MOTORING HINTS.

Putaruru Press, Volume V, Issue 176, 17 March 1927, Page 7

MOTORING HINTS.

I I Ted ‘ Do y°u still owe that man anything on the second-hand car you bought from him? Ned—Only a grudge. * * * j A cold motor should be warmed up slowly as it is dangerous and detri- | mental to race or accelerate a cold motor. This does more harm than | GonStant se rviee under a full load at j correct motor speed. Never race a j cold engine. Where this instruction jis disregarded, and the engine is speeded up beyond the speeds which are indicated as the safe running j speeds, you are inviting trouble, repairs and. expenses. * * * * It is surprising how much dirt the petrol tank will collect, even when the fuel is habitually passed through a gauze strainer. It is equally surprising how few owner-drivers ever dram and clean out their tanks. An occasional thorough cleaning out of the petrol tank will obviate many annoying roadside delays, and at the I same time ensure more even supply of petrol to the carburetter, and con- I sequently an even-running engine. f

No speed limit exists in Russia today but there are curious lighting oiders. For instance, Commissars’ cars always burn one red and one white light in front. All other cars are only allowed to display one white light ahead and a green tail light. When one meets a Commissar’s car it is the custom at once to pull up at the side of the road and stand up until the car bearing some Soviet leader has passed.

A Christchurch motorist toured the West Coast, Nelson and Marlborough districts during the holidays in a motor caravan, in which the party of four covered 914 miles. The caravan was a converted one-ton > H'uek, with wooden sides' and leather top. Four bunks were fitted, and four windows on each side, the rear door having a glass top panel. A curtain was drawn across the wind screen, and three electric points were installed inside. Two wells at the bottom of the caravan were used for storage of necessities, also a tool box and spade, axe, etc., necessary foij a long trip. The Franz Joseph glacier was visited, also Lake Mapourika, Westport, Greymouth, Eeefton, Nelson, and back to Christchurch by way of Kaikoura.

No car should be- without a horn. It is absolutely necessary when driving at corners and in emergencies. The, horn is especially helpful at cross-roads. But drivers should not toot continuously. The best thing to do is to signal once or twice, then to refrain, and to listen whether there is any response from any other direction. Sounding the horn is also very important as a long-distance warning. It is just as well, for instance, when people are seen some distance ahead, to give them a fair warning. There are occasions when signalling should not take place. If a child rushes out of a door and suddenly tries to cross the road do not blast the horn, as the child may stop, get confused and run into the car. It is equally important not to sound the horn if not necessary.

A correspondent to the London Times has suggested that novices in the art of driving should tie a bow of red ribbon to the radiators and a red streamer to the rear of’their ears —an application of the method formerly used for identifying- horses with an inclination towards-, kicking.