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luKE 6TH, 1908, THEAUTOCAR B Journal pubhsbeb in tbe interests of tbe mecbantcall~ propelleb roab carriage. EDITED BY H. WALTER STANEtt No. 659. Vm .. XX.] SATURDAY, JUNE 6TH, 1908. [PRICE 3D. The Autocar. Published Weekly.) Registert!d as a newspaper for transmission in the United Kingdom. Entered as second-class matter in the New York (N.Y.) Post Office. Editorial Offic2 : COVENTRY. Publishing Offices : 20, TUDOR STREET, LONDON, E.C., England. CONTENTS. NOTES USEFUL HINTS {ILLUSTRATED) • • THE 2,000 MILES RULES AND REGULATIONS PAGE . . 819-820 821 • , 822-823 THE 2,000 MILES TRIALS (ILLUSTRATIONS} • • PRIVING A; AUSTIN (ILLUSTRATED) • . • • 824-831 • • 832-833 THE STEWART SPEEDOMETER {ILLUSTRATED) TuE 20-30 H.P. LoRRAINE•DIETRICH (ILLUSTRATED) ACCESSIBILITY (ILLUSTRATED) , • 833 • • 834-837 838 CoNTINENTAL NOTES , , 839-841 THE BOSCH DUAL IGNITION (ILLUSTRATED). A USEFUL FIXTURE 842 CoRRESPONDENCE . • • • 843-846 ON THE TRACK . • 847 THE StLVERTOWN ELECTRIC (AR (ILLUSTRATED) • • • • 848-849 THE "FOUR-INCH " RACE FOR THE TOURIST TROPHY • • 849 A NEW MOTOR HORN (ILLUSTRATED).. 849 TH& !RISH RELIABILITY TRIALS (ILLUSTRATED) • • • • 850-851 THE GRAND PRIX RACE. IN THE HOUSE OF CoMMONS • • 852 ON THE RoAn 853 THE AUTOCLIPSE LAMP (ILLUSTRATED) 854 Tu:s CRYSTAL PALACE FLEXIBILITY TRIAL , • 855 FLASHES • • . . 856-858 BROOKI.ANDS PROGRAMME 859 AERONAUTICS 860 .CLUB DOINGS . . 861-862 Subacription Rate• : British Isles 16s. Abroad {thin pape.- edition), 22s. 8d. per annum ( Notes. The tooo Miles Cars. To-day we produce the first half of our illustrated guide to the cars entered for the 2,000 Miles Trials, which start from London next Thursday morning. Next week we shall deal with the rest of the cars in the same manner; that is, by two illustrations of each com­ peting vehicle and an abridged specification in which its main features are set forth. The trial is an inter­ national one, and consequently there are necessarily several blanks in our illustrations, inasmuch as the chassis have been kept abroad undergoing tests till the last moment. In fact, it appears probable that one or two of the foreign entrants will only reach these shores a few hours prior to the taking over of the cars by the Royal Automobile Club officials on Whit-Monday. So far as the illustrations are concerned, we think one point will strike our readers, and that is the extraordinary ugliness of the bodies. In each class a certain minimum area of body is insisted upon by the new touring car classification, which has been e~olved by the specially appointed and hard-working subcommittee of the Society of Motor Manufacturers. An immense amount of trouble has been taken over this classification, but we are afraid we cannot congratulate either the Club or the Society on the areas which have been insisted upon in some of the classes, as they have necessitated the production of bodies with ridiculously high backs to the rear seats, or, on the other hand, extremely wide back seats, which alternative no one seems to have taken advantage of. In either case, such an ungainly body is produced that no one would think of ordering such a one. It is not merely a, question of looks; it is unnecessary to have such a high back, and the arrangement is very uncomfortable, as there is no freedom of movement for the occupants of the seat. There is a constant drnnght in the nape of the neck, and the huge back causes such, a tremendous displacement of air that the car is very dusty. Many of the illustrations show the additions which have been made to the backs of cars to bring them up to the dimensions required. Of course it is too late now to alter dimensions so far as the 2,000 Miles Trial is concerned, but the matter should be dealt with immediately afterwards, so that there shall be no further necessity for the production of hideous and uncomfortable backs to cars competing under the new touring car classifications. The idea of all classification should be to produce refinement in design, and not cars which look almost as ugly as did the Heavy Touring cars in the Isle of Man last year, which, it will be remembered, were fitted with huge boards to give a wind resisting area approximating to that of a limousine. At the same time, there was a good reason for the use of these boards, but we can really see no reason whatever for the insistence upon a back for an open bodied car which is larger than ~~~ne would think of using who had the smallest r:/':.rd for comfort or appearance. Dust Trials. · We are glad to announce that in all probability the Royal A.C. will arrange another series of dust trials on Brooklands Track early in July. We think this is quite a wise plan. It has been urged that the previous trials have not resulted in any marked improvement; that is to say, cars still raise a much dust as ever. This is quite true, and it provides an argument in favour of further trials, not against them, as some critics appear to imagine. No really sound -and accepted theory has yet been evolved as to ,Yhat really constitutes the ideal car in this respect, but we have no doubt that if trials are persisted in and the records are taken as carefully as they were upon the last occasion the accumulation of knowledge will gradually result in the building up of an absolutely sound theory. Already certain general rules -have been evolved, such as a sufficient clearance between the car and the ground. a clean under-run with the absence of under-slung tanks, and so forth. ..----i.... - -

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luKE 6TH, 1908,

THEAUTOCAR B Journal pubhsbeb in tbe interests of tbe mecbantcall~ propelleb roab carriage.

