Page OFC

JULY T5TH, 1905.

THE AUTOCAR B Journal publisbet > in tbe interest::; of tbc mecbmticnll\? propdlct > roati rnrringe.

EDITED BY H. WALTER STANER.

No. 508. VoL. XV.] SATURDAY, JULY 15TH, 1905.

[PRICE 3D.

THE AUTOCAR.

(Published Weekly.)

Registered as a newspaper for transmission in the United Kingdom. Entered as second-class matter a t the New York (N.Y.) Post Office,

EDITORIAL OFFICE :

COVENTRY.

PUBLISHING OFFICES :

20, TUDOR STREET, LONDON, E.C., ENGLAND.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

NOTES: THE GORDON-BENNETT RACE-ELECTORAL MOTORS-

" CORROBORATIVE" EVIDENCE

• • . 63-64

USEFUL HINTS AND TIPS: NUMBERING THE COIL-PETROL LEAKAGE

TAIL LAMPS-WATER SUPPLY AT GARAGES

GORDON-BENNETT NOTES (illustrated) ... ON THE RoAD . By Owen John ... A Two-CYLINDER ENGINED REXETTE (illustrated)

65 ... 66-71

MoroR CARS FOR CouNTRV HousE WORK, By F. Strickland T HE GLIDDEN TROPHY TOUR

.. . 74-76

CONTINENTAL NOTES AND News (i\lu strate<l): THE GoRDON-B!NNETT

RACE

RACE-TYRES, THE WEAK POINT OF THE CARS-THE TKNDEN C V OF RAClNG-THERY's ReTIREMENT-THE H0ULOGNE-FOLKESTONE

... 77-78

OccASI0NAL GossIP. By" The Autocrat" . ..

WITHHOLDING POLICE EVIDENCE-THE NEW ROYAL MERCEDES • , illus-

t rated)

TRIAL OF A 12 H.P. SUNBEAM

TEN YEARS AGO

CORRESPONDENCE: HOT WEATHER AND HORSES-11 IN THE Goon OLD

DAYS "-WHITE METAL BEARINGS-THE BENEFITS OF THE MOTOR UNION- THE ADVANTAGES OF THE PNEUMATIC TYRE-HORN V. B~LL-HYDE PARK REGULATIONS-SIDE SLIPS AND How TO AVOID THEM-VEHICLES ON THE ROAD-NON-PUNCTURE TYRE RECORDSHow POLICE EVIDENCE IS MANUFACTURED-DRl\'ING MOTORISTS FROM THg COUNTRY-A Nor-.-NIPPIN:G AIR TUDE- SUMMARY OF OTHER CORRESPONDENCE .• . 83-85 S3~[E QUERIES ANO REPLIES THE SrnDELEV-MEYAN MATCH (illustrated) IN THE HOUSE OF COMM0:-1S

86 87 SS

FLASHES

... 89 91

Ccus DotNGS (illustrated): CLun Ftxrt!RES-NOTTISGHA,t A.C I I-r, -

CLI MB-MOTOR UNION Mf:ET AT CHESTER-jOHANN1-~nu 1,G t\ L.. ANNUAL MEETING, ETC. ...92-94

'' THE AUTOCAR" SU!::SCRIPTION RATES.

j Notes. The Gordon-Bennett Race. For some reason or other it is assumed by many that interest in the Gordon-Bennett race is not so keen as it formerly was. Vle admit at once that. in motoring circles it ne,·er ha.s been anrl never ,rill be so keen :igain a.sit was in r902. when Edge he ld the cup, and 1ras expected to make a great fight for -it in Ireland. \Ve mean to say that motorists were more interested the~ than they ever were or will be till we baYe won the cup again. On the other hand, so far as the general public is concerned their interest has grown enormously; keen as it was in 1902, it is even keener now. In other words. the interest in 'the race, in;,tead of being confined ma.inly to motoring circles,

is now more or less w1iversal. It is not yet as popular as the test matches or the Derby, but that much quoted person, "the man in the street," is extremely interested in the Gordon-Bennett race. The interest has not yet permeated the gamin in the gutter, for, after all, that is what popularity means, but it bids fiir to do this very soon.

Electoral Motors. There is no doubt that whenever the general election comes the call for cars to assist in conveying rnters to the poll will be most urgent. Already car, are borrowed far outside the constituency interested. Only a few days since an instance was brought to our notice in connection with a. bye-electi on where this was done. We suppose that motorists in the constituency gave to the chairman of the Carriage Committee the names of their friends and acquaintances who o,rn motor cars within a reasonable distance of the boundaries of the constituency. These gentlemen were a11 approached, but no assurance was given as to the attitude towards motorists of the candidate on \\'hose behalf the loan of the cars was requested, not a word was said as to whether he was for or against motors, and no sort of guarantee was given, if elected, that he would side 1rith the a.utomobi le party in the Hou~e of Commons. In one instance we know that help was declined by a motorist for this very reason, but from what \\'e have heard a good many people sent their cars, or drOl·e them themseh·es, without ascertaining whether their candidate was sound on the motor questi ,1n.

For a bye-election this does not matter very much, but when the g~neral election comes there ll'ill be necessit,· for united action, and, a.s we pointed out some 1 i:1ie sinrc, no motorist should lend his car unless he has a written undertaking fr om the candidate definitely stating that he will work ,rith and not against the automobile party in the House of Commons. In fact, as we have already said, this is a matter ll'hich should receiYe the careful consideration of the Automobile Club, and a proper form should be drafted, one which ll'Ould be satisfactory to any reasonabl e motorist. and, at the same time, not be regarded by the candidate a., in any ,ray bin r'.ing him beyond perfectly fair limits.

We recognise that the position is one of some rlelicacy, and requires diplomatic handling. For this reason it should have the careful consideration of the Club Committee, where a number of minds ca r:i be brought to bear on the subject. and a proper working plan formulated. This should be effective, while at th e same time it should steer clear of political pitfalls, or of any sort of action which will be likely to gil'e offence to any candidate who may be asked to declare his policy before a. car is lent in his interests_ There is no question that in this matter members of Parliament who are also members of the club cou!d give the greatest assistance. We do not urge anv hasty action, but it is time that a policy ,ras decided upon. so that when the date of the general election is anno1111c-erl the programme of the club will bP rerd;·•