Auto Gossip

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31771, 30 August 1968, Page 9

Auto Gossip

by

A.J.P.

Vanished Fads Fads seldom last long, with cars or anything else. Many car fads have disappeared in the last few years—highly-decor-ated steering-wheel spinners, fringes around windows, chequered tape, toy animals with eyes that light up, static straps and plastic soft-drink containers stuck on radio aerials are just a few that have died out. Unnecessarily high radio aerials are still with us, but in much smaller numbers and a few drivers still have those wretched dangling dollies tied to their rear-vision mirriors. Distractions Many crazes bring calls for legislation to ban them. Dollies and stickers that obscure vision, for instance, are an obvious danger, but the law already has machinery to deal with bad cases. Fortunately most crazes die out fairly quickly, and the latest one—painting old cars in psychedelic designs—does not seem to have spread very rapidly. Someone suggested that the sight of these cars might dangerously distract other drivers. But the practice is not widespread enough to require more laws, and after all anyone dangerously distracted by a weird painting is also likely to have great trouble with advertising hoardings and mini-skirts.

Wheel-Spinners Steering-wheel spinners did have a practical application on some older vehicles with many turns of the wheel from one lock to the other. But they also caused a hazard: they could catch In cuffs when corners were turned. Before the early 1950 s many cars had excessively indirect steering, and then there was a period of steering that was often splendidly direct but too heavy. Today’s models seem to be heading back to very light and unpleasantly indirect steering, with five or more turns from lock to lock. This may result in wheel-spinners reapparing. Steering Problem Steering design poses a major problem for car designers. Even In big cars the ideal is a reasonably small wheel with about three turns from lock to lock and plenty of “feel.” It must also be light at slow speeds, so small women can park with ease. And the turning circle must be good. Power steering is almost the answer but it costs about $l5O extra and often has little feel. Many turns from one lock to the other give light action, but the steering is often too indirect on the open road or in emergencies, and feel is often not good. Big steering wheels make for less effort, but the rim interferes with legs beneath and vision above. Huge turning circles are not acceptable. It is all very difficult.