WINTER MOTORING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21482, 4 May 1933, Page 15

WINTER MOTORING

COMFORT AND SAFETY ATTENTION TO DETAILS Attention to the car prior to the commencement of winter is amply repaid by the additional comfort and safety enjoyed. Wet weather often reveals defects that have passed unnoticed during the summer and owners are advised to go thoroughly over their cars, making them road-worthy and waterproof. As far as comfort is concerned, provision should be made to prevent draughts or leaks. Any reliable coachbuilder will, for a small sum, go over the hinges, tighten screws, replace worn rubbers and generally place the body in a satisfactory condition, providing, of course, there are no structural alterations necessary. At the s'ime time, a hood which has been perfectly satisfactory in the summer txioy need carefully repairing or dressing to prevent leakage in rainy weather. With open cars, sidescreens are usually a source of annoyance and these should bo thoroughly overhauled and any broken celluloids replaced. The windscreen wiper is a necessary adjunct to safe driving and a good electric or vacuum instrument should be fitted if one is not at presont on the car. Wet weather means fewer hours of good driving light and it will therefore be necessary to see that the lighting equipment is in perfect order. The battery should be sound, all the wiring, terminals and switches protected and in proper condition. Ihe Motor Regulations include special provisions with regard to the mlmber of lights permissible and the adjustment and focussing of the headlamps. Attention should bo given to this important detail without delay, and if the headlights are to continue to be satisfactory and non-dazzling, regular adjustment and inspection are necessary. The danger of unevenly-adjusted brakes is realised by any driver of experience and during the winter months, when wet pavements are so common, drivers should see the braking equipment is in proper order. In this connection, badly-worn or smooth tyres are also a danger, and errors in the alignment of the wheels or in the steerii\g gear could also produce difficulties in driving. Another essential is to protect the ignition system from water. With anything but new cars, care should be taken that rubber-covered wires do not admit moisture and cause a shortcircuit. There are various ways in which the ignition can be protected and a few shillings spent in this direction would probably be much less expensive than having the car fail some wet night. Drying out a thoroughly wet ignition unit is not an easy task, particularly on the road, when the rain will not, always cease obligingly so as to assist the operation. The coil, distributor and spark plugs are all susceptible to rain-water.

LAND SPEED RECORD The well-known American racing driver, Harry Hartz, plans shortly to attack several land speed records, including the mile, with an ultra-stream-lined car recently completed. The attempts will be made at Muroc Dry Lake, California, with the sanction and under the supervision of the American Automobile Association. The car, which is named the "Spirit of '76," is of unconventional design, and appears strange in comparison with other famous machines, such as " Blue Bird," the " Golden Arrow " and the "Silver Bullet." It has a comparatively short wheel-base, and bears a marked resemblance to a barrel on wheels. The driver sits high, and is apparently unprotected by a windscreen. It is being freely stated in England that Kaye Don, formerly holder of the world's water-speed record, will make another attempt on the land speed record at Daytona Beach early next year. He will drive the "Silver Bullet," 'which has been lying derelict for a considerable time in a London garage. It is also understood that Mr. Louis Coatalen, the designer of the car, will be associated with the enterprise.

CARE IN PASSING GRADERS , It is sometimes necessary for graders engaged in road maintenance work to travel on the wrong side, and whenever a motorist encounters notices warning him of the presence of a grader speed should be reduced until it has been passed. It is desirable, if there is any doubt, that a motorist should signal his intentions to the grader driver, or even it may be necessary to wait for the grader man's signal before attempting to pass. Bed flags may be used in place of ordinary notices and the same warning applies. The Automobile Association urges its members to co-operate closely in this matter.