How To Drive A Motorcar
A Key To The Subtleties Of Motoring

FRONT-WHEEL SKIDS obstacles and put certain theories to practical test, and has often been rewarded with success. The following three propositions are given in the order in which the writer would try them if faced in practice with a front- wheel skid under the circumstances which have been alluded to. In the first place try a fairly smart “ dab ” with the brake, which has the effect of momentarily increasing the adhesion of the front wheels, by piling up the weight of the car on them, which may give them suffi- cient adhesion to commence the desired direction. A more complex method of treatment is similar in its effect to the suggestion just offered and is on the fol- lowing lines. First of all, declutch; then race the engine and slam the clutch in for a second with a. jerk, and then take it out again. The effect caused here is a lifting effort on the back of the car, thus increasing the weight on the front wheels, whilst additionally one has the slight extra advantage of the gyroscopic torque couple set up. This will probably cause the rear wheels of the car to skid a little to the left and so bring them more or less in a parallel line with the front wheels, and then on driving under power the direction may be picked up with less likelihood of the skid continuing. The final resort is one which the writer was forced to employ quite recently, and luckily the manoeuvre was attended with complete success. Lock the front wheels full over to the right, leave the clutch in and give the brake a fierce bang, but holding it down for a sufficient length of time to cause the car to turn com- pletely round. Just when the back of the car is beginning to face where the front was when the manœuvre was started, let the brake off and also declutch and slow down gradually with the brake, when the control of the direction of the car has been regained. It must be distinctly understood that these sugges- tions are not put forward as part and parcel of ordinary routine driving, but they should be carried at the back of the mind and held in readiness for any occasion 107