The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-29
TIE AUHOMOBILISTS
LONG ISLAND CLUB WARNS ITS
MEMBERS To GO SLOWLY.

Law and Runs-Tours Committees Advise
Extreme Caution In TOuring, as Pertc-
cutlon Has Replaced Prosecution In
Many ViIlAg es In Enforcing speed Laws.
While the residents OF many sections OF
| Long Island are this year showing a dis
position to treat motorists fairly In regard
to the rate Of speed at which oars may be
| driven there are still som parts Of the island
where motorphobis RACES In q most unreason-
able and violent form. The Long Island
| Automobile Club OF Brooklyn has made earn
est efforts this season to help the local oficials
Of all places In their efforts to give the drivers
Of motor vehicles q square deal and mas
met with notable success In numerous IN
stances. There are still some towns on the
island, however. whose authorities seem inter-
ested only in seeing how much annoyance
they can cause any antomobilists who may
chance 20 travel their way. which has re-
suited In all member OF the Long Island
Automobile Club receiving q letter signed by
the law committee and the runs and tours
committee OF the organization which reads
In part as follows: q
Your attention 10 called to the necessity
for extreme caution IN touring on Long Island
at this time. In many villages persecution
has taken the place Of prosecution. as so
notably evidenced In the Hampstead out
RACES Of last Sunday. where arrests we're
made Of cars going on second speed: or where
speed was reduced to IL miles-even 0 miles
yer hour-or when only one second excess
speed was charged In an eighth OF q mile
course. Reports also reach the committee
OF unfair and questionable methods followed
at Islip, East lslip, Sayvtlle and Blue Point.
This club will in svery way assist local officials
In any honest effort TO curb reckless driving
and punish vicious violstors Of speed regula-
lions; but on the other q it will exert
every influence 10 destroy opportunities for
extorting graft on merely technical charges.
through police traps. decoys. &c.. and to
secure the punishment OF those guilty OF
such practices"
-The club is convinced that many convic-
tions In the past have been illegal and that
perjury has been employed as a basis OF
complaint and oppression used In coercing
pleas Of guilty. We earnestly recommend
that innocent victims OF these methods refuse
TO plead guilty but stand on their rights and
demand a trial. In this the clubs counsel
will cooperate In an endeavor to secure even
handed Justice.
MANY villages on Long Island have been
forced by public sentiment and financial loss
and depression following automobile persecu-
tions to discontinue such practice. Other
towns manifest a spirit Of fairness by having
officers give warning to drivers las in Free
port, and every motorist should show his
appreciation OF such treatment. You are
requested to report to the law committee OF
the club instances OF unfair or oppressive
treatment by local officers; also and most
particularly report the numbers Of such cars
as maintain an excessive speed through viii
lagos"
DR.. Henry {. Webb OF Syracuse. who re-
Gently returned from a two weeks automobile
trip TO Atlantic City, tells of the treatment
which motorists receive In the little town of
- NAar ISA.N Tk.A.I HI
place the speed limit is placed at seven miles
an hour instead Of ten. as is customary. Be-
sides this very slow rate of speed another re-
s~triction unknown to the average driver Ia
i license a unsSsrs. FffEEa aoasS M f,sns Seq L Is
provided that the sign bearing the numbers
must be hxed rigid to the car, and every car
owners fined. Aspeed trap Ia on the outskirts
Of the town, consisting Of police on. motto r
sge'tfss r.. eGncf n Which e. i Dr.. webb a psssed tx ssr rSad;
to o'clock Gle Ssr n 81, the ,s sfte snSS bee. The S t1nss col i
pay all the taxes OF the town.
announced that they. are not receiving as
/ many complaints against scorching automo-
bilists as was formerly the case, and believe
squad Of the Eutomobiic Club OF Buffalo in
warning reckless drivers. The commits
siSasrs ss squad usf To look out out f%sI horse 81 saS
vehicles and motor. cyclists that violate the
speed limits In the city.
The wilkesbarre Automobile Club has sue.
ceeded in buying the mountain. boulevard
This road. which ls much the easiest route
out Of the valley. has hitherto been closed
to aut9nobilists and the latter, finding y
did the next best thing and purchased il out
right,
Million dollar motor tracks are far from
being a financial success 4 one believes the
reports emanasins from ~ England since the
a quarter mile oval at Weymouth. and the first
note Of, warming, sounded by the English
been contemplating investing in ~speedways
designed solely Tor motor car racing; says
l MS.s' on az ,he Bns ssls3sh track ssisiG are h tsm. tS Sst
spite the whirlwind speed possible, because
OF the fact that the cars are so unevenly
pointed out that at the first meeting only
II one race ,b were rsm i've 9iG cars sD n , The finishing
ETorSitsnt prices are charged for admis-
sion. and not the least Of the evils Is the red
in the conduct OF It's speed way. Doubtless
all this u experience Englishmen are gaining
much III track racing as have tihse' people %Gd se Of ,s so
ing. Is a farce. seldom DO two cars 'S Some
result being a a procession Ave seconds sns sea aftsr
flag fall. To put more than two cars on an
American track at the same time is a dan
gerous experiment and II is rare a track meet
trade OF the sport.
Not much more can be said Of road racing
although IL must be conceded that in long
events the industry often learns valuable
nesses that only a contest OF this sort can
bring. out. If one probed to the bottom he
would hardly find great sport in seeing cars
dash by a grand stand at lightning speed
without semblance OF q contest and the result
in doubt until the checkers post the times OF
the competitors; The sporting side OF the
game can best be conserved by the promo.
ton Of reliability runs. hill climbs and other
In which he can experience the Joys OF con.
test.
In cars. which are so designed that the
multiple disk clutch and change speed gear
ing are enclosed in a sin gle case. whether
in the same or In different COMPARTMENT
which are In communication with one ano-
Other, II Is very necessary that the lubrica
ton be attended to with far greater care than
is commonly. required with the type OF trans.
mission in which the chan &c gear is enclosed
by itself. The efficiency OF the multiple dial
clutch depends. in large measure upon the