Evening star., 1927-05-29


ever before, because better automo.
biles offer a greater inducement tc
their owners to keep them appearing
and running we'll.
In spite of all the good intentions
however, it is not to be questioned
that many thousands of cars get
away to poor start because their
owners arc not completely informed
on the proper way to break in
their latest purchases,
1t is we'll, of course, TO drive slowly
for the first 1000 miles or more. but
the 'breaking-in" process includes
much more than this. Perhaps many
owners would find it helpful if they
would substitute getting acquaint-
ed" for the phrase breaking in, for
the former really is the more accu-
rate term.
One can become familiar with the
cars appearance and performance by
driving it. After a few months of
driving one knows what it will do.
But, unless a motorist has some me-
chanical facility and knowledge. he
can drive for years and never know
why a car performs or fails TO per-
form at full efficiency.
Here is where the instruction
books come in handy. Written more
from the laymans point of view than
ever before, the modern instruction
book answers the why" of cars
performance in an excellent fashion.
1t tells why car has power and
what the owner should do TO pre-
serve that power. 1t tells why the
car handles easily and the steps to
be taken to assure continued easy
handling. 1t tells why the engine is
efficient in all respects and how it is
to be kept efficient. These are but
few of the many interesting stories
the instruction book contains. Be-
cause cars have been so radically
changed, these stories are new. They
are we'll worth reading while the car
is new.
The owner who reads his instruc-
tion book carefully may be certain of
one thing-his car will get a much
better start in life.
Attention seems to be so focused
on finding the 'meanest motorist"
that one has little time to look for
the most courteous driver. A recent
incident produces one candidate for
the latter honor.
The driver i'll question had been
circling the block for about Is min
utes looking for parking space.
Finally he came upon an ideal open
ing. Just as he was ready to enter
the space he noticed another car pre-
pairing to back into it. Tempted, the
first driver hesitated moment, then
backed out and permitted the other
man to take the place.
You're foolish. You could have
beaten him into that space" said a
friend who was riding with him.
"Yes, could have beaten him, all
right, but he found the place first"
was the reply.
To the motorist who has seen this
incident enacted hundreds of times
with an altogether different ending
this anecdote probably will be proof
that the age of miracles has not
passed.
Although motorists have been
warned often enough. many seem to
refuse to drive carefully when pass
ing over a rough and uneven stretch
of street. Ruts and bumps in the
street are not only menaces to the
life of the car, but they may seri-
ously interfere with proper control
of the machine, thereby causing ac-
eidents.
Motorists who traverse Massachu-
setts avenue have a new guessing
game, Unwittingly. the Traffic Bu-
reau started the whole thing and has
become the opposition. The conpe-
tition between the opponents is
friendly and revolves around the
fitting about of the 30-mile speed
limit sign. For. in its relation to
others of its kind, the sign that
started last October on the west side
of Sheridan Circle is the fastest
moving one in the city.
As a result of its almost perpetual
motion. motorists have begun to
guess how far back up the hill the
sign will move from day to day and
how long it will take it to get to the
top of the incline. In eight months
the sign has moved backward for
eight blocks. 1t started just west of
the circle and today it stands just at
the foot of the hill.
ufThe Traffic Bureau has excellent
reasons for moving the sign. no
doubt. Street repairs which resulted
in cutting off about one-third OF the
usable surface of the thoroughfare
account for the latest leap the sign
has taken. But, even while they
recognize the logic of the most re-
cent change, motorists are wonder
ing whether the sign will not some
day meet its companion at the top
OF the hill. When it does there will
be no more 30-mile speed zone, of
course.
Optimists among the Massachu-
setts avenue motoring clan maintain
stoutly, however, that the next move
the sign makes will be back toward
the circle.
Car owners who have locked
bumpers while trying to get in or
out of tight parking spaces and those
who have suffered the effects OF
dentcd tenders, despite the fact that
their cars were protected by bump
ers, both front and rear. will hail
with satisfaction the decision of mo-
tor car manufacturers to standardize
the height OF this valuable equip
ment and to increase its length.
With bumpers placed at all heights
and of all lengths, their protective
qualities have been greatly reduced.
For several years the question of
standardizing them has been pushed
by number of agencies. Despite
this activity. nothing WAS dome until