MOTORING NOTES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXI, Issue 2341, 26 October 1926, Page 3

MOTORING NOTES.

THINGS TO REMEMBER.

IF YOU WOULD ENJOY MOTORING. Motorists in general have a tendency to get can'el ess and neglect to use their electric horn. It is far better to wear out the brushes in the horn than run into another vehicle. Non-motorists, too, are entitled to consideration. Remember that if Mr. X has washed his car for his Sunday drive, don’t deliberately rush past him and splash toil mud from some pot-hole, and thereby give him unnecessary work; be careful to either slow down or dodec the mud as much as possible. If you happen to have good enough eyesight to notice nails or broken glass on the road, stop and clear it away; it may be your turn next to have your tyres destroyed through one or other of the above causes. Don’t pass another car on the wrong side; and try and educate motor-cyclsls to keep to the rules of the road also. Don’t needlessly cause annoyance to people when asleep during the late hours by deliberately tooting the electric horn outside someone’s gate, or calling out. “good-bye,” etc., at unearthly hours of the night. It may be your turn to have sickness in the house or require a good night’s rest.

ROAD COURTESY.

IS IT DYING OUT ? On time there was a freemasonry among motorists born of their frequent misfortune. The motorist who considers the well-being of others on the road is far more likely to be a careful driver than the one who is anxious only for his \>wn comfort and convenience. There are drivers who fling courtesy and safety to the winds, and without regard for anyone else, dominate the road. They bring the general body of motorists into disrepute, and arc inviting restrictive legislation that will curtail that freedom we now enjoy. The driver who tries to overtake another car that is already passing the one ahead, hasn’t the decency of a black fellow- he does not know what road courtesy means. Again, there is the situation of two cars coming in opposite directions, each, passing another vehicle. The gracious driver will wave his right hand, and at the same time practise safety first.

These little decencies of driving make motoring a pleasure, and at the same time promote safety. It is not always the driver in the power ful car that tries to dominate. More often if is the novice in his cheap, light car. intoxicated with the novelty oi' having something responsive under Ids control, he forgets everyone else in his delirium of speed.

There is no long code of load courtesy to remember. The golden rule of “Do unto others” applies just as forcibly in motoring as it does in every phrfse of life. The driver who disciplines himself must be a better driver for it. In the early days of motoring a driver would never think of passing another in distress. Today, car after car will fly by without even a sign of recognition. Don’t leave the job of Good Sam afrit an to the cars that follow. They must think tiie same as you. We never know when our time will come —and a friendly, helping hand will be welcomed. Don’t think that because you have no mechanical skill that it is not worth while stopping. You may be able to take a message for help to the next town.

FOR THE NOVSCE.

Make all movements in reverse as slowly as possible. I)o not ferret that you turn the wheel the way you w,i4nt the car to go. The beginner sometimes gets into difficulties through thinking that because the car is travelling backwards steerig should be opposite to that of forward travel.

Keep to the left of the road. If a driver about to overtake you sounds his horn, it is not necsssaryi]y a signal that he desires you to pull over further. It is often just a warning of his intention to pass. Remember that when you get off the crown of the road the camber tends to pull the car to the left. A firm grip of the wheel will correct the tendency. After you have become accustomed to going' up the gear range, practise changing down. The knowledge will come in handv when negotiating hilly country. It is a recommended plan to practise changing from “top” to “second” and “secono. to low when on a level road Before starting out on a trip, see that there is petrol in the tank, a sufficiency of oil in the sump, and that the radiator is filled with water. As simple as these items may seem they arc sometimes neglected even bv experienced motorists. 'When learning to drive and until you have cultivated a degree of ‘judgment in steering, suppress any desire you may have to tiavel iastei than 15 miles an hour. A car is easier to steer when travelling fast, and this fact leads to the notice sometimes driving at a speed at which he cannot safely control the car.

LOOK TO THE TUBES.

PREVENT PERISHING. FEW USEFUL HINTS.

In these day or high tyre mileages the need for care is not so pronounced as it used to be, but there is no reason why economy should not still be studied. With the tubes and the spare tube it is very generally a case of “out of sight,' out of mind,” and it is more or less obvious that such tieatment—or lack or treatment—is not the wav to obtain the best service or the longest life. Most small cair drivers nowadays are content with one spare tyre and tube complete, and on bi<>- cars this measure of tyre insurance is generally doubled. But there are stilf many who carry a separate spare tube —it’s a wonderful protection from punctures. Very frequently that spare tube is folded up “any old way,” tied with a piece of string, „and left to blush unseen in the deep recesses of an only tool box. with spanners to the right of it, spare parts to the left of it, and jacks and kindred impedimenta volleying and thundering. Leave the spare tube like that, and it will leak as pronouncedly as an income tax assailed bank balance. The

spare tube should be carefully folded, and kept in a rubber-proofed bag, well supplied with French chalk. How many of you can fold a tyre tube up properly As I am sure a good many cannot —here’s how.

First get you tube. Remove the valve, fold the tube in half, with the valve stem on the outside at one end; roll up from the opposite end. so as to expel the air, and while rolled up reassemble the valve and screw it up tight—so that air does not get in again. Now unroll, and lay the flattened tube out with the valve, still outside, in the centre., Fold the ends inwards to the valve; fold again, and slip a tape or stout rubber band over to keep the folds in position. It is easy—till you try, and then it is sometimes found difficult.

In sorting the tube, see that it is so placed that it is not subjected to chafing action. If you want to be thoroughly economical, take it out once in three months for an airing—inside and out. Unfold it; inflate it till it. gets “nice and fat” —about as fat as its normal shape when in use—and replace it as before detailed. This reduces the tendency of the rubber to perish at the folds. Who said punctures? Of course, such things do happen, even in these days. Point one: When you have a puncture, remember that the “darn thing” which made a hole In the tube has also made a hole in the cover, and that it may still be reposing in the cover; it often is, so get it out before it “repeats its dose.” In these days of car enlightenment, be sure you have all your tyre and tube repairs properly vulcanised. Most repair houses that undertake this work have apparatus which does such work properly, so that you can genuinely forget you ever had the trouble.

You can even buy small apparatus for doing minor vulcanising yourself, and many of these sets are quite satisfactory.

Once in six months it is worth while having all the tyres off. having the rims cleaned of rust aind reenamelled. all cuts filled, and the tubes replaced in covers, the inside, of which have been thoroughly dressed with French chalk. For a given set of tyres to give the longest service, change , over front and back after, say. 5000 , miles. By studying the wear of the front tyres you can see whether the'steering has got out of alignment.