Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-06-27


training are the objects of the new
test. Those who play the game auto
matically fortify themselves against
an emergency. Since only a few
win. the percentage of drivers that
might be inclined to feel too sure of
themselves as a. result of such a test
is necessarily small.
Promotes Better Driving.
Failing by other methods to en-
courage daily practice at the wheel,
safety advocates are turning to the
medium of the game" as the only
alternative in the fight for better
driving. Something about human
nature seems to offer the motorISt no
special inducement to spend a half
hour daily trying to get better con-
troll over his car. but competition
might interest him. This is the
psychological angle of the new plan.
Public recognition of neighbor's
superiority as a driver furnishes a
new incentive to practice through
competitive effort.
The game" is interesting as a
game, aside from the practical value.
Many drivers who enter the test go
all to pieces after a few minutes,
while others reveal remarkable CON
troll of themselves as well as their
cars. No damage is done to cars
that fail to dodge the obstacles. and
since the race is one against time
there is no interference between
drivers.
Many car operators can learn fine
points of driving by watching their
competitors. something they could
not do if the races were run stimuli
taneously. Where the average driver
ell d., So; %l,o
idea that the first rule of skill in
driving is complete understanding of
the car.
This point is developed in such a
race when most of the contestants
reveal their ignorance of how the
rear Of an automobile is Steered.
They do not know that the rear
wheels have to be placed in order
TO steer the whole car the way it
should go. They tug at the steering
wheel, trying va!nly 10 make the
front wheels steer the whole car in
or out of a tight place. only to find
themselves getting hopelessly en-
tangled.
Classified by Wheel Base.
In any test of this sort, the me-
chanical limitations of the cars
must be taken into account. In
Seattle three classes. based upon
wheel base, were considered in the
race. Cars under 10 inches raced
under one class. another class being
composed of cars from 10 to 125
inches. The third group took in the
cars Of 1875 inches and over. This,
however. was only a rough classified
ton and must have worked injustice
to many.
A number of long ears can turn
more easily than shorter cars be-
cause. in general. longer cars are
high-grade products and are better
designed. There are instances as well
where a long wheel base and a short
turning radius go together.
At present, there is enough varia-
ton in the stopping ability of cars
TO warrant dividing cars into groups
with two and four wheel brakes.
Part of the course of the contest
should be wet so that prevention of
skidding would have to be considered.
Obviously the power, f1eXibility and
gear shifting of the various cars
should be graded, otherwise many
motorists who need the lesson which
such a contest teaches would not
even enter the race.
Such contests are lessons to auto
mobile manufacturers, dealers. car
buyers. safety advocates and officials
alike. for they tell many facts about
cars as we'll as their drivers. Some
times the inherent shortcomings of
the cars are mistaken for bad judg-