Evening star., 1927-10-30
MOTORING
BY WILLIAM ULLMAN,



his gait is swift or relatively slow.
On the other hand. the one who has
his natural limitations displays them
constantly, and his deficiencies may
be sensed readily.
X X y
"Auto sense" is easier to detect
than to define. Even those who
possess it likely would be unable TO
evaluate their talents. 1t is not ex-
perience, for many drivers of one
year show a keener auto sense"
than those who have driven for IS
years.
Manifestations of this ability to
solve spontaneously the complex sit
uations of motoring and to emerge
| unscathed from circumstances that
seem fraught with extreme danger
are sufficiently frequent to add con-
tinual emphasis to the conclusion
that skillful motorist is born and
not the product of training.
One incident witnessed recently is
typical case in point. The driver
in question approached sharp, hid
den curve in the road at speed of
IS miles an hour. His entire view
was cut off by a slight ascent. No
one would have given the speeding
motorist one chance in a hundred of
getting around that curve. Yet when
the writer approached the top of the
grade, expecting to see mangled
car, he found nothing but the view
of an automobile proceeding placidly
along the road ahead.
Overtaking the first driver at
filling station short distance be-
yond, the writer made certain to
ask the other how he managed to
get around the curve alive.
That surely was a close call. I
don't know how I got out of it."
was the reply. Gee, that was the
closest I've ever been to eternity
| couldn't tell you what l did, but it
must have been something"
The writer, who would not think
of taking that particular curve at
pace much faster than 20 miles an
hour, agrees that it certainly must
have been Something"
Instances similar to this one may
be observed from time to time, per-
haps less spectacular, but neyerthe-
less supplying a severe test of skill.
They indicate that an auto sense is
not an extreme rarity. On the con-
trary, observation and psychological
data tend to show that the good
driver is fairly common. .
In that case, it is natural to in
quire,. Who has auto sense? DO l
have it? Do my friends have it?"
1t is not difficult to arrive at
fairly accurate appraisal of ones
possession of an auto sense. It re-
quires merely an honest review of
ones driving habits and general at
titude toward motoring.
Is driving an automobile a pleas
ant occupation? Do you feel wholly
free from timidty while seated at
the wheel? Can you decide almost
instantly what to do if the way is
not altogether clear and more than
one solution presents itself? Do YOU
Judge distances nicely and accurately
or do you founder into parking
spaces continuously, make an awk-
ward curve in turning and otherwise
drive with evident lack of ability to
sense the best thing to do under va
rious circumstances?
If these questions are answered af-
firmatively, it is a virtual certainty
that one possesses a real sense of
motoring. To the extent to which
the answers will be negative. lust
so great is the proportion of ones
lack OF auto sense.
An attempt to evaluate ones quail
ities in this respect will be a very
personal instance of ASK me an
other. The rating need not be
made public, but if honestly pro-
pounded, the queries, besides reveal
ing ones capabilities, should be pro-
ductive of further Improvement in
ones habits of motoring.
Auto sense is doing the right
thing at the right time on city street
or highway. But it should be borne
in mind that it is not merely the
possession of capability, but the con-
slant exercise of it, that makes auto
sense of benefit to motordom.
X X X
Despite the thrill every motorist
gets when he glances at one of the
tempting open car creations, the
closed automobile still continues to
carry off the production records and
outsell open cars four to one. The
two-car-to- the family idea has help
ed materially to boost sales OF open
jobs, but owing largely to the cur
tailment in production of the erst-
while largest maker, the number of
open models manufactured during
the first six months of this year are
estimated to be about 100000 as
against $4,000 in the corresponding
period of last year. The figures, of
course, may change during the re-
mainder of the year.
Bad weather makes practical
minded motorists partial to snug
sedans and coupes. But the future
of the open car is unusually bright.
Unqualified recognition of the air
plane as the fastest means of travel
that man has yet devised is ac-
corded the aerial vehicle by many
of the leading manufacturers of
motor cars. Among them is H. H.
Brooks, general manager of the
Marmon Motor Car Co., whose en-
thusiasm for the airplane has led
him to utilize it for many flying
visits" TO local distributors OF his
company's products.
Mr.. Brooks is expected in Wash
ington tomorrow on a l2-day trip
that is to include 26 cities east of
the Mississippi, bounded on the west
by Indianapolis, on the north by
Portland Me, and extending south