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

INTENTIONAL SKIDDING sufficient to keep the car going in the direction in which it is intended to take, the brake must be “ dabbed frequently, though gently, even against, the power of the engine. Quite gentle brake application is enough, but of course even this should not be used against the engine unless it is impossible to get along otherwise. . These notes may be said to cover rear-wheel skids caused simply by circumstances connected, with the car’s progression, and there remains for consideration the question of controlling a skid which one causes by applying the brake rather more suddenly than anticipated. Other Types of Skids The writer, many years ago, took out an old chassis on to a lonely country road and experimented assiduously, and, selecting a nice greasy part, spent a considerable time in studying skids of various types and learning how to control them. It must be remem- bered, in all seriousness, that, whereas the skidding of a car in the hands of a novice or an insufficiently- experienced driver is a source of danger to himself, his car, and other folk, the knowledge how to skid a car wilfully and how to control its skidding is, in the hands of an expert, very valuable knowledge ; in fact, on some occasions, it is the one and only available means of safety. Consequently, therefore, although in plain black and white the information to be imparted may look a trifle extravagant, the writer would nevertheless suggest that those wiio are not fait with the subject should seek an opportunity of learning by practical experi- ment. It is perfectly easy to imagine an obstacle exists and to put on the braie on a greasy patch very suddenly (in the first case, of course, one would only travel at quite normal speeds, say, 12 or 15 miles per hour) and notice the effect. Now try the same manceu vre over again, but at the same time that the brake is put on suddenly steer in the direction of the skid, and it will be noticed, if the manœuvre is executed properly, that the resultant skid is largely minimized, if not entirely corrected. Ill