Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-12
No, they don't hold the speed con
tests in Florida on the quicksands.

No, they don't hold the speed con-
tests in Florida on the quicksands.
Leading service stations offer a
touch-up proposition that ought to ap-
peal to any woman who knows the
economy and Joy of fixing over an old
dress and sending 1t to the dry clean
ers. For less than what old-timers
used to pay for new tire you can now
have the car thoroughly cleaned, re-
striped and polished, the motor cleaned
and the upholstery thoroughly vac
uumed. A competent bodyman goes
over the entire car. touching up here
and there, in a way that leaves it look
ing like new. Don't let this investment
slip by this Spring.
MY husband always criticizes me
for slowing down a little when I pass
an approaching car at night" writes a
woman who has about a years driving
experience. 1T seems to me that am
doing the sensible thing, but he claims
my act marks me as an amateur. Who's
right?"
You are. Is it amateurish to be
safe? Ask your husband If he really
sees the road ahead clearly when he
is passing pair Of binding headlights,
or If he simply goes ahead, assuming
that because the road looked clear a
few moments ago it is still clear when
he passes. We all take a chance in
passing approaching cars at night
less of chance IL the car is under q
little better control.
Another point to watch in night driv-
ing is to avoid giving approaching cars
too wide a berth. Swinging too far
away means getting too near the ditch,
soft shoulders or pedestrians who are
walking the road.
The windshield will scratch and glare
more at night If the wiper blade is
allowed to run over 1t when dry. Al
ways wipe off the windshield before
using the wiper in the rain.
Wiseacres poke fun at the woman
who asked her instructor which side of
the road she should keep on when the
car started backing downhill. But there
is more sense than nonsense in the
query. Assuming that the car Is really
out Of control. it is better to back down
on the opposite side, as If going for
ward. Most backing accidents occur
when q reversing car rams into one
standing still or moving forward uphill.
But with two braking systems there is
no occasion to let the car get out of
control. Remember that If you keep
it in reverse gear the backing speed of
the car will not be likely to exceed 10
miles per hour, If you leave the clutch
engaged.
There is a decided safety advantage
in pulling up beside a parked car ahead
Of the space you want to capture and
then back in, rather than trying to
cut in with the front of the car first.
The latter plan may result in a bad
tangle if the car parked at the rear
Of the space starts to move away.
Any woman who has ever looked on
while the man at the service station
removed the head from what is known
as the distributor quickly observed that
this device really is two instruments in
one. They are arranged together be-
cause they have to work in perfect time
with each other. "Synchronized," as
they say in the talkies.
The upper part, the true distributor, |
Is simplicity itself In the head are
button contacts which carry current to |
the various spark-plug wires A revolv-
ing rotor carries the high-tension cur
rent to each button in accordance with |
the definite firing order of the engine.
So much for that part. except to note |
that the rotor is joined to the top Of |
the distributor shaft.
Now, we lift the rotor UP and of the |
shaft, exposing the lower unit, known |
rs the breaker. The whole theory of |
he cars electrical ignition is simply /
hat by breaking the f1ow Of low-ten- !