enjoyable.

partments concerned, have arrived a number of distinguished specta- and in South Africa, but it was. at a solution to the problem, and tors, headed by the Rt. Hon: L. S. the desire of the manufacturers For Motorists Only,

that the necessary work will short- Amery, M.P., Secretary of State to give first-hand proof, at a We do not know whether they be put in hand. The footpath for Dominion Affairs, the immense rendezvous within easy reach of scheme in objected to owing to the below the station will be set back-

for this car were more than justi- fact, that i eaters for motorists some considerable distance, thus strength, and the suitability for London that the great claims made only, but it must be pointed out allowing cars to draw in from the all conditions encountered over fied under trials of the moat severe of traffic, thereby re-seas of the new Vauxhall 20-60 h.p character it was possible to de- that only those who travel by ear main flow

model-the first vise. can visit the locality selected for moving the existing cause of ob-six cylinder.

When completed, the British quality car designed and the II.K.A:A. scheme. The fact struetion.

Home

Prior to the demonstration al Luton the Vauxhall 20-80 had triumphantly emerged from tests

:

that congestion would be relieved scheme will bring about a great im-built for uso equally on the luxury view of the assembly on the minia- at Repulse Bay is quite a sound provement.

argument in favour of Official

approval being granted, and not A Valuable Work.

roads at home and any part of the world where roads may be good,

only that, but the provision of in- From the Standard Oll Company bad or non-existent. creased bathing accommodation at of New York, we have received a no coat whatever to the Governmost useful handbook entitled ment, is surely a matter which now Your Car." Profusely should receive every encourage-illustrated, and containing a fund of information, this valuable work should be appreciated by matorists

Successful Appeal.

rent.

Club Priveleges.

The

Some 120 people, guests of the Vauxhall Company assembled an the rough hill-side adjoining the works and watched with breath- less excitement the astonishing performances of this handsome Hongkong Automobile

saloon car which all agreed, from Association does not actually need) At the Leicester Borough Ses its elegant design and finish, club premises, but the proposal to sions recently held, a motorist, sup would seem to be in its natural provide a meeting place for mem-ported by the Automobile Associ bers in the form of bathing ation, successfully appealed against element in the fashionable parado matsheds, at a beach which the a conviction by the Leicester Beach of Hyde Park rather than the non-motorist, cannot visit on for dangerous driving, in respect rough and tumblo conditions of account of the distance, is, in our of which he was fined £2 and costa loose stone and chalk with opinlon, most excellent enterprise, and, in addition, his licence was en-

suspended for six irregular switchback gradienta and as such, should be enthusias dorsed and

culminating in a cornfield on the tically supported. We can only months.

sky-line. Imagine that the matter was not The case for the prosecution was given really serious consideration, that defendant, in passing a moving

Mr. Amery, who drove back to otherwise there could be no tramcar on the near-side, knocked genuine objection raised. It is to over a cyclist, but at the hearing of the Works in the car after it had be hoped that the H.KA.A. will the appeal it was proved that there been purposely tipped over a 20 ft. re-open the question with the was a distance of 18-14 feet be-bank, voiced the feelings of all Government, and that upon re-tween the near-side tram rail and present when he said, at lunch consideration, the scheme will be the kerb, close to which the cyclist afterwards, "We have just wit- canctioned in time for the erection was riding, that warning of up-nessed a very remarkabio perform- of the proposed accommodation in proach was given, and that the un- ance." time for next Year's bathing sea-seating of the cyclist, fortunately

600. North Point.

without personal injury, was due In proving this car to be able to entirely to an outward swerve withstand any rough usage to of several feet by the rider when which it could be subjected, Messrs.. Vauxhall Motors Ltd., Much unnecessary obstruction being overtaken.

