Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-22
MILADY'S MOTORING
By Frederick c. Russell

So long as she's at the wheel Of a
car and In traffic a woman doesn't have
to know thing about golf to miss the
green.
Women are playing very significant
role in checking mistakes In the design
Of modern cars. Recently one of the
leading. companies heightened its big
geSt job and anticipated enthusiastic
public reception of the new models,
but soon women were complaining Of q
peculiar upthrow at the rear seat. An
investigation followed, only to reveal
the fact that the engineers had lost
the combination of easy riding by the
slight but incorrect increase in wheel
base.
When dropping in for service at some
garage or shop not authorized by the
maker of your car be careful that the
advice passed. out is suitable for the
particular make of car you drive. In
one case, for instance, it Is all right
to operate the automatic chassis lubri-
eating system whenever you think Of it,
but on another car there Is danger of
getting oil on the front brakes if you
overdo it. The first car has hydraulic,
while the second carries mechanical
brakes with automatic oiling.
There never is any need to wonder If
the rear wheels have locked during a
sudden stop on slippery streets. The
speedonleter dial tells the story. for
it will swing back to zero the moment
the driving wheels stop turning.
It may seem more convenient to run
the car into the service station when
you happen to think about it, but the
automobile dealers plan of regular in
spection at specified dates is far and
above the usual way. In going by dates
the car arrives at the shop in dry
weather or wet, on cold days or warm,
in sunshine or snow. Under such vary
ing weather conditions the car behaves
differently and it frequently happens
that the service men may see some
need for attention which might easily
escape their notice If the car always
arrived at the shop in fair weather.
These three cornered hats that are
causing such a stir on Fifth avenue
suggest a timely warning about the
three cornered tfafic Situation. When
ever a third party appears at an inter-
section new complications arise. Three
usually is crowd.
Recently I saw one woman wait to
let another complete a left turn. Just
then o third party came up from the
right to make left turn on the theory
that the driver to the right of her was
standing by to offer this courtesy. Both
Of the moving cars collided merely be-
cause the drivers involved were two
car minded instead of q Ia mode.
The ammeter is one Of those iastru-
merte on the dash that tells q new
story almost every time you look at It.
To. the newcomer at the wheel, how
ever, there are few primary stories
which must be digested before there
can be assurance that the car Is get
ting q square deal.
If the indicator points constantly
above IL or IA on the charge" side Of
the scale, for instance, the generator
is producing too much current and
should be adjusted for q lower charg-
ing rate. On the other hand, If the
anmeter shows constant discharge the
generator isn't up to snuff. Always
during idltng the aIt1meter shows dis.
charge, however.
Many women who can read the am
meter to good advantage in daytime
allow themselves to become puzzled by
it at night because they do not take
into account the effect Of the head
lights. When the lights are ION" the
ammeter never shows as high a charg-
Ing rate and reveals greater discharge
when the engine idles or the car Is
running fast.
The speed Of the car is another point
to watch. At higher speed more cur
rent Is consumed by the engine for
ignition and the generator does not
make up for this because it is adjusted
to waste current over q certain car
speed. At too low q speed the charging
rate also difninishes. The highest rate.
and the one that Is best for the battery's
good health, Is usually somewhere be-
tween Is and IS miles an hour.
Women are credited with having
brought about the great change in cars
whereby the feminine touch is all that's
needed TO get the best results from
them. Oddly enough, many women
spoil the eject by trying to handle
tner cars In more masculine manner,
tagging away at the gears and actuallv
handicapping themselves by resortin1
to main force when the lighter touch
would do.
surely the popular phrase, BE your
self!" was never more apropos than in
milady's motoring.
The idea that the rear bumper. spare
tire and other paraphernalia at the
PACK OF the car will offer full protection
II IL rams into something when backing
UP one that has caused many a
woman considerable embarrassment
when trying to convince the men folk
OF the family what Q good driver she
is: II the backing IL downgrade, as
often Is the case, the back of the ton
may strike the obstruction before the
bumper does. A denied body Il q mean
thing to repair.
(copyrisht By the Russell service.)