MOTORS & MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2437, 16 April 1915, Page 9

MOTORS & MOTORING

[Br Clutch.]

Coast Route by Walrarapa. The motorist who lias clambered over tlio Rimutakas, and then made his way by a perfect road from Featherston to tie shores of Palliser Bay, sighs to think that he might escape- the laborious climb back to the City, but for absence of a few miles of road around tlie western shore of the bay. From the City to Orongorongo there is a formed road via the Wamui-o-mata Hill, and the gap between the end of this and the Western Lake Road from Fear therston is about fifteen miles. Thera do not appear to be any very formidable obstacles to make construction expensive, and it is certain that such a road would come as a boon and blessing to motorists both in the City and throupftout the TVairarapa. The route, it is true, would be longer than the present road, but with the exception of tlie Wainui Hill it would he level throughout, and the wear on tires and mechanism would .lie decidedly less than on the present climb over the mountains. On a fine day it would be difficult to find a more enjoyable drive than would be afforded by the coast. route from Wellington to the Wairarapa.

An Interesting Suggestion. In the considering the roads improvement system at its meeting on Tuesday evening the Otago Motor Club adopted a proposal that is well worth attention. A resolution was passed that the secretary be instructed to write to the New Zealand Motor Union suggesting that the Government be asked to establish a "public roads office in charge of a.n engineer who is & roa d specialist, this engineer to give advice free of charge to all local bodies who control the making and supervision of roads in the Dominion.

Teaching a Novice to Drive. Sooner or- later the task of teaching a beginner to drive falls to the lot of almost ©very motorist. Usually the practice is to select a broad ana quiet road, exchange seats , with the pupil, and then set to work. Tlie process, particularly in the case of a lady, is not always as rapid or satisfactory as nusht-be, and a contributor to the ' 'Autocar has suggested an improvement, fclis article is so much to the point that we reprint the essential portion of it. " oy> he asks, should not motor-driv-ing be first taught in the garage? i'rom this question was evolved the Pi m! 0 ' 1 su ' s . s ®suently proved successful. The pupil was placed in the driving seat ■in a good light, with short skirts and light boots, so that the movements of the feet could be easily "oted. "Clutch," "Brake," "Accelerator were then repeated in various orders, until the feet went almost unconsciously to the proper pedals. A chat on indifferent subjerts then followed, punctured at irregular intervals with ' rnL 'or "'-'h'tah" or "Accelerator." .Thon came the most important call of all—"Stop!" This involved the depression of both clutch and brake pedals, the clutch being slightly in advance. Again and again flits and the other calls were repeated in the course of the lesson uutil they were almost, anticipated by'the learner."' Next came the motions of tlfe gear lever. "First gear." The clutch pedal was depressed, lever moved into the first notch, accelerator slightly touched, and clutch let in gently. This is a far more complicated series of movements than any. of the others, aJid took a correspondingly long- time to learn. "Second" and "Top" gearswere more easily acquired,, involving, as they do, exactly the same pedal actions.

The Next Step Forward. When all these could be done without. hesitation or bungling at the word of command the next step was taken, A "live" engine was entrusted to, the learner. . The. car was jacked up at all four wheels and blocks of wood out under it so that it was quite firm. Ihe learner then was shown tho positions of gas, air, ignition, and gear levers for starting, and taught how to' swing the engine with the minimum risk in case of a backfire. • Again and again the levers were disarranged and the learner made to go over each separately and see that, they-were right bei'qre attempting to start. Occasionally the start was made with' a gea-r engaged, and this was taken as an opportunity, to dwell upon the evil consequences of such an occurrence if the wheels were on the ground. The engine now running gently, the learner took the driver's seat and was again put through the entire drill. Gear changing presented new difficulties. as was naturaj; but the speedometer, which is driven from the pro-peller-shaft, was a great help in deciding when a change was to be made. It was always emphasised that tlie road ahead should never be lost sight of, and that change of gear, etc., should be made more by feeling than by sight. As the front wheels were jacked up the hang of the steering was easily learned, "Right," "Left," being tho watchwords here.

