The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-07-09


 hopes.
 rives a few minutes ahead of the gasoline truck and gets his tank filled. A similar method used by some filling stations Is to tell cus- toners to leave their cars in an ad- jacent parking lot on the day gas is expected. The gas station attend ant then drives these cars to the pumps after the supply arrives, and get their ration cards punched in the evening.
 AUTOS TRAIL
 GAS TRUCKS
 For drivers who are not so lucky as to get these courteSies, there are few other alternatives to running dry. One is to park along the highway until a gasoline truck rumbles by, then to follow it to a filling station. This system is in such general use that it is not at Sll unusual to see line of cars several blocks long traipsing after gas truck.
 When the truck stops, its fol- lowing caravan swoops down on the oasis. Iii one instance, dis tributor was cleaned out of 800 gallons ill less than two hours. Lines of as many as $50 cars have waited for hours outside filling station known to have gas. Some proprietors, to save motorists time, now figure out about how many cars their stocks will take care of. The nthey count off the waiting line and hang sign on the last car they think they can service: Well be out of gas after this car.''
 Because of the uncertainties of card entities you to 1t, the east getting gas even if your ration ern drivers 1942 motto is: "Never get caught with your gas gauge down." Motorists whose tanks will only take three or four gallons will wait in line for hours on the chance of getting them filled.
 The hard way of assuring your self of a gas supply-or as much of one as your ration card allows lis to park next to a filling sta ticn pump on the evening before delivery day, curl up in the back seat for the night, and thus be or hand first thing in the morning when deliveries are made.
 TAKING TRIPS MEANS
 HEADING INTO TROUBLE
 In these ways, we customers gel cur gas. In certain areas, where ga is plentiful, there has been lot ol straight cheating not punching cards. This will soon be eliminated through the new system whereby to get his own supplies, a dealel must present the coupons he Ina! torn off motorists ration books.
 None of these systems of keeping a tank full is much help for lont trips. The salesman whose ratior card entitled him to plenty of gaso line for 500-mile tour may be abl' to start his jaunt with full tank But once on the road, he become just another transient" with n' guarantee of getting more fuel whel his runs out.
 Many are the eastern June honey mooners who took their wedding trip in hubby's business deliver. wagon for the double reason tha (a) under the present system truck get unlimited gas; and (b) gas deal CTS have been more willing to sel their limited supplies to transfer trucks than to transient pleasur cars.
 The difficulties of getting ga have put a sharp crimp in pleasur driving, which was estimated to b off fifty per cent over the recen holidays. The result has been tha hordes of pleasure seekers hay overrun the recreation spots clos to the metropolitan areas.
 Over the Fourth of July week end, for example, New York's lover of the Great Outdoors pitched thei tents in such overwhelming nun bers in nearby Bear Mountain Parl