SRPTEMBER 16TH, 1905.

THE AUTOCAR B Journal publisbeb in tbe interests of tbe mecbanicall~ propelleb roab carriage.

EDITED BY H. WALTER STANER.

No. 5r7. VoL. XV.] SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER r6TH, r905. [PRICE JD.

THE A UTOCAR.

(Published Weekly.)

Registered as a newspaper for transmission in the United Kingdom.

Entered as second-class m:1.tter at the New York (N.Y. ) Post Office.

EDITORIAL OFFICE :

COVENTRY.

PUBLISHING OFFICES:

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

CONTENTS.

NOTES: MANX ENTERPRISE-TOURING I N FRANCE ... THE TOURIST TROPHY COMPETITION I illustrated) OCCASIONAL GosstP. By II The Autocrat" ...

A TOURIST TROPHY CHALLENGF. ... THE MURPHY PETROL DEPTH GAUGE (illustrated}

PAGE ... 325 326-330 331-332

332 333.334

A PROMISING CHARGING APPARATUS

.. 334

AN AUTOMOBILE DE LuxE (illustrated, - THE CLUB DRIVING

CRRTIFICATES

335

ON THE ROAD (illustrated I ...

336

CoNTINENTAL NOTES AND News (illustrated): FLORIO CuP RACE 337-339 USEFUL HINTS AND T IPS. By Lieut. Windham, R.N. 340 CORRESPONDENCE : COLONIAL REQUIREMENTS-ANDOVER BENCH OF

MAGISTRATES AND OTHERS- FRENCH AGENTS-POLICE TRAP WARNINGS-LIVE AXLE CARS-A MOTOR INCIDENT-SAFETY LATCH FOR GEAR LEVER'; CLUTCH DESIGN (illustrated)-T HIRTY MILES PER GALLON-Too MANY ASSOCIATIONS-THE TOURIST TROPHY RACECOURTESIES OF THE ROAD-MOTOR CARS TOLERATED IN IRELANDRACES FOR STANDARD CARS-ROAD MAPS-SUMMARY OF OTHER CORRESPONDENCE 341-3H THE Two-CYLINDER 10 H .P. POPE-TRIBUNE C AR (illustrated) AN IMPROVED PNEUMATIC TYRE lillUstrated) ... 345-346 ... 346 FLASHES ... 347-349 SOME QUERIES AND REPLIES (illustrated) 350 Too MANY AssocIATIONS-THE RYTA REAR LtGHT (illustrated) .. . 351 CLUB DOINGS: CLUB FIXTURE& - UNITED SERVICE MOTOR CLUB-

LINCS, A.C.-SOMERSET A.C.-SOUTH AFRICAN A.C. - MANCHESTER M.C,-BURYAND WEST SUFFOLK A.C.-N.E. LANCS. A.C.-NORTHEASTERN AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION-TRANSVAAL A .C. RELIABILITY TRIAL

352

"THE AUTOCAR" SUBSCRIPTION RATES : British Isles, 16s. Abroad (thin paper edition), 22s. Bd. per annum.

( Notes. Manx Enterprise.

j

Three times within the last eighteen months the Isl e of Man has set an example of enlightenment to the mainland. There have been the two eliminating trials, and now the Tourist Trophy race, none of which could be held on the mainland. but each of which has been eagerly welcomed by the Manxmen. It may be a~gu~d that the Isle of Man has a great advantage 111 its separate form of Government, and' so it has, but it should be borne in mind that any county which wanted the race could have it. so far as the law was concerned. If a county is practically of one mind in wanting a thing. it can very soon get it. We hear all sorts of doleful tales about depression in certain districts, and we would suggest to the miserables who inhabit these dull areas that if the Isle of Man were conducted in the same sleepy. prejudiced fashion as their county, it would only be inhabited by a few farmers and fisherm en. and visited by a limited number of artists and others.

The motor races have done the island a great deal of good, not only at the time of the events themselves, but subsequently, as many people have gone to the island to see the races who would never have visited it for any other reason. and they have, as it were, discovered its charms of scenery and climate, and have returned to enjoy these. Last, but not least, they have told their friends. and the sum total is that Man has benefited considerably, because these people are not of those who rush over in the height of the holiday season, but they go before and after the rush, and are thetefore just th.e visitors that all holiday resorts m st want. J

Touring in France. There are doubtless manv of our readers who contemplate taking a motor tou; before the autumn closes, but who hesitate to do so by reason of the insensate police persecution and the purblind magisterial prejudice they are likely to encounter in this country at the present time. To those who are thus supersensitive on this point we would say, "Abjure this country, with its skulking constabulary, and its blatantly bullying benches. Ship the motor south the Channel, drive where the roads are fair and straight, splendidly surfaced and engineered, where guests' cars are hotelgaraged free of cost, where a welcome everywhere awaits the automobilist, and where the gendarme troubles not, so long as speed is moderate in towns and villages, and due care is taken."

This is the advice of one latdy returned from a 1 , 000 miles tour in Normandy and Brittany, and who admits that, apart from the entire change of scene, always to be recommended to the holiday maker, he has never enjoyed motor driving to the full before. To a member of the Automobile Club or the Motor Union there is no difficulty whatever in taking a car into France for a legitimate tour. and no sort of chance of damage or hurt to the vehicle if the Southampton-Havre route be adopted. The dock hands of the L. and S.W. Railway Co. on both sides handle automobiles in the most careful manner. The Club and Union agent at Havre, M. Burton, or his most painstaking and attentive henchman. 1. Gustave. relieves the tourist of all trouble whatsoever with regard to the landing of the car, the Customs formalities. and the hitherto dreaded· official driving examination. One can leave Havre on the projected trip within one hour of the car touching French oil, fully documented and proofed against any inquisitive gendarme. if such be encountered. But he is not. We have driven a motor car for ten full days in the north-west of France. unlabelled except for the distinguishing marks allotted by the Surrey County Council. without being once stopped by a gendarme for enquiries. though many of these amiable gentlemen were encountered both in town and countrY.