New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-23
Snowdrift Shooting {
Timely Driving
Subject
By William II. Stewart Jr.

Driving in heavy snow taxes all the
resources Of the experienced operator.
A few suggestions drawn from practi-
cal experience should be of value.
/ You positively must use chains. You
will probably say, "Of course every
body uses them!" but it is fact that
many drivers try 10 get along with
out them. Non-skid treads are good
for sudden showers, thin mud and
sand, but the snow will pack be-
tween the ridges, giving the same ef-
feet as a smooth tread and allow the
tire to spin uselessly when the car is
caught in snow bank or hole.
For best results each wheel should
carry chain. But four chains are not
always available and one can get along
with less in city driving. If two arc
used both should be on the rear wheels
But a chain on one of the front wheels
will make a great difference IN the way
in which the car holds the road. There
is less tendency of the front end TO
jump around, or 20 slide OF to one
side. making il exceedingly difficult 70
steer, especially where there is ice
under the snow. You will readily &c
that a fourth chain will add to this
effect Of steadving the car, for if one
wheel tends to slip the other will hold.
Unbroken snow, especially deep
drifts, offers the greatest problem.
Naturally, drifts should be rushed, Civ
ing as much momentum to the car as
possible. On country roads there are
ruts made by preceding vehicles. Keep
away from these as much as possible,
as they make steering wild and rack
the steering gear numerically. This
caution is all the more necessary if
there is much of a crust, as it damages
the tires TO break it up. Another fruit
full source Of injury is frozen ruts.
The tire slips down these or follows
them, wearing the sidewalks almost
as if sandpaper were used. They should
be avoided where possible.
If the rear end is light il would be
we'll to load in some manner to insure
better traction. II is surprising the
difference made by two or three pas
sengerg in the way the car holds the
road. Provided IL is not overloaded, il
will take the bounces better and not
dance about so much. Since it is not
always convenient to carry passengers.
provide few bags of sand for ballast
two or three hundred pounds, de
pending on the car
Some of the sand may he used on icy
spots TO obtain better traction, espe,
cslly for such wheels as have no
chains. Also, provide a shovel with
which to dig through drifts or TO spread
the sand IL a rear wheel is spinning
uselessly, sand, brush (small branches),
bagging. or even a lap robe, may be
used to help the wheel obtain traction
and pull out.
Another useful adjunct is a tow rome.
No car should leave the garage without
one. IL post can be found near
enough for the rope to reach. make a
hitch around the post and fasten the
other end to the nearest part OF the
rear wheel that j. spinning at the
height of the hub. If the post is ahead
Of the car, this will be the forward part
Of the wheel Let in the clutch very
gently and the wheel will pull itself
out, pushing the car ahead Of it.
Keep your wits about you. manipu-
lating the steering wheel quickly as the
car swerves, and keep 10 the centre of
the road. as the snow hides the bitches.
Note the feel Of the rear wheels as they
run over ruts or slip on ice. Bear in
mind that an even throttle will afford
more steady pull.
II the car is snowbound in going for.
ward and the driving wheels spin, re-
verse quickly and back the car few
feet. This will leave an open track in
which 10 gather momentum to rush the
snowdrifts. Often one sees a car with
rear wheels in a hole and the driver
churning the wheels, trying to 70 for
ward. BY reversing quickly and then
going forward one gains considerable
help by taking advantage of the mo-
mentum just as the car begins to roll
forward again.