items of interest

ITEMS OF INTI-4,R1-4,ST

FROM VARIOUS SOURCES

A New Low-Priced Fuel.

“Motor Sport’s ” Technical Investigator writes :—

IHAVE recently had the opportunity of carrying out an extensive test of some spirit now being put on the market by Trinidad Leaseholds Ltd. This fuel, known as ” Regent Super” is of particular interest as being a British Empire product, and is put on the market in a No. 1 grade, which I tested, and a commercial grade. The No. I costs Is. 24-d. per gallon which is 2d. cheaper than a normal first grade spirit, which makes the results obtained =usually worthy of note.

The test was carried out on a fourcylinder engine, which owing to its sensitivity to the fuel in use, is excellently adapted for testing anti-detonating qualities, which are so important in sport engines. It is in its ability to reduce detonation that it will be chiefly attractive to readers of this journal. This quality is sometimes, however, obtained at the expense of other equally important features, and I was careful to observe its performance in the matter of starting and speed. The maximum speed was unaltered from the normal fuel, a petrolbenzol mixture. Starting from cold was excellent, and normal miming conditions were reached quickly without any special warming up. At the end of the test I examined the 1I in the crankcase, and could find no signs of any dilution from the heavier fractions of the fuel, showing that combustion is complete. In fact the fuel appears very suitable for all engines, especially those of slightly higher than normal compression ratio.

Trans-American Record.

IN 1915 a Stutz car driven by E. G. Baker—popularly known as ” Cannon-Ball ” Baker, traversed the American Continent in 11 days 7 hours and 15 minutes. This same driver, again on a Stutz has recently covered the 3,000 and 200 odd miles in the record time of 60 .hours 51 minutes, thus clipping 6 hours 47 minutes off a previous record made last August.

Baker left New York at 8.30 p.m. on a Monday evening Eastern time, and arrived in Los Angeles on Thursday morning at 6.21 a.m. Pacific time, making the journey in sixteen hours less than the fastest limited trains. His route led through Wheeling, W.Va., Columbus, O., Indianapolis, Fort Dodge, Kan., Flagstaff, Ariz. and Los Innas, N.M. The exact mileage of the route is 3,018.5 miles, but detours increased this over two hundred. Starting and finishing times were checked officially by Western Union.

At each contact point where the “Cannon Bali” stopped for fuel or food, he took time to wire the Stutz works.

An extraordinary feature of the run was that the engine was never stopped. There was one driver only at the wheel all the time. With the exception of replenishments of petrol and oil the car only stopped three times to extract nails from the near-side rear wheel.

Motorists who brag about their 400 miles a day will appreciate Baker’s amazing feat of averaging 52.92 miles an hour for three nights and two days.

The British Double Twelve Hour Race, 1931.

Iris announced that the third British lyouble Twelve Hour Race will take place at Brooklands Motor Course, on Friday and Saturday, May 8th and 9th, 1931, subject to the usual approval of the track authorities.

This classic event will be the premier endurance motor race to be held in England this year, and the Junior Car Club, which body will organise the contest, is now preparing the regulations which, it is hoped, will be issued in the near future.

English as She is Wrote.

lIE problems that beset almost every export manager are many and various.

For instance, this is a copy of a letter recently received by Messrs, Rootes, Ltd., from a store in Onitsha, Nigeria, in reply to a circular letter. “DEAR SIR,

“I am sorry I am not reply to your letter but I am not in right to do. So am just to ask you about your health and presents ?

” Your last letter I received I was not at home I going to Portharcourt.

” I don’t think I should have written to you again as the year is finished— Oh I am wrong to do it.

” I received all your letters don’t mind I read all.

“Please salute all your firm for, me one by one.

” Keep feet old friend. ” Cheerio from your Onitsha friends. ” God bleSs all, ” Yours sincerely,

“Said N. Obiora.”

A difficult letter to reply to intelligently!

Lagonda Lubrication.

IN a recent issue of MOTOR SPORT we stated that Lagonda Ltd. recommend both ” Triple ” Shell and Prices’ Motorine C. de Luxe for all their models other than their supercharged 2 litre.

We are now asked to point out that in addition to these two grades, this firm also recommends Mobiloil T.T. and Wakefield’s Castol XXL, both of which have proved eminently satisfactory for the lubrication of Lagonda Cars.

“All-Enclosed” Motorcycles Popular.

WHEN any new feature of design is introduced there must always be an element of doubt as to its reception by the general pubilc. In itself it may be excellent, but if it is devoid of the characteristics which appeal to the buying public, it is doomed to failure.

The all-enclosed type of motorcycle which made its appearance at the recent Olympia Show is an example of a design which might, or might not, have proved popular. The pioneers of this machine (the New Hudson Co.), however, were never in doubt as to its reception and that their confidence in it was justified is shown by the fact that orders for it to-day exceed, by five times, those for their products a year ago ! The factory, which has recently been re-organised from top to bottom, is working ` full bore ‘ to meet the demand and already the output of machines is four times as big as it was at the same time fast year.

Difficulties on By-pass Roads.

wiNG to frequent complaints of delay and discomfort on certain by-pass roads, the Automobile Association recently took a census of traffic for periods of three hours in the morning and three in the evening, to ascertain definitely the extent to which motor traffic is using by-pass roads.

At the Esher fork of the Portsmouth Road, and the Kingston By-pass—the latter being obstructed considerably by reconstruction work—it was found that over 57% of the motor-cars, lorries, ‘buses, and motor coaches, are using the old road. Between 8 and 9 a.m. 72% of the private cars avoided the by-pass.

Owing to its ` disturbing ‘ surface, another by-pass is being shunned by a large number of motorists, with a consequent increase of traffic through the town it was intended t’ relieve.

An Efficiency.Tuning Booklet.

Kspecialists in high-efficiency tuning and manufacturers of high-class ” internals ” for engines, the Laystall Motor Engineering Works, Ltd., need no introduction to motor sportsmen. This concern has recently issued a new booklet dealing with their establishment at Southwark, their various processes, and products. Produced primarily, of course, as advertising matter this little publication is, nevertheless something more than a mere catalogue ; it goes into the matter of hotting-up, repairs and overhauls in a really readable and enlightening manner, while it is also copiously illustrated.

These interested may obtain a copy by writing to the firm’s headquarters at Ewer Street, Southwark, London, S.E.1.