MOTOR NOTES.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 248, 2 August 1928, Page 3

MOTOR NOTES.

WET WEATHER NOTES.

STICK IN THE MUD. The Way Out. Motorists, frequently in the winter months, and occasionally even at other times of the year, get their cars into places where, when they attempt to start, the wheels, instead of gripping the surface, merely spin round in mud, sand, or on some slippery surface. Racing the engine in such cases and letting the clutch in usually only adds to the trouble, as the car, instead of jumping forwards, digs itself in, and the position may soon become serious. It is necessary

to provide a surface that will grip, and as a rule a sack or something of that kind, if procurable, generally acts very well. The slower the wheels are revolved the better is the chance of clearing oneself from the bad patch. There is a simpler method, however, which in most cases will -provide relief at once. As soon as wheel spin is experienced, and it is obvious that the car may dig in, engage either reverse gear or low gear and take to the crank handle. As a rule the car can be wound out of the mud without difficulty. In the case of a ear with high compression engines the removal of the spark plugs will make the operation easier. This will be found a quicker method of relief than hunting around for a spade, shovel, sacks and what not.

When you get on a patch of soft ground, Where the back wheels won't grip, but buzz round, Just engage the first gear, Then you’re sure to get clear When the handle is wound, I have found. By partially deflating tyres, thereby giving them greater bearing surface, one is almost sure to climb, out. AVOID SKIDDING. A Few Rules. The rules regarding the avoiding, or correcting, of skidding may be summarised as follows: 1. Never apply the brakes sharply at high speed on a wet road. Drive at such a rate that the car can slow down under engine compression, with the additional aid of slight pressure \ on the brakes. 2. If an emergency stop is necessary on a greasy surface, get the car into the middle, or even low gear. Every motorist should learn how to change gear at high engine speed, as the car can thus be brought to rest with the minimum use of the brakes. 3. If a skid starts, take foot off the accelerator, do not touch brakes, but correct direction. 4. If the car merely slides forward, through the back wheels locking, release brakes and change into a lower i gear. Probably the brakes will hold I without locking, once a lower gear has been engaged. I 5. Avoid getting the wheels (either | front or back) into a tramline. 6. Never apply brakes whilst turn- : ing on a wet road.

There is one point that many motorists do not realise, and which is the cause of a number of accidents. Irrespective of skidding or wheel locking, a car will need a larger distance in which to pull up on a wet road than on a dry road, taking the breaking pressure to be equal.