Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-27
MOTORING
the scarcest article in the world

country and a more concerted effort
on the part of the distributors to
get TO the root of the matter are
| vitality essential.
The parking problem is greater
sales resistance than almost any
other the distributor can name. and
yet what steps have been taken by
dealers as a whole to combat it
These are fundamental considera-
tions. They are of a nature which
| form the underlying framework OF a
great industry. The industry be-
came great because motoring was a
pleasure and JOY, because the au-
tomobile was useful, and because 1t
was a convenience.
1t must remain so. and in keeping
il so and in improving conditions the
distributor-the man who in the past
has done so much to forward Amer
ica's greatest single endeavor-muSt
take an increasingly prominent part,
His duty is clear, and on the basis
of his past accomplishments it is
! reasona bic to assume that he will not
| fail when he is thoroughly imbued
with the conviction that upon his
shoulders lies a highly important
proportion of the solution of these
basic questions.
How many times has any motorist
seen his speedometer registering
more than 90 miles an hour? On
how many occasions has one been
passed by another vehicle that obvi-
ously was going at, say, 65 miles an
hour? The driver who ponders
these questions undoubtedly will
come to the conclusion that the vast
majority of motor-car owners do not
often utilize the speed that is built
into the modern automobile
Entirely apart from the fact that
spcedometers may err, it probably is
true that only relatively small per-
centage of motorists actually have
ventured above a speed of 90 miles
an hour. There are hundreds of
thousands, of course, who never have
been above so and who do not care
to exceed that point.
Speed, like everything else, OF
course, is relative thing, and in its
relation to the conditions that main
tain today on the average good high
way so miles an hour does seem
quite fast Each motorist has only
to look to his own experience to de-
ternine the accuracy of this esti-
mate.
Why, then, it may be asked, do au-
tomobile makers continue to build
more and more speed into their
products?
The answer is not difficult.
If it is true that the speed OF a
car is not used purely as speed, it
certainly is equally true that it is
used in the forms of greater power
and flexibility. The lively, snappy
engines of the day have many use
full characteristics, even if not ] in
1000 ever is driven at a speed that
approachs its maximum.
Speed, then, is valuable for other
purposes than that connected by the
word itself.
There still are those who declare
that the automobile has done
wrong" by the Nations health in
converting every one to driving or
riding. Some medical men disagree
with this view. Many of them de-
clare that automobile driving also
furnishes form of exercise that is
beneficial.
Walking exercises mainly the leg
muscles, while driving brings into
greater use the arm and shoulder
muscles. The motorists leg muscles
get considerable action III operating
the brake and clutch pedals. The
exercise one finds in car operation
has the additional advantage of being
regular and not too strenuous.
1t takes less muscle to drive a car
today than ever before, but, at that,
it requires enough muscular effort to
be conducive to good health.
Successful automotive establish
ments of all varieties--those that sell
and service automobiles, those deal
ing iii accessories, tires, gasolines
and oils-are characterized by a de-
gree OF cleanliness that in the early
days of motoring would have caused
the lifting of eyebrows. The new
trend is traced to the entrance of
the woman into the ranks of motor
ing on an increasingly large scale.
Father did not mind the CRIME,
grease and dirt of the automobile
establishment when he was its chief
patron. Now, however, mother is in
the business of motor-car operation,
service and repair, and father does
not want her to be subjected to the
unsightliness which he did not OBJ
ject to himself.
And, perhaps, if father were pinned
down on the point, he would admit
he liked the change for himself. too.
y II \ X
Criticism of the automatic traffic
lights continues. The chief objection
seems to be that drivers are encour-
| aged to be reckless when trying TO
, get across the intersection before the
| lights fash against them. Some of
this complaint may be justified. but
| there IS another side to the story.
Is it not true that all drivers must
learn how to use the automatic sig
| nails and learn at what speeds they
must travel in order to reach a
crossing before the lights change?
1t took some time for the average
| driver TO get accustomed to taking
directions from the traffic officer,
and some by no means are we'll
yersed in that process even today.
n X X
There is another reason than that
! it helps the appearance OF the car
why one should have fender dents
removed. Although it may be far
from accurate the scarred faadar 90
fleets on the driving ability of the
cars owner. Although the evidence
is entirely circumstantial, in that the