JANUARY 12TH, 1907,
THE AUTOCAR a ]ournal publtsbet > in tbe interests of tbe mecbanicall~ propelleb roab carriage.
EDITED BY H. WALTER STANER.
No. 586. VoL. XVTII.] SATURDAY, JANUARY 12TH, 1907. [PRICE 3D.
THE AUTOCAR.
(Published Weekly.)
Recistered as a newspaper for transmission in the United Kincdom.
Entered as second-class m<er in the New York (N.Y.) Post Ofllce.
EDITORIAL OFFICE :
PUBLISHING OFFICES :
COVENTRY.
20, TUDOR STREET, LONDON, E .C., ENGLAND.
NOTl!S
CONTENTS.
PAGF.
35-36
USEFUL HINTS AN'D T1Ps: ToSAvE THE PAINT-A SIMPLE Sr-ARKtNG
PLUG CUT-OUT (illustrated)-PATCHING A CRACKED CYLINDER Twice ACROSS FRANCE (illustrated) • • MOTORING IN REGENT'S PARK THE S1X-CYLtNDER LANCRESTER CAR (illustrated) ON THE ROAD. Bv OWEN JORN A Stow RUNNING TEST (illustrated) A RUN ON A JO H .P . SIX-CYLINDER 8ROO:' >.E THE MOTOR CAR ACT- TOURIST TROPHY PETROL THE PRIORITY OF THE SIX-CYLINDER THE TOURIST TROPHY PETROL ALLOWANCE TABULATED DETAILS OF CARS AT THE SHOWS THE H.P.L. AND lTS METHODS CORRESPONDENCE THE BRITISH BARIQUAND AND :MARRE ENGINES {illustrated) A NEw CARBURKTTER, THE G. AN o R. (illustrated) .• A PARIS EXHIBITOR'S EXPERIENCF. 0N INCORRECT STATEMENTS • . D&TAJLS OP' DESIGN • • THE IRISH AUTOMOBILE SHOW
OMii: EXPERIMENTS WITH SPARKING PLUGS (illu("troted) 24 HOURS AT 60 MILES AT HOUR . • FLASHES • • COM:P2TITION FOR A TAR SPREADING MACHINE CLUB DOINGS • •
Bri<7 A~•:;:::;oo), ll• M. OK lloom .
"THE AUTOCAR " SUBSCRIPTION RATES :
45 45 46 4b 46 47-52
52 53-57 58-59
59 60 60 60 6I-62 63-64
64 65-67
68 68
The Brooklands Track. In our correspon ence columns we publish a letter from a member the motor industry who expresses the opinion, wit which we are entirely in accord, that in the main t manufacturers have taken very little interest in the eybridge project. This is a mafter for which they can scarcely blame themselves, .because the undertaking is a private enterprise, and as the cooperation of the industry has not been invited they have not had any particular opportunity of directly or indirectly taking part in the matter. The point which requires consideration is whether they should take any part in it. One view is that if the makers do not actively support the Brooklands undertaking by entering for its races and so forth it will be a failure. On the other side it is argued that if private owners enter for the races it will not matter in the least if the · majority of manufacturers hold aloof. But the point which has, we think, to some extent been lost sight of is that it is quite conceivable that even should both the amateur and the professional keenly support the Weybridge track it may not necessarily be a financial success. Its success from this point of view must depend upon the gate, and, wh·ile there is no shadow of doubt that the races will be full of interest to those wh0 will to a large extent regard Brooklands as a great outdoor testing laboratory as well as a racing track, it is still open to doubt whether motorists and people interested in motoring will flock in their thousands week after week to meeting after meeting. Quite apart from the races a s such , there is no doubt that the track will be most useful to manufacturers who want to make running tests, but whether their support in this way and in the way of active participa tion in the races will make or mar the track is open to doubt. In the long run its fin ancial success mu-;t depend upo'1 the amateur owner and that all-important factor the number of people who come to see the races.
If the track is to fuJ!y meet the possibilities it should be put to at least · the follo ·.l'ing uses : Races restricted to amateur owners and drivers; races for professionals only; and "mixed " races in which both classes would compete. Then, beyond and above these races, which would be open events, there . should be closed events or club races, in which the mernbers of clubs would take the grounds for a little informal racing amongst themselves. Last, but not least. facilities should be granted to manufacturers anti inventors for carrying out tests of a nature which are now either roughly performed on the road or not carried out at all. An immense amount is to be learned from careful time tests with different mechanisms, adjustments, and fuels-in fact, the poss;ibilities in these directions are almost unlimited. At the ~am.e time, it is not so easy to carry out these things as it is to suggest them. The idea that a motorist should drop into the track, pay a sum down to drive on it. and race his car against those of one or two friends is exc:ellent, but certain stringent provisions must be made and carried out, otherwise accidents of all sorts will happen. So far a s the amateur automobilist is con cerned there is no question that his interest will very greatly centre upon the club events, especially, as is now the case in so many clubs, two or more members have the same power and make of car. Some very interestipg and very close events of this kind could be arranged, and much knowledge gained by winner and loser alike, as when the machines are to all intents and purposes sister machines the vanquished will want to know the why and the wher<!fore of his defeat, and if such meetings do nothing more they would impress upon all the necessity of keeping their engines in thoroughly good tune.
The Greater Events. So far as the great open events are concerned, there is no doubt the utmost interest will be taken in these, provided th ey are run absolutely straight. The names of the committee should be sufficient to eAsure this;
