MOTORING NOTES

Waikato Independent, Volume XXVII, Issue 2768, 7 April 1927, Page 7

MOTORING NOTES

SUNSET TIMES. Thursday 5.38 Friday e 5.37 Saturday 5.3(5 Sunday 5.34 Monday 5.32 Tuesday 5.30 Wednesday .. 5.29 COST OF RUNNING A CAR. Costs of running a car over a period of two years are given in an exchange. In the American tight four class, tiio initial cost of which is below £3OO, the car has travelled 9200 miles in the period, and the expenses, which included the cost of replacing cord tyres with balloons, insurance, registration and Automobile Association membership fees totalled £llß 1(5/8. This was an average of 3.1 d a mile, but the figure took no account, of depreciation, which might be approximated at £IOO. Including this sum in the total expenses, the over-all cost of running the car would be about 51 d a mile. DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. ADVANTAGES OF “CHANGING DOWN.” In driving a small car through the crowded streets of a city, the advantages of changing to a lower gear frequently are not appreciated by many motorists. By changing down (as it is called) slow moving traffic can be passed more rapidly, the rvear side of the road being regained in a shorter space of time and a better get-away can be made from traffic hold-ups. Then again, when coming out of a by-road and crossing the main stream of traffic, it is the foolish policy of many drivers to proceed at about 15 ni.p.h. in top gear, causing oncoming vehicles to

brake more or less violently, simply in order that the driver who is emerging from the by-road may save himself the trouble of changing down. The correct procedure, of course, is to engage a lower gear before the corner is reached, making sure that the course is clear before endeavouring to cross the main road. If there is no one in the way the acceleration available on the lower gear will enable the car to get quickly across, and the whole process will take no more time than that occupied by the average slap-dash top gear driving. Many instances could be quoted to show the folly of top gear driving, and the wisdom of changing down in city traffic. It is, of course, more difficult to change gear on some ears than on others, but assiduous practice should enable any driver to become completely a master of his gearbox. He will certainly find that, thereafter, the handling of his car is a more joyous and safer pastime than before. TE KUITI-HANGATIKI ROAD. Work on the above section of the Auckland-Wellington main highway, via Taranaki, is being vigorously pushed forward. The metalling afe a twomile section commencing from the Te Kuiti end is now in progress. The construction consists of a course of crushed limestone twelve feet wide and six inches deep with a surface of river shingle. The road from Hangatiki to Te Kuiti has all been graded and reformed and when completed will do away with the narrow winding road over the hills to Te Kuiti. This will be welcomed by all through traffic from Auckland to New Plymouth.