MOTORING NOTES

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXI, Issue 2783, 3 December 1931, Page 7

MOTORING NOTES

HINTS FOR DRIVERS. INDEX OF GOOD DRIVING. It is interesting to observe the varying mileages different motorists obtain from a set of brake linings. A careful owner will often cover well over 30,000 miles before a renewal of the linings is necessary, whereas a spectacular driver who takes a delight in priding up dead from speed in front of his friends’ houses for the edification of r as ers-by may only cover a quarter of the distance. Generally speaking, the life of the brake linings is an index to the skill off the driver within certain limits. The man who is always approaching the vehicle in front too closely will obviously have to use his brakes more often than the man who is naturally cautious, and the driver who frequently finds himself involved in minor emergencies where a hurried pull up is necessary will also be revealed by the rapidity with which new linings are necessary. The driver who always pushes out the dutch whenever he brakes, Respective of the circumstances under which braking is necessary, will also be heavy on his linings. Of course, the car owner who spends a large part of his motoring day in heavy traffic, as does a dweller in cities, expects to use his brakes more frequently than the countryman, and consequently to make renewal so much eftener. PARS OF INTEREST. Every motorist knows some reas'ons why Ins car rides easier than its predecessor of a year or so ago, but he may not have ail idea as to how much easier it rides. If the amount of rubber used in motor cars can be taken as a criterion, to-day’s automobiles are three times easier in riding qualities chan they were three years ago. Three times as much rubber is used in tuc-ir construction. To-day the average cm contains lrom to OUuj ur luijuor. n> 19-f it was iTom 10 to iyibs. a guou car contains about 150 pieces of ruuber, fitted here and there to produce easier riding and less vibration. Changes in seasons impose different duties on.various parts of the car which call for periodic adjustments. Also vibration causes, looseness. Dirt leads to diminished efficiency. If a car were inspected at least every three months and cleaned and adjusted as inspection revealed necessary, the owner rarely would know such a thing as sluggish acceleration, uneven operation, Jack of power on hills or poor petrol and oil economy.

To deal with a coachbolt, the square of which is turning in the wood of the running board or the body, me following method will be found successful:— Drill a hole I-l(Jth inch or 1-Sth inedi diameter through the head of bolt* and diive through it a nail as long as possible to secure the coachbolt head in the wood. It will be found in many cases that even a rusted-up nut can be shifted by this method, although, of course, the more obstinate ones should be treated with two or more nails'equally spaced around the head. 39 PEE CENT. INCREASE. RETAILER ’,S EXPERIENCE. That newspaper advertising offers the most powerful, quickest and surest way out of the depression for the retailer seems to have been demonstrated by one of Washington’s largest stores. Mr Chas. B. Dulcan, vice-president and general manager of the Hecht Company, decided in .Tunc last to have an intensive newspaper campaign ,and this brought his company an increase of 39 per cent in sales; 44. per cent more items were sold than in the corresponding week of .1930, and 10 per cent more people were employed. Commenting on the results Mr Dulcan stated: “Newspaper advertising lias again proved that it is the most powerful and effective advertising medium. The results are direct and instantaneous.”