Evening star., 1924-11-09
BY FREDERICK c. RUSSELL.

How much of your motoring is
spoiled by adverse weather con-
ditions in the course of a years rid
ing?
Or rather. how much Of it is spoiled
unnecessarily?
1t doesn't have to be raining cats
and dogs. laundering or blowing, for
the weather to be unfavorable for
motoring. Many motorists arc an
noyed by a little excessive heat or
cold. or perhaps by so mild cli-
matte change as an evening shower
The closed car has not entirely
solved the all-weather problem be-
cause the majority of motorists have
had very little experience with sedans,
coupes and broughamS and do not
know how to use these models to
best advantage. If you would enjoy
every mile of your motoring. weather
or not, it is important to know how
to make your car as comfortable as
possible for the given conditions.
There are other considerations. but
consider first the matter Of making
the car conform to weather con-
ditions In the case of the open car,
passengers frequently are annoyed by
chilly winds, and when the driver
hangs up a few curtains without any
regard for results they are some
times more uncomfortable than if he
were to leave them off and drive d
little slower.
Can Avoid Drafts.
If the car is going directly into the
wind the passengers on the rear seat
can be made to enjoy the ride by
attaching a rear curtain on each side.
But if the wind is coming from the
side it is best to attach the curtains
on that particular side, thus breaking
the wind and avoiding the possi-
bility of drafts.
Nothing is more uncomfortable in
open-car driving than to have cur
tains staggered. The curtains are, in
such instances, neither a complete
windbreak nor a draft preventive
1t would be better for the passengers
to bundle up we'll and take the air
| as it comes.
Windshield wings can be made to
offer some protection for the persons
who in a seven-pasSenGer car occu-
| by the folding seats. And II II is
raining hard on a very humid day
| the passengeres. if so seated. can be
protected by using the first two cur
| tains. leaving the last one on each
side removed for ventilation, provided
| the occupants of the rear seat can
move up to the folding seats.
The staggering of windows ap-
plies to closed cars as we'll. Usually
| it is more comfortable to open one
| complete side of the car, leaving the
other closed. The chief trouble with
ventilation is that most people forget
| that in motoring they keep changing
their directions, thus accomplishing
what would amount to a change in
the winds. For the best results in
the way of comfort it is essential
to make different adjustments of the
windows as occasion demands.
Few people consider the speed of
the car in relation to car comfort.
During heavy rain, either in Summer
or Winter, a car is usually very un-
comfortable If excessively closed up
because heat from the engine makes
the interior veritable sweatbox.
This annoyance can be minimized by
learning to drive at speeds that allow
the engine to run coolest. Sometimes IS
it pays to stop off for a quart or
two of fresh oil, or to have the fan
belt tightenad.
1t is strange how many motorists
will spoil their ride by heading for
brilliant concrete roadway on a
red-hot day when a secondary road
might answer the purpose SO much
better Ordinarily a rough road is