THE LIMITING AGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20384, 12 October 1929, Page 12 (Supplement)

THE LIMITING AGE.

A MATTER OF CAPACITY.

A 73 year-old motorist recently com plained to tho Auckland Automobile Association that his driving licence had been Cancelled on the grounds of alleged failing eyesight and incapacity. Ho claimed to havo widj oxperienco and havo covered 70,000 miles at the wheel While ago is no bar to the efficient driving of a motor-car, if tho motorist is a pioneer who developed road sense beforo lie could bo termed an old man, it is ft different matter for a person of perhaps 60 vears of ago to become proficient. Even years of cyclo riding or horso driving is a qualification which counts in the aged beginner. Tho new driver in the sixties naturally is open to scrutiny on tho grounds of eyesight and reaction in emergencies. Tho Auckland City Council is rather particular with its tests for elderly drivers, and no authority has any right to shut its eyes to any marked physical failing. Wo aro all prepared—having no choice—to take tho rcasonablo risks of tho load. Those risks are unreasonably accentuated while there aro on the road motorists whoso skill and control of their cars leave anything to bo desired, and whose vision and road sense are not of'a high standard. Thoro aro somo inexperienced elderly peoplo driving motor vehicles to-day who aro a danger to other competent road users. They may bo sufferers from intermittent epilepsy or seriously defective vision or cardiac disorders, "or any one of a dozen things which, without a moment's notice, may inako them absolutely unfit to walk, much less drive a motor vehicle. On tho point of physical fitness, people suffering from neurasthenia, although sano and resourceful ono moment, may be absolutely in r capable of controlling their own bodjes and limbs the next. This state of affairs when associated with elderly, inexperienced, potential - motorists, might frequently be detected by a physical exam: ination.

THE SPORTS OAR

The true sports car is rarely seen in Now Zealand and a number of motorists make the mistake of regarding tho vehicle with a fleet looking sports body as a very fast special model. Often the engine and gear ratios are absolutely identical with those of a sedan in the "same line. The market for the normal tourer in New Zealand has practically * vanished and the majority of open cars are handsome sporting body five-seaters'or roadsters with rakish lines, folding windshields, and otjier features which "givo tEa . driver tho. outdoor feel. These Wry attractive models are at tho best semi-sports types.. The real super-tuned sports vehiclo is found in greater variety among British and Continental makes than among American products. Some of these small specially tuned engines are approaching tho performance of pure racing machines and the sports car can yet be made a silent tractable vehicle, requiring little moro skill to handle than the ordinary stock sedan

In some cases it is difficult to define tho word " sports" when applied to a motor vehicle. Some people insist that a sports car proper must be noisy, and its engine anything but flexible. This is not the 'least necessary, however, as great strides have been made in tho last few years by car manufacturers, and most of their success has been attained along the flexibility' line, and has not been confined to getting a higher maximum speed. The sports car of to-day gets its performance without continual uso having to bo mado of the gear-box, and tho average modern sports car can bo* driven as slowly on the top gear as tho ordinary car of'a few years ago. Tho real reason for frequent use of the gear-box on a sports car is, when racing, to keep as near tho peak as possible. Say, a sporty engine peaks at 4000 revolutions per minute. On the top gear tho car does soventy miles por hour at this speed, and on tho third, fifty-five miles per hour. If the car is being driven up, a hill at forty-fivo miles an hour, or is accelerating away from a corner that meant slowing up to thirty-five miles per hour, thero is not much point in tho driver remaining on his top gear. 110 should change down to third or even second, and the engine will then bo able to" exert its maximum power, as the revolutions will be nearer the peaking point. Most of tho standard sports cars are compromises between the small highspeed engine and the largo slow one. Ono dosigner will put his faith in a largo engine, with a flat power curve and a lot of power at low speeds; another will make small high-speed engines, with a steep power curve, and but little power at low revolutions, but with gear-boxes that make it possible to take advantage of the maximum engine ' revolutions. Many people, of course, disliko a lot of gearbox work. The great majority of drivers like to get into top gear and stay there the whole day. This can only be attained with a largo engine and heavy petrol consumption. For those, however, who aro not afraid of a littlo handling of the gear lever, and who havo tho necessary touch to make a success of it, tho high performance snorts car will be a revelation. Generally speaking also tho man who takes an interest in his gear-box, and likes using it, is a good all-round driver. It gives him something to do, and keeps his attention on tho work of driving, a point which is very inclined to bo overlooked at the present time.