After this a few problems were suggested, e.g., "We are in the middle of the road, and are overtaking a horse which may be restive." The horn is gently blown, foot taken from the accelerator' and put on brake, the other foot being oil the clutch ready to stop at a moment's notice, while the steering wheel is gently turned to the right. When past the danger, centre of road is again taken, and car gently accelerated. Another problem: "We are on a hill, and the engine is labouring." Down goes the clutch pedal, the speed lever is quickly changed, accelerator is touched, and the' clutch let in gently. This_ may be followed by a further reduction, to be succeeded when the imnsinary Mil is passed, by a return to the high gear. Such exercises may be multiplied indefinitely, the teacher judging of their success by observing the motions of the learner's feet and hands. Here and There. 'Ihe secretary of the 'Otago Motor CJub has boon instruoted to write to the New Zealand Union complaining of the excessive fines' inflicted on motorists at Ashburto'n, and of the absurd 6peed limit of six miles an hour fixed for the Ashburton. traffic bridge.

Legal lighting-up time for motor-oars and motor-cycles: To-day. 5.25 p.m.; next Friday, 5.15 p.m. A bend in the main road between lahiai.ua and Konini, on tlio northern approach to what is known as "Warren s Bridge, is considered by motorists to be somewhat difficult to negotiate. Recently a car-owner from the southern, end of the district landed himself 111 difficulties at this spot, while on Sunday a local resident, according to the Herald," experienced trouble at the same place. As a result, a trip southward had to be abandoned. The Canterbury Automobile Association is supplying sign-posts for erection by the various county councils in its district. At the last meeting it was announced that Ellcsmere County Council had the posts erected, and the Rangiora and Ashley Councils had -undertaken to follow suit. Few steel wheels find favour in the States. Only one firm's steel wheel is illustrated in the American reports of the shows. This is partly' duo to the excellent hickory and other wood wheels which are produced in the States. No country, unless it is Canada, enn make such light and strong wood wheels. I A distinctive mark is to be provided /or Ikyuisfid mqtac .v#bi?]fs i» ..Christy;

church, as at present wfieii they are out of the city there is nothing to indicate whether they are registered or not. A plate is to be fixed to all licensed motor vehicles, carrying the word "Christchurch" in letters ljin. high by Jin. .wide. The letters and registering figures will be white on a black ground. In discussing the conditions of trade consequent ' upon the war, "Motor News," of Dublin, in the land where tlie pneumatic tyre had its birth, remarks the significant and remarkable fact that the shares of tie Dunlop Rubber Company and of the Parenty Tyre Go. are amongst the stediest ill the market. The question of the four-wheel drive for motor-cars, and also the braking on all wheels, are matters engaging the attention of motor manufacturers on both sides of the Pacific; some, in fact, are striving also to include a system of steering -with the four wheels, and if these three features arc incorporated in the future car it will, as a vehicle, be the most easily manipulated machine on the roads.

There is a knack, almost an. ait, in gear-changing, and the comparatively inexperienced cfriver who has mastered gear-changing with a leather cono or single-plate clutch, may find himself puzzled when lie first takes the wheel of a car with a multiple-disc clutch. Ho is likely to find that changing down is easier than usual, but he may utterly fail to obtain a neat and quiet "change up." The reason is very simple: very slight pressure on the pedal suffices to separate the surfaces of the leather cone or the • single-plate, but gentle pressume on the* pedal of a mul-tiple-diso clutch leaves the plates connected by a film of clinging oil. Consequently, the change up with sudh a clutch can only be silent if the foot ba thrust very firmly down on the peda). Changing down, therefore, is simplified, becaji.se the gentle pressure customary with a leather clutch merely causes a multiple-disc to slip, and so helps to sustain that momentary acceleration which is desirable for moving into lower gear.