Gear-changing as an Art

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22226, 28 September 1935, Page 10 (Supplement)

Gear-changing as an Art

Gear-changing is one of the worthwhile finer points of motoring, and as an art does not receive tho attention it should from motorists, says the latest safety first message of tho Automobile Association Proper gear-changing is ono of the

essential factors of good driving. That means nob only the manipulation of tho gear change cleanly and noiselessly, but the important question of .changing when the engine calls for the relief of e. lower gear. U'pon Wise gear-changing

LEARN TO MASTER

depends the life of the engine, safety, economy, and tho maintenance of high average speed. 601110 people aro muddlers at most things, including motoring. They are content to know a little without striving for a broader proficiency. Not only on hills hut also on tho flat, particularly in tratfic, motorists hang on to top gear. They boast of doing this or that hill ou top and oven brag of the speed. Now, the capacity of the modern car to climb a hill in top gear has an element of danger in it. because one is easily led into travelling at a speed that, may be dangerous, particularly on a winding, narrow road. The gear box is provided so that tho engine power may bo used to the utmost efficiency and in safety. There is nothing clever in speeding up hills 011 top gear, but there is an undeniable cleverness in being able to change down cleanly, noiselessly, and vet make a smart, safe ascent. In traffic, too, many accidents could be avoided if motorists knew how to ehango down and practised it instead of hanging oil to top gear. The control would be greater. No matter how your car can dawdle on top tliere_ is a greater margin of safety in changing to a. lower gear. Because of the improvement in the modern gear-box, new motorists think there is no necessity for changing down. It is a pity that is so. There is achievement in knowing and using the pears. They have their' purpose in safe motoring.