VALUABLE HINT

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 138, 14 June 1938, Page 18

VALUABLE HINT

STARTING ON HILES

USE OF TUP HAND BRAKE

Reference has been made in this page to the inability of some driver- - not all of them inexperienced —to restart without difficulty after stopping during the climb of a 'steep bill. The underlying reason usually is that they try t-o restart "oil the foot brake" instead of "oIT the hand brake." Starting oIT the foot brake implies holding the car on the gradient by pro--ure on the brake pedal while bottom near is engaged, and until the moment arrives at wliidi the right foot is required to depress the accelerator while the left foot releases the dutch pedal gently. When this method is adop ed. the car immediately starts to run back when the pedal brake is released, as it must be in order that the right foot can depress the accelerator to speed-up the engine prior to engaging the clutch. When the c.ir commences to run back the dri\er either ceases attempting to re-tart and applietlie brake pedal again. or "hurriedly releases the clutch pedal and stops his engine. Starting off the hand brake, the correct procedure is done as follows; Apply the hand brake firmly and roh-a-e tiepedal brake. Depress the dutch pedal and engage first speed. <liip the hand brake lever and its release tripper, but keep this brake on for the moment With the right toot accelerate the engine and with the left foot gradually release the clutch; as soon as the latter commences to engage allow the hand brake to go '"oil" and the clutch to engage fully. If the engine has been accelerated sufficiently the car will tlieji start forward without the slightest tendency to run back as a preliminary. This plan should be practised at first on hills on which t7ie car will only ju-t run back with till brakes released; and later oil somewhat steeper hills. Time occupied in practice is well spent, for after proficiency has boon gained the dread of .-topping on a really steep hill that so many drivers experience will have licen overcome, and there will be no tendency, as iu the oilier event, to run risks in hill-climbing in order to avoid -topping.