The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-11-25
AMONG THE AUToMOBIlSYS
". n. VAN SFCKLEN MEAD or
NEW TECHNICAL hoard.


secretary OF chicago Automobile Club
selected a. chairman 0r COMMITTEES
Recently CrcaGen by n. A. a. DirectOrs
--AppOlntnncnt Very POpuIaF-G0ssip.
N. II. Van slckIen. secretary OF the Chicago
! Automobile Club. agreed last Wednesday 70
accept the craftsmanship Of the technical
board which has been established BY the
American Automobile Association. The news
was brought from Chicago by a motOrist who
visited the Western metropolis last week
and who said the Chicago men thought Mr..
Van Slcklen had been appointed because
the A. A. A. officials picked him because he
il q representative Western motorist. This
view OF the matter IN not shared by local
automObilists. who declare that Mr.. Van
Sioslen Ia undoubtedly the best man available
for the place. IL In very likely that his work
in drawing up rules for a stock car race as a
member OF a committee which Included
Henry Ford, n. o. Smith. @. A. Weidlev
and Edgar Apperson was a large factor in
determining his selection for his new ONCE.
It is expected that Chairman Van Sicklen's
board will be the busiest one OF the A. A. A.
J committees. as there are so many matters
which have been left unsettled for want OF
such 4 board to make a decision regarding
them. 10 is likely that one OF its first duties
will be the preparation OF rules for next
years annual tour. by which some satisfactory
method OF classifying the contrasting cars
will be arrived at. An official definition OF
the term stock car" will also be one OF the
early problems the board will be called upon
to solve. The technical board was author
ICED at a recent meeting OF the A. A.. A. board
Of directors. which at the same time approved
the formation of q publications board. The
establishment OF q publications board is
deemed a wise move by motorists " Nerally.
who fee that now the A.. A. A. NAV oe able
60 live up more conscientiOusiy than has
recently been possible to the announced
policy Of President HOtchkiss to treat the
press OF the country with strict lhnpartislity.
The Automobile Club Of Philadelphia has
issued the following warning To It's members:
your attention is called to. the recent an
nOuncement OF the Director OF Public Safety
that he intends to enforce the city ordinance
requiring drivers OF motor cars In Phila-
deIphia to obtain a license from his DEPART
ment. Such licenses may be obtained at the
Bureau Of Boiler Inspection. City Hall. as y
cost of 81 for the arst year and 81 TOR re-
newAls in each succeeding year. Drivers
from other cities are allowed forty-eighG
hours grace while In Philadelphia. The
committee OF routes and sign posts has
arranged for the erection OF numerous road
signs at different points and for signs bearing
the words Blow your horn at crossroads
which the local authorities deem dangerous.
This has been done that drivers may nave
warning and avoid a fine for noncompliance
1 WIN the 0bbbC Jaw WutCh phUNtAoD sAAee Nv
gong or other alarm should be sounded
when approaching a street or road crossing.
In order that there may be no misunder-
standing your attention Is also called Co the
portant crossings. as they cannot be con-
veniently posted at every crossing. but the
BLOW SSs@O sSeir h0 %Ss at ans crossings. -'
While the simple type Of bar spraz 10 not
simplicity Of iMfs application TO existins'
are, times when il is preferebie TO any other
style. In commercial vehicles. OF course,
u %h IL s, srs spilled 81 q 70 DF sSs .proc Sn SOY Or S SsS1Sss
gear because it In not dependent On the con-
s S1s,Sn as 81 tS Ssy eS Ssnss ! HSi' spao 81 sss "S %SsreSss;
IL is employed. however. and particularly
n ConnsctiCH with heavy ysnsoIss: Is sn2yId
IL to the chassis in such a way that IL cannot
be reversed in case y finds 9 footing q soft
roadway two or three inches, or up TO the
no further. and Il should be independent Of
the chain or cable by which IL In 10 be drawn
up when out Of use.
That an owner Of an automobile cannce
car when 1t Is In charge Of a chauffeur with
out the owners permission Is the decision
Decision az iss St a the S"R PhiISde ISSss Common Pleas
Court. The case was decided on the appeal
Of the owner Of a car which killed a child while
being driven by an employee who had tnkeD
several Of his friends for a ride 10 oppositiof
TO the wishes OF the owner.
That French manufacturers are giveIE
increased attention to small cars Of the n he
sETTt S SyaSb IS ve II e ensTiSs e n Oe the been small lTHm s AZ
trials which have recently come to an end
an sne aninS SsYs on Ses and mpt tSe nIm ASs; Of t oom sxsRs IS
this year. was more than twice az great as ON
turn to small cars france sill prove. to have
q lead In time over her competitors, for while
IN %.n shi g, SNSS s ? .u The itspsS a e S S|ss 70 The asv %s-
French manufacturers saw the turn in the
tide Of popular preferences a year or 20 ago
cylinder models with engine bores. OF from
numbers In the French factories and sold
elthersas private town cars. or public cabs.
the professional or business man must be a
vehicle considerably simpler than, this me:
engine Is Impossible" double cylinder en-.
gines, which to many In this country seem
sSe i sHS rSS s%sh cars" eS. aTe StmSSs lshe sS"t
competed in the late trials had a single CYL
From the Illustrations Of many Of the COM.
the combustion seems justlded that the i'm.
influence on the design of the cars. In fact
most OF them in outside appearancea are mlrla-
house a four Cylinder engine Il need be and
two rather sOantily dimensioned bucket seats
directly over the rear axle. The contest
comprised a six day eliminating trial and a
race to decide the winner, and naturally every
contestant built his car to make it as speedy
as possible within the limitations OF the rules.
! Now. 10 Is obvious that a car Of this character
is not a very satisfactory one in business or
professional use. The seat being directly
over the axle, the car must be comparatively
uncomfortable to ride in, and the low. narrow
seat Ia In itself uncomfortable.
Moreover IL is obvious that In many Of the
cars the running gear is not .pbstantiaI enough
for everyday service, Another pernicious In
tuence OF the premium on speed is seen IN
the return to wire wheels. which were mounted
on quite q. few or the competing vehicles.
Wire wheels have their undeniable Rdvan-
tRges; they are lighter and cheaper than an
artillery wheel OF equal strength. yet NO one
wants them on q service vehicle because
they are so difficult to keep in presentabls
appearance. They ALSO require always more
or less adjustment and repair work and are
therefore an every respect more bothersomS
than a well made artillery wheel. These
French votturettes seem to be built more for
those who want to cut a dash, like the owners
OF big touring carson a smaller expendl-
Uaa 49, * -