CONTINENTAL TOURING
CONTINENTAL TOURING
A Word on Litres, Metres and Miles
This year promises to prove a notable one for Continental touring, and already with summer only half over, record numbers of motorists have arranged to take their cars abroad.
Of the many thousands of British tourists, however, who will be leaving this country during the next month or so, comparatively few will adapt themselves immediately to thinking in terms of metres and litres, and coinage based of decimal calculation. It is, therefore, of some interest to recall that the litre approximates to .22 of a gallon, that is, when ordering petrol a gallon represents approximately five litres in Continental measure. In the same way, the relation between miles
and kilometres should be noted. For this purpose it is sufficiently accurate to .calculate ten kilometres as equivalent to six miles.
A worth-while move before departing on a Continental tour is to compile a brief calculating table to suit all necessary requirements. With the aid of a ready-reckoner, this is quite a simple matter and would be found invaluable if kept in some accessible spot in the car.
BUGATTI O.C. HALF-DAY TRIAL
In the Afternoon Trial of July 11th, organised from Milford to Dorking by the Bugatti Owners’ Club, all ten competitors climbed three out of the four hills, and only G. E. Mayo-Smith’s British-Sahnson failed on the fourth hill. This would have proved costly to the club, had not matters been singled
out by an acceleration and brake and a stop and restart test. In the former J. K. W. Baines (Vauxhall 1.4) and R. M. Blornfield (4f-litre Invicta) lost a mark each, Mayo-Smith’s British-Sa.lmson lost two marks and K. Gormly’s 4i-litre Invicta four marks. Best performance was made by Donald Monro’s Invicta 4-1-litre, for which performance figures were published last month, in 9 secs., with J. G. Crowther’s 3-litre Lancia Astoria runner-up in 9.4 secs. In the stop and restart test Baines, L. J. Leapman (A.C.), and G. F. Foxlee (12-50 Alvis) lost a mark each and Gormly lost five marks. Best time was made by C. W. P. Hampton’s closed 3:3-litre Type 49 Bugatti in 9:8 secs., runner-up being A. F. Walsham’s blown 2.3-litre Type 48 Bugatti, in 11 secs.