Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-02-29
.N0hAN DRIVER IS AHEAD
THEY CAN RUN AUTO
AS WELL AS DO SEWING
ChansinE Of Gears Not Dimcuit for
Ono Who Understands
Her Chr.
. Look out. There's a woman drive

ahead"
That .dlsparaging remark OF the
-ferner sex is becoming less justin
aue every day. Habitual indulgence
:: outdoor sports has instilled in many
haental ,pu:=e that proves Invaluable
when plotting the car through traf-
nc. Fncre arc many women In Louis
vile whose control at the wheel in
spires admiration and often excites
CIV! among the men drivers.
Any woman who will take the
trouble 10 learn what is going on in
side the works" OF motor car Will
become a sue, essful driver. Changing
gears is no more difficult for q wo-
man who understands her car than
running sowing machine. From the
beg inning, she should he familiar with
each step Of the operation and know
exactly what is taking place.
The mere act OF throwing on the
switch and putting the foot on the
starter Is not positive guarantee
tha, the motor will start every time.
In 1--WE times the engine won't start.
What's the matter?
What She Should Know.
Any number OF little things may
he holding the explosions up. The
successful. woman driver should know.
She should know just how far the
spark lever ought TO be advanced.
how to enrich her mixture without
choking her motor with gasoline. now
far to open ner throttle so that she
viii not race her motor unnecessarily;
she should KNOW that that annoying
rolling OF the motor Is caused by an
over rich mixture.
She should know how TO operate the
manual controls which are provided on
most cars for the adjustment OF the
carburetor; should know that IL II
fires back through the carburctor that
she had cut her mixture down too
lean: In short. should be able TO deter
min nf
when il is working efficiently. Having
reached this point, she should be able
to throw, out tdizenGage) her clutch;
know when the gears have stopped
spinning and be able TO drop into
first" without grinding the edge off her
gears.
Listen TO Motor.
Knowing the psychological time TO
change gears comes instinctircly AFTER
short time If one pays close aticn-
ton TO the relative speeds of tnc motor
aud car. The unnecessary practice OF
driving long stretches in first ana sec
onu gears. when the car would operate
more smoothly. with less strain on the
working parts and the Dir vcrs nerves,
IL she would drive in nigh would be
entirely eliminated II she would pay
more attention TO the sound OF her
motor. The fact that the. motor is
running At an unnecessarily high speed
makes It Impossible TO change from
OF safety. owing TO the increased horse,
power developed by the excessive speed
OF the motor. gcared down through the
REDUCING gs.rs in the transm.ssion,'
Gus power. throwing many time. the
normal strain on the clutch trans
mission, rear assembly and even tho
tires
Aside from the risk of the possible
Internal damage to the car. there is
the r SIX OF collision owing to the sud
den starts and stops caused ~ this
high speed OF the motor The young
woman who can drive through trahe,
trucks and wagons without continu-
ally changing gears deserves the
credit o. knowing her car. while, OF
course. some credit is duo TO tho me-
no skilltul driver can throttle down her
car If n spark plug is faulty. valves
not properly seated or ignition not up
ia tho standard.
rln%s most important part when 1t
is necessary 10 throttle the motor down
low and still bc able to pick up" with
rapid accclera,ion: but with practice
'oncd with other minor details, any
woman can operate the present -day
cars prettily and as safely as the
strongest man.
Though many women arc excellent
IN handling a car. there IS woeful
lack OF those who are vcrsed in the
various mechanical intricacics and
various adjustments that may be re-
country depends on personal knowl-
edge of motor troubles The average
girl driver would profit immcasurably
by better knowledge Of functioning
better ACQUAINTANCE with tire
changes and repairs With the pres
cnt tire constructions and ease OF
manipulating demountahlc rims. there
make the changes and repairs ncces-
sary when absence OF men conlpels her