Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-07

BY FREDERICK C. RUSSELL.

Many a man unwittingly confesses to
his own inexperience when he boasts OF
the fact that he can't teach the wife
how to drive the family car.
Being a woman has it's advantages
as well as its disadvantages when at the
wheel. She is inclined to apply the
brakes too lightly, which, with the in
ternal expanding type, encourages
screechirg. But because of her smaller
foot and lighter shoe she is not so
likely to damage the clutch If she for
gets to guard against riding the clutch
pedal" .
It's easy enough to get golf rules
mixed up with those that go with
handling the car, but there is one
point of rather striking similarity
between the two sports. On the fair
way you keep your eye on the ball,
whereas on the highway you keep your
hand on it. The ball in this case, how
ever, Is the top of the gear-shift lever.
Keep your hand on 1t until you have
shifted through to high. Follow
through, in other words. 1t makes for
much smoother shift.
Cars don't skid as much as formerly
which probably explains why so many
new drivers do not know that If the
car starts to go wild it is important to
steer in the direction it is skidding.
Quick wit often proves more useful
than experience. I saw this neatly
demonstrated when a young woman
found herself crossing an intersection
against signal plainly set for Stop"
Did she hesitate, upset traffic and en-
gage in a heated argument with the
guardian Of the crossway? Not this
drivert In twinkling she had swung
into a right turn and was going her
way down the side street-a move that
is legal in a number of cities.
It isn't a good idea to have the car
washed the minute it comes in out of
the sun or COLD. One woman makes
waiting several hours after garaging the
car before phoning instructions to have
the car washed.
Many women have asked me why
cars are complicated by the transmits
sion gears. It is logical query, be-
cause most women know that there is
no gearing to operate electric dish
washers or vacuum cleaners. They
simply switch on the current and the
motor tackles the job directly. Why
an engine that is capable of developing
100 horsepower or more should require
"crutch" in the form of transmits
sion impresses them as quite mystify-
ing.
There is this significant difference
between the gasoline engine and the
electric motor: The formers power is
based upon its speed. You can give the
electric motor a lot Of work to do, and
If you have enough current 1t will start.
But gas engine is hardly able to pro-
pei itself until it speeds up, regardless
of the quantity of fuel in the tank.
We insert gears in order to enable the
engine to rotate faster in proportion
to the speed Of the driving wheels.
The rear-view mirror may be handy
to check up on ones personal appear
ance, but 1t also serves as a check on
the engine. Should glance into 1t re-
veal the exhaust smoking, the evidence
is that too much oil has been put into
the crankcaSe.
An automobile man tells me of a
puzzling case of low gas mileage that
turned out to be the result of a certain
party forming the habit of hanging her
purse on the partly extended choke
control. Choke buttons should be
pressed all the way in when the motor
is warmed up enough to run without
this aid.
No woman likes to change tire, but
she can help to minimize the expense of
puncture by remembering that If it
is necessary to run a short distance on
the fiat tire complete ruin of the shoe
may be prevented by avoiding sudden
starting and stopping.
Even woman can profit by lifting
the front seat cushion. Thousands of
owners of one of the higher priced cars
,. have found an acceptable surprise In
the tool compartment in the form of a
neat looking holder for the ignition
key. It is tucked away In an envelope
along with the instruction book.
The woman who knows her motoring
will say thumbs down on the idea of
| flushing the crankcase with kerosene,
even If the mechanic Is old-fashioned
enough to recommend 1t. Modern en-
gineS should be flushed with fresh oil,
and only when they have seen consid-
cradle service.
scopyEight BY the Russell Service -
| in exterior, but antique in interior. Is
/ there any reason why the modern
should not find its place in interiors of
cars as well as in offices, buildings,
| homes, dresses, ETC.? At least be either
| COR, ,,iafaiv modern ri. cOYnnletalv Ill