MORE HINTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 824, 19 November 1929, Page 6

MORE HINTS

The Cure oi the Cur REMOVING RUBBER HOSE The rubber hose which connects the j water pipes to the engine and radiator frequently sticks to the metal. To looseu the rubber, place a piece of hard rubber or leather between the jaws of a large pair of pliers and the hose, and then turn the tool steadily. ILLUMINATING INSTRUMENTS Frequently it will be found that the standard dashboard light, does lint j effectively light up all the dials which the traveller wishes to observe during a night run. The ammeter and the oil gauge may be flooded with light, while the speedometer. dashboard, petrol gauge, or clock are so much in shadow that they cannot l»e read save with the help of a match or pocket torch. When these •invisible*’ dials are oil the driver’s side of the instrument board there is an easy method of overcoming the drawback. All one needs is one of the small nickel-shrouded dash lamps having a switch incorporated in the base of the holder. This is attached by a neat clip to the steering pillar at a convenient height, and a piece of sturdy double flex is led off to the nearest point of the electrical system which it is convenient to tap for current. Of course, this is not practicable where the outer tube of the steering pillar assembly rotates with the steering wheel. Leather upholstery is just as liable to perish as anything else. Thorough periodical polishings will preserve ir and renew its appearance. Make it a point to search the upholstery every little while for missing tacks, lifted corners, or displaced springs. Novice and the Car Being some elementary Hints on driving for those who are just learning. The first requisite for accurate steering is a really comfortable driving position. Experienced motorists know well how important it is to be comfortable when driving. In this sense “comfortable” does not mean merely actual bodily jcomfort, important though this be, but rather a comfort- ; able position for the efficient accom- j plishment of the various movements | necessary when driving, as was ex- j plained last week. This has an important bearing on the possibilities j of accurate steering control. If the j driver cannot comfortably see the pre- j cise inter-relationship between his j own car and another vehicle, it is al- ! ways necessary to “play for safety” by allowing undue clearance space. It is nearly as bad ~o allow too \ much room between the two cars as j to allow too little. If the novice con- I tinuallv plays for safety when steering—he should not be afraid of doing it at the beginning —he gradually gets a false impression of the space which it, is necessary to leave when passing an obstacle. Then, when an emergency arises, it is impossible suddenly to change his viewpoint, and by leaving too much room on the right an obstacle on the left may be hit. Many accidents have happened through this. We recall a collision in which a car lost its near-side wings and running board in precisely such circumstances. Measuring the tracks afterwards, it was found that there was no less than ten inches to spare ou each side of the car. Yet the driver was landed in an accident by leaving two feet on the right, and tearing off his mudguards on the left. The art of steering is obviously one of the primary essentials which the novice has to master. At first sight it seems a simple matter. To an extent it is; but, as with many other things, there is more in it than meets the eye. In the early stages of driving exj perience a curious phenomenon is freI quently encountered —an instinctive j desire, or. rather, an ! oncy, to steer into an obstruction instead of away from it. Many writers have endeavoured to analyse this peculiar symptom, but so far it has defied explanation. Fortunately it is a quickly passing phase in most cases. The novice who experiences it need not be unduly alarmed. On the other hand, he must take adequate precautionary measures until he has overcome it. One of the safest of these is to slow down when meeting another vehicle, and not to allow the oncoming obstacle to attain undue proportions I in the mental outlook. The driver j should force on his mind the know- ; ledge that he possesses abundant i powers for controlling tlie direction of | his car, and that if he does not want it to go toward the right it cannot go there. TO HELP ENGLISH CARS £1,000,000 FOR EXPORT ACTIVITIES Mr. Frank A. Bown, resident representative in New Zealand for Rootes. Ltd., London, world exporters of the Hillman, Humber, Bentley and Commer motor vehicles, advises that he has received the following personal cable from his managing director, M--W. E. Rootes:— “I am pleased to notify that following negotiations Prudential Assurance have invested £1,000,000 in our company, express purpose develop our manufacturing, distributing, and port activities. Our intention sively develop export markets.” Mr. Bown said that this cablegram confirms tile earlier indication of increased activities and determined efforts of their combine to secure a larger share of the market in this country. Mr. Bown also referred to Mr. W. K. Rootes's visit to New Zealand ill 1027 to gain first-hand knowledge of the peculiarities of this mar ket, and this latest move, he says, is a direct result from that visit. With the knowledge that this development has the approval of his Majesty’s Government, New Zealand can rest assured that ultimate predominance of English car interests in this country is certain.”