Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-21
MILADY'S MOTORING
BY FREDERICK C. RUSSELL.

When in doubt as to what course the
inconsiderate driver ahead will take the
wise woman will remember that the
worm will turn.
Leave it to observing women to work
out ways and means OF breaking down
fear In driving The latest to reach me
is the plan of woman who found that
she was little uncomfortable in heavy
traffic. Her method is interesting.
Whenever possible she parks the car
near a busy intersection and sits there
for five or ten minutes watching traffic.
She says that the whole thing seems SO
confusing and terrifying that her actual
participation In 1t later becomes an
actual relief.
There is a psychological explanation
for this In watching traffic you UNI
consciously place yourself in the par
ticular position OF the various drivers.
When you are at the wheel OF your own
car your attention Is on just one set OF
actions your own.
Should you have q little difhculty
shifting the gears after several hours OF
continuous running do not be alarmed.
The transmission oil has thinned out
and changed the gear action. Shifts
should be made more slowly even in
the case of some Of the newer types OF
otherwise clashless gears.
II some one in the household has
added water to the battery cells, and
spilled some of it, the excess is most
easily wiped up with a blotter. II a
cloth is used for the job throw 1t away
as the acid viii eat 1t TO shreds. Don't
under any circumstances return 1t TO a
side pocket OF the car.
one Of the most interesting trends in
car design is the increasing feminlnlty
of the front compartment. Just the
reverse Is taking place at the rear seat.
Gone are the flower vases, and III
some cases the vanity cases now are
concealed But note the change up
front. Compartments for gloves. Soft
carpets for fine shoes. Rubber pads ON
the control pedals. Wheel rims that
accommodate the feminine hand.
Doubtless there are plenty of srgu
ments for and against the plan OF an
instructor talking to a beginner during
the learning process but few viii deny
that silence often IS appalling. Surely
a well trained word of encouragement
can serve as an invaluable suggestion.
The thought came TO me while watch
ing a womans agonized expression as
she fumbled with the gears In an effort
to get started. If only the man beside
her had volunteered to say something
ANYTHING to break the spell.
These new starter switches on the IN
strument panel are going to be saving
To women who have been scuftlng their
fine shoes on the conventional starter
pedal.
Asked what is the best way to save
gas, the experienced driver will in
yariably advise avoiding unnecessary use
of the brakes Majority OF stops are
evidence OF driving too fast for condl-
tions Women who feel inclined to
speed up where there is question OF
ability to profit by the ears increased
momentum, should bear this point in
mind when trying to cut down on ex-
penses Stepping on the gas is unwise
If you have to follow it with stepping on
the brake pedal.
Whether you are newcomer or an
old hand at the wheel Of the automobile
here are a few rules that cannot be foi-
lowed too faithfully.
Learn to press the brake pedal as far
to the lett as possible so as to avoid the
possibility of having your foot slip OF
and go down ON the accelerator. Don't
drive fast unless you are sure the front
brakes are equalized. Never coast by
shifting To neutral Avoid feeding gas
from the hand control of the throttle
except on long trips when it may be
tiresome to keep your foot on the ac-
celeratOr continuously.
A woman who was just interested
enough in automobiles to find profit in
looking over the mechanical features Of
one of the new multi-cylinder engines
observed that fiywheels do not seem 10
be increasing in size proportionately
with power She remembered the days
when In trying TO induce friend husband
to come in for his Sunday dinner there
was opportunity to look at the exposed
oversize flyWheel of the earlier engines.
The answer to the fiywheel question Is
found in the increased weight and bulk
of the modern engine shaft. Many of
these shafts carry compensating weights
SO that they are really fyWheels in
themsclv ives The original f1yWheel has
been made more and more part of the
clutch. In addition, the average long
engine shaft OF today carries a second
AIRY fiywheel at the front end OF the Vi
bration damper. Power impulses also
are more frequent and less Earring.
Because the vibration damper often is
exposed to the elements as well as to
water leakage from the radiator it may
become ineffective. This will be fol-
lowed by roughness in the engines ac-
ton. II you note this sort of thing
AUTOMOTIVE BRIEFS