EDITED BY H. WALTER STANEtt

No. 659. Vm .. XX.] SATURDAY, JUNE 6TH, 1908.

[PRICE 3D.

The Autocar.

Published Weekly.)

Registert!d as a newspaper for transmission in the United Kingdom.

Entered as second-class matter in the New York (N.Y.) Post Office.

Editorial Offic2 :

COVENTRY.

Publishing Offices :

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

CONTENTS.

NOTES USEFUL HINTS {ILLUSTRATED) • •

THE 2,000 MILES RULES AND REGULATIONS

PAGE

. . 819-820

821

• , 822-823

THE 2,000 MILES TRIALS (ILLUSTRATIONS} • •

PRIVING A; AUSTIN (ILLUSTRATED) • .

• • 824-831

• • 832-833

THE STEWART SPEEDOMETER {ILLUSTRATED)

TuE 20-30 H.P. LoRRAINE•DIETRICH (ILLUSTRATED)

ACCESSIBILITY (ILLUSTRATED) , •

833

• • 834-837

838

CoNTINENTAL NOTES

, , 839-841

THE BOSCH DUAL IGNITION (ILLUSTRATED). A USEFUL FIXTURE 842 CoRRESPONDENCE . • • • 843-846 ON THE TRACK . • 847 THE StLVERTOWN ELECTRIC (AR (ILLUSTRATED) • • • • 848-849 THE "FOUR-INCH " RACE FOR THE TOURIST TROPHY • • 849 A NEW MOTOR HORN (ILLUSTRATED).. 849 TH& !RISH RELIABILITY TRIALS (ILLUSTRATED) • • • • 850-851 THE GRAND PRIX RACE. IN THE HOUSE OF CoMMONS • • 852 ON THE RoAn 853 THE AUTOCLIPSE LAMP (ILLUSTRATED) 854 Tu:s CRYSTAL PALACE FLEXIBILITY TRIAL , • 855 FLASHES • • . . 856-858 BROOKI.ANDS PROGRAMME 859 AERONAUTICS 860 .CLUB DOINGS . . 861-862

Subacription Rate• :

British Isles 16s. Abroad {thin pape.- edition), 22s. 8d. per annum

( Notes. The tooo Miles Cars. To-day we produce the first half of our illustrated guide to the cars entered for the 2,000 Miles Trials, which start from London next Thursday morning. Next week we shall deal with the rest of the cars in the same manner; that is, by two illustrations of each com­ peting vehicle and an abridged specification in which its main features are set forth. The trial is an inter­ national one, and consequently there are necessarily several blanks in our illustrations, inasmuch as the chassis have been kept abroad undergoing tests till the last moment. In fact, it appears probable that one or two of the foreign entrants will only reach these shores a few hours prior to the taking over of the cars by the Royal Automobile Club officials on Whit-Monday.

So far as the illustrations are concerned, we think one point will strike our readers, and that is the extraordinary ugliness of the bodies. In each class a certain minimum area of body is insisted upon by the new touring car classification, which has been e~olved by the specially appointed and hard-working subcommittee of the Society of Motor Manufacturers. An immense amount of trouble has been taken over this classification, but we are afraid we cannot congratulate either the Club or the Society on the areas which have been insisted upon in some of the classes, as they have necessitated the production of bodies with ridiculously high backs to the rear seats, or, on the other hand, extremely wide back seats, which alternative no one seems to have taken advantage of. In either case, such an ungainly body is produced that no one would think of ordering such a one. It is not merely a, question of looks; it is unnecessary to have such a high back, and the arrangement is very uncomfortable, as there is no freedom of movement for the occupants of the seat. There is a constant drnnght in the nape of the neck, and the huge back causes such, a tremendous displacement of air that the car is very dusty. Many of the illustrations show the additions which have been made to the backs of cars to bring them up to the dimensions required.

Of course it is too late now to alter dimensions so far as the 2,000 Miles Trial is concerned, but the matter should be dealt with immediately afterwards, so that there shall be no further necessity for the production of hideous and uncomfortable backs to cars competing under the new touring car classifications. The idea of all classification should be to produce refinement in design, and not cars which look almost as ugly as did the Heavy Touring cars in the Isle of Man last year, which, it will be remembered, were fitted with huge boards to give a wind resisting area approximating to that of a limousine. At the same time, there was a good reason for the use of these boards, but we can really see no reason whatever for the insistence upon a back for an open bodied car which is larger than ~~~ne would think of using who had the smallest r:/':.rd for comfort or appearance.

Dust Trials. · We are glad to announce that in all probability the Royal A.C. will arrange another series of dust trials on Brooklands Track early in July. We think this is quite a wise plan. It has been urged that the previous trials have not resulted in any marked improvement; that is to say, cars still raise a much dust as ever. This is quite true, and it provides an argument in favour of further trials, not against them, as some critics appear to imagine. No really sound -and accepted theory has yet been evolved as to ,Yhat really constitutes the ideal car in this respect, but we have no doubt that if trials are persisted in and the records are taken as carefully as they were upon the last occasion the accumulation of knowledge will gradually result in the building up of an absolutely sound theory. Already certain general rules -have been evolved, such as a sufficient clearance between the car and the ground. a clean under-run with the absence of under-slung tanks, and so forth.

..----i.... -

-

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