SPEEDING THROUGH

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 34, 3 May 1927, Page 10

SPEEDING THROUGH

The Main Highways Board has asked local bodies throughout New Zealand to restrict grazing rights to daylight hours. Some small bodies have been permitting the grazing of stock at the after sunset. Now that a Scot has, after two years of patient research, invented a form of reflector which can be attached to the heads and tails of cattle, one can imagine the feelings of a driver, after a particularly good dinner, coming across a flock of a couple of hundred sheep, wearing these devices. * * * A Scot decided to buy a car and went to a large firm of motor dealers in London. After much explanation of the working details of the motor-car the salesman offered to show him how to drive. Getting into the car, he said: "I’ll just throw in the clutch.” “Hoots, mon,” cried the Scot, “I thocht if 1 waited long enough ye’d be gie-ing something awa’ wi’ it!”

Ho not use kerosene or petrol to wash the wind-shield. When moist, the drops of water will be larger, increasing the glare to the eyes, and the windshield wiper will not function as well. Frank (in car): This controls the brake. It is put on very quickly in case of an emergency. Nellie: I see; something like a kimona. * * * With approximately 21,000,000 motorcars in America, there is one car to every 101 chains or so of all the -country’s roading. * * * Keep your eyes to the front at all times while driving. Don’t become so intense in your conversation that you must turn your head to address the person beside you or those in the back seat. Things happen suddenly in these davs of swiftly moving automobiles and the lapse of attention from the road fcr an instant may lead to a serious accident. * * * If oil leaks past rings and your oil mileage is low, have new oil rings installed. However, cylinders should be measured to determine if they are worn egg-shape or out of round, which would necessitate having cylinders reground. * * * Do not give oil cups on generator, starter-motor and electrical equipment more than one or two drops of oil when lubricating your car. Too much oil may short circuit the electrical mechanism. * * * If the radiator cap leaks constantly, and the radiator cap washer is not worn out, run a wire through the overflow pipe as it is quite possible that it is clogged, offering no outlet for the water overflow. * * * If gasoline tank or gasoline line line should develop a leak, a temporary repair can be made by applying common laundry soap.

Speed burns up tyres. Your rubber will give more miles or service when the car is driven at a moderate rate. Quick starting and stopping is also harmful to tyres and to mechanism as well.

Using the emergency brake, if it applies to the drums on the rear wheels, helps to make the service brake more effective. When external contracting brake bands heat they expand and are less effective. Thus, if the internal expanding brakes are used (the emergency brake) the drums themselves tend to expand a little so as to partly compensate for the expansion of the bands of the service brakes. Do not adjust the foot brakes too tightly, but allow for the brake drum expansion. * * * Mayor Dever, of Chicago, places the solution of the traffic and safety problems next in importance to the suppression of vice and crime. In a recent interview on the subject, he declared, among other things, that he believed that all-steel bodies for motorcars aided in reducing the highway mortality rate, on the same principle as all-steel railway coaches. * * * The Chevrolet Motor Company in February broke all previous monthly production records by turning out 85,821 cars. It was an increase of 34,518 cars over the February record last year. The January and February production this year was 159,497 cars as contrasted with 97,740 for those months of 1926. * * * If it is found impossible to drive around glass on the roadway, free the clutch and allow the car to coast over the glass. This decreases chances of cutting the rear tyres. As 3'ou drive so do you reveal yourself for what you are—or are not. * * * A car, by its general appearance, shows at first glance whether the owner is careless or a painstaking, methodical person. When a locomotive whistles for a level crossing, it is best to believe all you hear. * * * Joe saw the train, but wouldn’t stop, So they dragged his flivver to a shop; It only took a week or two To make his Lizzie look like new. But though they hunted high and low, They found no extra parts for Joe! According to an announcement just made by Mr. Carl G. Fisher, the American millionaire sportsman, and promoter of the classic Indianapolis “500,” a race will be held next September for cars fitted with engines running on crude oil. The event, which is to take place at Indianapolis, will be the first of its kind in history. * * * As a mark of distinction, the blind members of the Eastbourne Braille Club have decided to carry a white walking stick, so that motorists may more easily distinguish blind persons, and exercise caution for their safety while pedestrians will notice the sticks and offer to assist the holders across busy roads. * * * “I’m sure,” the wife hotly observed, “that there’s nothing to be ashamed of in owning a second-hand car; I read in a motor paper that nowadays r. arl> everybody drives a second-hand car.” “Yes',” he moodily agreed, “I’ve got the second-hand car that everybody drove.” * * * A novice of the old dame variety drove her car into the local garage, telling one of the mechanics that the car was going very jerkily, and wondering if the back wheels were functioning. The mechanic said: “The trouble, raadame, is most likely under your bonnet.” “Don't be impertinent,” the lady replied sharply. * * * When the steering gear of your car gets stiff, lack of lubrication is usually responsible. Oil the pivot pins, and all the steering knuckles. If there is play in the steering gear have it adjusted immediately. # As done in India: The Sikh taxi men are splendid drivers. Also they carry long knives which are visible to their passengers .... It is very rarely that a passenger objects to the chargeTender flower. —“Well, Algy, I hear you have taken up walking as the doctor ordered. How does it go?” “Seems a bit awkward at first without a windshield.” —Louisville “Cour-ier-Journal.”