Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-15

BY FREDERICK C. RUSSELL.


The man who used to take his wife
along to look over the new cars as pro-
lection against compelling statesmen now
invites her along for fear she'll visit
the showroom alone and buy the car.
There was plenty of opportunity to
draw conclusions from the fact that
woman passed me three times during
the course of 20-mile run, but one
point impressed me as being of special
significance. To pass me 1t was neceS-
sary for this driver to push her car to
so miles an hour, whereas each time
passed her was able to accomplish the
task easily at 20.
She passed ON the straightaway.
passed AT those places where she was
reading the road signs or straining the
engine on steep hills in high gear.
knowledge Is speed as well as power.
Don't reach for the hand brake until
you are sure the foot brakes are not
going to hold since the former may
cause the rear wheels to slide. Remem-
Der that the car stops at an increasing
ly facter rate as the object to be avoid
ed Is neared.
Believe 1t or not, I recently saw q
woman crank her car and do it rather
well. She inserted the crank and gave
the engine q quick spin by pulling up on
the handle. Pushing down, of course, Is
risky There are many times when 1t
will save q breakdown Of the battery to
aid it by cranking over the engine by
hand before using the starter motor
and, though this should be done with
the ignition switched of, it does not
mean that an injury Is impossible. A
back-fire (Which can occur only with
the ignition on), isn't the only thing
that can result In breaking an arm. A
great deal of strength Is necessary to
crank even q small engine and II the
crank slips out when energy In at q
peak the result may be painful.
II you are going to stop at the top Of
O steep hill be wary Of the mental trick
cry that encourages you to strain the
engine. Planning to STOP many
driver runs at 10 miles an hour In high
on hills that she would not ordinarily
think Of climbing in anything except
second.
While manufacturers have o queer
to as assembled products it Is true
nevertheless that many makes carry
identical braking systems, engines, car
buretors, clutches and other major
parts. II there Is no service station for
your make Of car when travelling and
the car gives trouble always try repre-
sentatives for other makes.
Every observing woman has noticed
that the front wheels Of her car have
the appearance Of being bowlegged, but
perhaps she has not wondered why
manufacturers should elect to disngure
their beautiful creations in this man
ner.
Gambler, toe-in and castor may sound
like highly technical terms, but they
simply refer to this Disagreement. Cam
front wheels are closer together than
the tors. Toe-in means that they are
closer \. yether at the front than at the
back. Castor Is considerably more in
volved. Perhaps q hint Of It's meaning
will be found in comparing the castor
Of the front axle assembly with the
>astors on a bedstead.
The factors are necessary to make
steering easy and practical. The pur-
Of tire-road contact more nearly under
the spindle pins on which the front
wheels swivel. This eases steering. Re-
Gently there has been q tendency to
lessen the amount Of Gambler. Toe-in
Is done to Offset the wear on tires due
to Gambler and also to produce more
even wear on the latter. Castor covers
Q number Of points including lessening
Of road shock, shimmy. wheel wabble
and so on.
Sonny's bicycle has O cambered 'front.'
wheel assembly. That Is why he can
steer with his hands on the handle
bar.
Do your passengers object to the
smell Of some Of these special gases that
are SO useful In stopping engine knocks
and giving smooth performance? II