MOTORING

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10781, 29 December 1928, Page 11

MOTORING

THREE WAYS OF DRIVINC

THE TYPES EXPLAINED

GAINING AMUSEMENT

There are broadly three types of driving Just driving; driving to get somewhere; and driving for tun, emphasis being placed upon the word “fun,” as it can mean much in certain circumstances, writes _a. correspondent in the “Autocar.” Each type has its most fitting time and place, tig we*,! s as the appropriate mood and suitable frame of mind on the part of the driver. Concerning the first method: one sits in a motor ear, treads upon certain pedals, occasionally toys with the gear lever, and holds the wheel suitably. The mildness of this description i§ warranted by the luck of exhilaration, from my point of view, to be gained from so handling a car. Yet very many people appear to derive enjoyment from it; may they still contrive to find amusement in such methods. The second driving aspect referred to requires little explanation. Ono is compelled to go from one place to another possibly in a minimum time. Obviously onlv one course' of action is called* for, and for tlie time, being the car becomes a pleasant substitute for tile railway train; enjoyment of the fresh air and the scenery on the was is purely incidental. It is when writing of the , third kind of driving that I become most enthusiastic —when considering “dri-

ving for fun-” . . Now “fun” as applied to driving a car is not necessarily synonymous with speed; merely to tread upon the accelerator on a broad, mam highway is not “fun” to my way ot thinking, besides being liable to prove expensive ns liuvfcters uro arranged at present. “Fun” .consists in handling a _car, in avhe.mpf-iiig to develop over it a complete mastery in narrow by-ways, to be able to cli<H-„ « skid m a- greasy, rutted lane almost it bogins to affect the machine, in taking countless; by-lane bends at a round pace, close to one’s proper side, and clipping the grass yet travelling at such a speed and with such a degree of control as to bo able to pull up with the very minimum of effort and delay should occasion so demand. ' . • _ Fun of this brand lies m changing early and well on approaching a hill, in taking the bend's as they wind upwards one above the other, close, in and iii smooth sweeps; m changing down over sections of narrow lanes, letting the engine rev and incidentally providing oneself with an additional brake m case oi emergency. . Much amusement can be gained by seeking out by-ways where bend after bend; and sharp,, twisting lull® of unknown gradient and layout, call ior frequent gear changes, and serve to develop one’s various abilities; over such roads, with the gears in use,

sometimes clipping, a right-hand corner on the off side where visibility ahead makes such procedure perfectly safe, the enthusiastic driver can .experience a real and easily obtained thrill from his motoring. His speed need never be high; mere speed is not evidence of skill; handling nicety of control counts above all. ENGINE KNOCKS. i’EW ABE DANGER SIGNS. Every motorist, experienced or otherwise, fears the development of a serious knock in the engine of his car. The inexperienced motorist, however, frequently panics when a knock develops, though some knocks are not Jikelv to have bad results. Take first ‘the “knocks” which are not likely to do any serious damage to the engine. The commonest of these is due to the soark being too far advanced, and a slight metallic sound called “pinking” is heard in the engine when it is pulling hard at fairly low revolutions. u lien you hear the engine “pinking.” tlie first thing to do is to retard the spark at the control on the dash, steering column, or wheel, and do not advance the spark until the engine lias increased its revolutions again. The same sort of “knock” or “pinking” will be heard if the pistons are badlv carboned, but if this is the cause the “knock” will only be apparent when the engine is well warmed up. If the cause is pre-ignition caused, bv the carbon deposit, it will be found that advancing or retarding ’the spark makes no appreciable difference. It will also be noticed that when the engine requires decarbonising there will be a tendency lor it to overheat. The same trouble will occur with some engines if the mixture is too weak. INCESSANT KNOCKS Jiv contrast heavy sounding types of “knock” generally are due _to parts of the engine, such as tlie bigend or lower bearing of the connecting rod on the crank-sliaft having become stack, due to wear or lack of oil. This is about tlie only serious pronounced “knock” met with on the average engine. ~ . • • With engines a few years old, a slight “knocking” or almost tapping sound will be heard at some speeds, piston slap, caused by the pistons T>eing a slae lit in the cylinders, and duo to what is commonly known as locking as they travel up and down. This is not serious, but-to cure the trouble new pistons are practically the only remedy. , If you are ever so unfortunate,, as to hear a '“knocking” which is very severe, vou should always inaK©v a point of switching off immediately, fis to run an engine where a part lias been fractured or come loose inside may cost the price of a new engine. ' ‘ '