Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-05

placement Of these shall not be in excess
Of the four-cylinder limit.
Entry fees will be $500 for one car, $500
for two cars and $1,000 for three cars,
the list closing April !. Post entry fees
are to be double these respective amounts.
1t has also been decided by the Sarthe
OF all profits. the other lialf.to- go toward
the organization of the 1912 race.
The fact that no cash prizes are Of
fered for the winning drivers, however.
means that few of the crack American
pilots will be Interested in going abroad
for the event. except in cases where
companies entering would offer good sized
bonuses.
William Knipper, the gentleman farmer
OF the racing pilots. drinks olive oil mixed
with champagne as mild tonic.
One portion of the average gear set
that frequently receives far less careful
attention than it deserves is the thimble
bearing at the far end Of the driven shaft
Because of its nature this bearing Is diff
fcult to inspect without dismantling the
entire transmission, while it is equally
difficult to lubricate, especially when not
of the a1ti-friction variety To prevent
the bearing from cutting, and SO causing
the shaft to get out of line and disturb
the alignment of the gears, it is impor-
tant that the ducts through which it is
fabricated be kept clean at all times and
that a proper amount of oil he fed to it.
Unless this precaution is taken the cut
ting of the bearing and the surrounding
bushing. which is likely to ensue. is apt
to shorten the life of the entire gear set
by not few hundred miles. Its effect,
Of course, first becomes noticeable when
the gears fail to mesh properly.
- k&
Members of the Long Island Automobile
Club are thinking seriously of holding a
tire and demountable rim competition
In the near future. The club is desirous
Of holding something novel in the way of
contest, and when asked Louis A Dis
brow. the racing driver, suggested the
above style Of contest, which has never
yet been tried in the east. If the clubs
contest committee decides to put 1t.
through q set Of rules will be drawn up
which would probably include a certain
number Of required tire changes at con-
trolls. and two divisions would be made,
one for those using clincher tires and
the other for those having patent rims.
The driver Of the car would be required
to do all the tire changing himself.
".
That southwestern Virginia intends to
improve its highways, to no mean extent
is evidenced by the announcement that
three Of the counties In that section will
shortly expend about $1.5O0,o0O in the
construction Of high-grade macadam
turnpikes. These are to be entirely re-
constructed from roads which heretofore
have been nothing but ordinary dirt
pixies. Lee county has just approved an
Immediate bond issue of $3OO,OOV: Wise
county has voted almost unanimously
$7OO,OO in bonds, and Scott county this
week will vote on proposition for a
$4,000 bond issue. all of these being for
road improvement
Other counties in Virginia. and Tennessee
are either planning to appropriate vari-
GUS sums, or else are utilizing appropria-
tons already made, to. make Channels OF
commerce better for farmers and xlnutor-
lists.
Necessary tools are sometimes lost
through the carelessness Of the one last
to use them not having locked the tool
box. An inspection of this car. adjunct
may be the means of saving time,. an
noyance and expense.
4 \
announcement mas JUST Deeu iHdQS lioS
q new touring organization has just been
| incorporated in New York. to be known
as the Automobile Touring Association
The touring association Will make a spe-
cialty of route card work for It's MEM
bers, and these cards, or tour cards, as
! they will be called, will be sold to the
public through the agency of hotels and
garages.
The touring association will also make
an organized EFFORT to do extensive sign
posting work not only through its indi-
vidual efforts, but with the cooperation
of automobile clubs throughout the coun-
try, using the yellow-arrowed signboard
designed, and now being erected by the
Buffalo Automobile Club and others. The
touring association will be members
| organization with an exceedingly low
| membership fee.
While route card work will continue to
increase In popularity for a number OF
years, the time is not long distant before
the American motorist, like his European
brother, will discard his road direction
book or motor tour card for an" automo-
bile road map based upon the government
typographical surveys. For this transit
ton the touring association is preparing.
Already a number of the eastern states
are sign-posting state roads and the local
authorities are showing an interest in the
visiting motorst by erecting signs leading
into town for his guidance.
X 4
Following the example set by numerous
| smaller cities. New York city at last is to
have an automobile steam pumping fire
engine, and If successful it may sound
the knell Of the dashing and picturesque
but less efficient fire horse. Fire Com
missioner Waldo recently gave tho mat
ter close study. and with the approval OF
Chief Croker made a contract for a mod
ern engine propelled truck. Two Of the
fire departments mechanics have been
sent to Minneapolis to the shops Of the
company and when the machine is ready
for delivery they will have charge of 1t
in New York.
The engine will pump 500 gallons per
minute. the pumping to be done by steam.
although the car itself will be propelled
by a gasoline motor
x x
AT the annual meeting OF the Wilkes
barre Automobile Club. recently, 1t was
decided to fight the proposed bill increas-
ing automobile registration fees in Penn
sylvania. The club plans to call on the
tho .to "a Nd oir oh