Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-08

Unwillingness to assume responsibility
on the highway doesn't seem so strange
when you figure how many millions of
drivers start the day by backing out.
This certainly is woman's age. One
hubby who went to recent auto show
returned home to report that he sat
In 10 cars and didn't find one with
enough leg room. The front seat Of
each Of these cars was adjusted for
women who invariably like to sit up
closer to the wheel. He didn't wait for
statesmen to explain and to make the
simple adjustment for the man-size
position.
Milady ought to know from her ex-
perience with hand fans that If one
of the ribs Is bent or broken she will
not be able to fan herself as gracefully
or even as efficiently. An automobile
fan Is the same. If blade Is bent or
loose the entire unit Is thrown out Of
balance. Many a mysterious noise
under the hood can be traced to the
fan. Remind your service man, If you
are engaging him to trace trouble.
Never have the headlights set for the
far focus when nearing the top of a
hill or when starting the descent down
the other side. Overlooking this rule
not only will blind drivers approach
ing, but will give poorer lighting for
your own car.
While taking a driving lesson wom-
an came upon some close traffic and
decided she would feel safer running
In low. Having learned how to shift
from high to second she thought she
would merely repeat the process by
AALy - S,,&
clashing noise made it plain that she
was on the wrong track.
Cant shift to low unless stop?"
she queried.
yes. but only an experienced driver
knows how to race the motor to &C.
complish this" the instructor explained.
Always keep in second unless you have
to STOP"
Ask any woman who doesn't drive
car why she doesn't call up an instruc-
tor and invariably she'll admit her fear
and trepidation concerning the gear
shift lever. And quite naturally. Ever
since automobiles first started soaring
dobbin into heavenly rest man has
cusSed the shift lever and demanded its
demise. But now see what's happened!
The shift lever Is the big story in
motordom. It has become not only the
CcectCcO COllIIO1 vi UlIc C6T, QuL THE one
that produces the most remarkable
effects.
The weeks safety pointer concerns
the importance Of not entering busy
traffic until the engine is warmed up
for work. A hesitat1ng engine will up
set otherwise careful calculations.
In booklet distributed by one of the
oil companies milady Is asked to pic
ture the clutch as operating like two
drinking glasses. one partly within the
other. The analogy was utilized to ex-
plain the way the clutch serves to
couple the engine with the transmission
and drive line, but the matter would
have been put more simply and more
truly TO the modern disc type clutch
had plates been substituted for glasses.
Yesterdays clutch was of the cone
type in which the driven member Zone
OF the glasses, let us say actually sank
into the driving member, the flywheel.
The engagement was SO snug that 1t
was not uncommon for clutches to fail
to release. The leather facings had
to be treated with oil, and frequently
various expedients had to be resorted
to in order to prevent too tight engages
ment II you didn't release the clutch
frequently, it was likely to stick. Often