In the circumstances the convic-gave the most effective reply to is caused by motor vehicles in the

the criticism often lovelled at vicinity of the bathing beach, caration was quashed,

The question the fair-minded the British motor car manufac- parking on the Bhaukiwan Road without any thought for other citizen naturally asks is: Was all turer that he persist in neglecting motorists. If the roadway is to this evidence produced before the the rich overseas market by an be used for parking purposes, ong Leicester Bench, and if it was and apparent unwillingness to design line of cars could not be objected they ignored it, did some high and build the type of car which to, but sometimes a double line of legal dignitary make appropriate overseas buyers demand. Three comments to the magistrates con years ago this Company decided to waiting

makes the

cerned? It le monstrous that any overcome the chief obstacle, by thoroughfare impassable when a

There citizen's time should be wasted with disregarding the restriction which tramcar is nearby. ample room for the provision of perfectly puerile proceedings, and taxation at home, on an artificial a stipulated parking place, and that the effort, time and money horse-power basis, imposed upon involved, in an appeal should be engine design. This bold course, much annoyance would be elimina-necessary to put right such a very which events already have fully. ted were a defintio plan evolved.

almple case.

justifled, enabled them to, perfect

vehicles

This is what the car did in full

ture mountain at Luton.

1. Climbed д very rough chalk-and-stone gradient of 1. in 22.

short bank similar to what might have to be negotiat ed on a colonial. rond after a "wash-out"

G. The suprema text of strength. Mr. A. J. Han- cock, Works Manager, and Incredibly fine driver, brought the car to the edge of a steep 20-ft. bank. After the petrol had been turned off RS a pre- caution against fire, and the battery plugged in order to prevent spilt acid from damaging the uphols tery, a body of workmen toppled the car over the bank. It turned two com- plete somersaulis, righted Itself and came to rest practically as if nothing had happened, in upright, position on its wheels, ready to be driven off.

The car in the course of its double somersault over a pre-

cipitous bank as a supreme test of strength.

2. Traversed a similariý pro- cipitous descent, followed Immediately by the rough ups-and-downs of the hill- side.

3. Proceeded onward over humps and troughs, mow- Ing down grass and shrubs and overcoming every obstacle in its way up an incline of an average gradient of 1 in 4. Enge of control was shown in descending this gradient ending with declivity of I In 22.

4. The car then climbed a

6. Amid the prolonged cheers

of the witnesses, the engine was re-started, and the car proceeded normal- ly on its own power over ground as rough, and obstacles as formidable as« before.

"I think I had better drive' in it, hadn't 17" said the Dominions Minister as the summons for lunch reached the party on the hill-side, There were more cheers as Mr. Amery smilingly took his seat 'in the car and made the return trip over the bumpy ground to the factory.

A NEW WONDERFUL 45 TWIN.

HERE IT IS THE 45 TWIN, THE MOTOR-CYCLE MAGNIFICENT, THAT THE WORLD HAS BEEN WAIT- TING FOR HARLEY-DAVIDSON TO BUILD.

AND SUCH A MOTOR-CYCLE! GREAT ACCELERA- TION-SMOOTH GLIDING POWER--QUIET SPEED THAT LEAVES THE PARADES OF CARS FAR BEHIND. ABOVE ALL, A MOTOR-CYCLE EASY TO' HANDLE, A COMFORT EVERYTHING, YOU AND A PLEASURE TO RIDE, 'WOULD EXPECT IN A 45 WITH THE HARLEY- DAVIDSON NAME ON THE TANKS. FEATURES GALORE THAT STAMP IT THE PEAK OF MODERN MOTOR-CYCLE ENGINEERING.

'.

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REPAIRS UNDERTAKEN ON ALL MAKES OF MACHINES. Tol. K. 1242

2, Kwong Wah Road, Kowloon. (Opposite The Steam Laundry)

A GOOD ASSORTMENT OF SPARE PARTS AND ACCESSORIES IN STOCK,

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Sole Agente:

UNIVERSAL MOTOR & SUPPLY CO.

61, Des Vœux Road, C.

Telephone C. 4915.

All sorts of Automotive Accessories also in stock.

CHINA UNDERWRITERS, LTD.

FOR

ALL CLASSES

OF

MOTOR INSURANCE

WRITE FOR PROSPECTUS

HEAD OFFICE

ST. GEORGE'S BUILDING, HONGKONG.

TELEPHONE: ~C,1121-22