"THE LADY ON WHEELS"

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18552, 26 April 1930, Page 13 (Supplement)

"THE LADY ON WHEELS"

ADVICE TO LADY DRIVERS. SOME USEFUL SUGGESTIONS. The average garage proprietor watches the woman car owner approach his door as a spider watches a fly, says a writer in an exchange. To every sensible motorist this is a matter for regret, because it results from the fact that most women are satisfied so long as their car goes. When it stops, they are literally “done.” They wait joylessly in the rain for the advent of some motoring man to act as good Samaritan. Or, worse still, they have the car towed to a garage where they guilelessly ask the mechanic to “put it right.” He does, and the woman driver goes on her way, poorer but no wiser. Most of these minor tragedies are unnecessary. A little careful study of the manual provided with the car, and of the car itself, gives a woman independence and pride of ownership, without robbing her of her precious “feminity.” Besides which, knowledge lessens the garage bills. Whether your car is a five-year-old mongrel of a new limousine, it is wise to carry a good enveloping overall everywhere you go. Prepare for the worst in the form of repairs on the road, and your smart driving costume will last months longer. Get to know the contents of your tool box, and the use of each tool. Without this knowledge, you are only carrying useless weight. Keep the tools together. Never leave any in the garage, and never be tempted to lend them. Before every trip, walk round your car. See if your tyres are at proper pressure. Make sure the caps are on all the valves, for children love to remove these “for fun.” Periodically, it is wise to adjust the lock nuts on each wheel with the wheel-brace provided for the job. A car with one wheel off may have its humorous side, but it is far more certain to have an expensive side.

Never go out with “just enough” petrol and oil to get you there! Something is sure to go wrong, for this is one of life’s little ironies.