New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-08-11

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New Britain police department al
Willow Brook park last "Wednesday
afternoon cannot be measured in
!. words. 1t was an opportunity for a
few thousands OF people in this city
many of them for the first time, to
see athletes in action in dashes, runs
and field events.
Drawn to the park through their
wishes to swell the police pension
: fund, all who We're there We're en-
thusiastic over the thrills and the
excitement OF seeing human filters
speeding down the lanes TO the tape
in the wild dash of the 100 yard
from throngs when an athlete
topped the high jump bar or inched
forward in the sand in a broad
Jump.
All of which leads to the belief
that New Britain, contrary to what
many say. is ripe for the formation
Of an athletic club which will pro-
mote track and field meets regular
~ here. New Britain has the Ath-
letes, but the start in the promotion
Of home meets has not been made.
Human competition in any form
is exciting but speed and endurance
have, a thrill that is akin to that
! experienced as a fayorite horse
dashes down the stretch in a rec
ord breaking mile. The bark of the
gun, Here they come Look at
him 60 and ''Hooray' as the Win
ner flashes across the finish line.
Thrill after thrill was furnished
last Wednesday afternoon and the
people of this city, once educated to
| the excitement attendant on a track
meet. could never get enough. Attn
letes abound in our Fairgrounds
with their talents still undeseloped.
Girls and boys both give great
promise of greater deeds to come
but because there is no incentive
this ability to compete in the track
and field is smothered and forgot
ten.
jack Rourke, once among the
greatest of runners in dash events,
/ was a product of New Britain. Boys
attending college from this city
have made their marks in college
competition but none has the
chance to display His or her wares
at home.
What New Britain needs is an
other Bill Delaney, the former post
master whose greatest interest was
in athletics. Some one is here now
with the ability to produce the
meets which will draw the interest.
All that is needed is the start.
Tho recent epidemic of automobile
crashes about the state and the drive
in several places to insure owners OF
cars maintaining their brakes at the
fullest efficiency brings forcibly to
the mind the public the real i'm port
Gnce of braking. AS IA motorist will
say, the important thing in motoring
is not to drive the car. but to stop
it, and stop 1t when you want to.
Yet stopping an automobile is just
rs important. if not more SO. as get
ting 1t started or keeping it going.
No automobile has to start. 1t can
be allowed to stay inert in the gar
age. But once started, it must be
stopped.
All of which is another way of
saying that the brakes are one of
The most important parts of the car.
They must be efficient brakes, or
they're OF no use when needed. And
they must be kept in good condition,
or the driver will suddenly find him
self powerless in an emergency.
The fcur-brake system in use to-
day hasn't alleviated the stopping
situation bit. for along with four
wheel brakes has come greater
speed. The greater the speed. the
greater the need for more effective
braking.
Yet brake engineers say that the
brakes on only about 10 per cent of
the cars on the road today are pro-
perly adjusted.
There's much more to adjustment
Of brakes now than there was when
two wheel brakes existed. Now il IS
more than merely seeing that botn
rear wheel brakes are alike. In the
four-Drake system, the front and
rear brakes must be. equalized, and
the sides evcned up, for proper ad-
justment.
Many a brake mechanic has found
that the brakes were SO unevenly adj
1usted that the front wheels gripped
instead of the rear-a condition that
would be highly dangerous in an
emergency.
Better roads. more powerful en-
gines sleel1er bodies, more liberal
a general complex among American
motorists. Even in cities where traf-
fic is heavy and there are stops at
almost every corner. some drivers
are found who can't help but step
on the throttle in between stops.
The result is much heavier de-
mand on the brakes, and danger Of
burning out the Innings.
Conservative judgment is needed
especially IN heavy tranlc, IN order
to make the least possible demand
on the brakes. Two Dement'S result
the brakes live longer and remain
effective, while the engine runs more
economically and efficiently.
According to the Society of Auto
motive Engineers, the average auto
mobile with four wheel brakes
should be able to stop within 50 feet |
from a speed of 20 miles an hour |
The hand brake alone should be
capable of stopping the car in Is |
feet from a speed of 20 miles an
hour.
Some day We shall become a.
bra kp-cOnSciOuS as we are engine