The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-08-11
Observations Your Health
Easier Driving
in Post War Era
Being Visualized
BY Charles 3. Stewart

WASHINGTON - Pleasure OF
driving will be emphasized IN tha
postwar era, some automobile eX-
ecutiyes believe The models now
being planned for the years OF
peace should be the ultimate in sim
plicity OF operation. comfort AMI
utility.
The brake probably will be a sim
pie little push.button affair. with
no gear-shitting. These models
would rot be built for speed The
airplane has captured that element
OF travel. Those who want 10 go
places in a super rush, just won't
depend on their cars.
For these new models. new high
ways would be built. special tour
ing highways, similar TO those which
were laid out in Europe, where
trucks and commercial traffic VIII
be barred These sweeping high
ways would eliminate dangerous
crossings and intersections as far
as possible.
The fun. these men believe. has
been lost IN driving In the maze OF
regulations, ordinances. licenses.
trucks, aad buses which have held
a heavy hand over the everyday
pleasure driver
There is some dispute over the
engine location in these models.
William Stout. the inventor, claims
that il will be most practical 10
mount the engines over the rear OF
the chassis
Tommy Milton. two-time winner
OF the 5O0-mile Memorial Day elias
sic at indianapolis. SCOTS at the
rear drive idea. He recalls that
Harry Miller built number OF rear
drive speedsters to participate in
the automobile derby. but none OF
them panned out very we'll Still
others reserve their opinion, expect
ing that most anything can happen
in engineering and inventive re-
search. To date the rear drive has
not proven itself TO be practical
Smaller and lighter cars will be
built after the war. getting away
from the high-priced heavy models
which had the virtue Of holding the
road These models will utilize plas-
tics TO a considerable extent IN
framework.
Because OF their lightness. they
will make 1t possible Tor drivers TO
get'5O and perhaps more miles per
gallon Before the war this factor
was given scant consideration IN
the purchase or appraisal OF a car.
Right after the war. at least cars
which can show the best records
along this line. will be mighty popu-
lar. Gas rationing has made every
motorist conscious OF the gas con-
sumption OF his vehicle and this
influence will hold over for some
time.
II is suggested that the super
highways for pleasure be financed
by fees, a sort OF toll bridge prop
osition, similar 10 that plan used
in Europe. This would enable these
highways to liquidate themselves.
Those who used them would be pay
ing for them. The driver would pay
a fee and then he would have clear
sailing ahead. No trucks or buses
to dodge and he would have the
maximum in driving safety IN the
design ard layout Of these high
ways.
Automobile men point out that
aviation has learned lot from Their
industry. even though the plane IS
certain 10 become increasingly pop
ula- for transportation and travel.
A lot OF the young fellows who have
earned their wings during this war
will want to have small planes OF
their own during the postwar era.
Helicopters and small planes are
likely to be available for civilian
utilization.
1t is pointed out that aviation
can thank the 500-mile Indianapolis
race for several mechanical i'm
provements. Superchargers. OF the
design now part OF the equipment
OF all shakespeare planes. were
first used in this race.