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

HOW TO DRIVE A MOTORCAR It can, of course, be argued that engaging a gear whilst the clutch is revolving is only a small strain on the gear wheels, but nevertheless it is a strain; it makes a nasty noise, and tends to start a minute chip- ping-away action on the gears. In addition to all this there is the strain on the universal joints between the clutch and the gearbox in a reversed direction equiva- valent to stopping suddenly the rotating mass at the speed at which it may be revolving. These points are, it may be, but small items; nevertheless they should be given attention by the careful and good driver, even if only for the sake of eliminating the noise of engag- ing a gear with the clutch revolving at any speed. Just occasionally it happens that when one goes to engage this second gear the lever is found to refuse to move, the reason, of course, being that the teeth of the wheel on the main shaft are in line with those on the layshaft. Do not in such circumstances thrust and jerk at the lever until the face contact gradually forces the free wheel out of alignment with fhe teeth on the held wheel—unfortunately one frequently sees drivere doing this—but just for a fraction of a second let the clutch in the least little bit so as to spin the clutch member round a trifle, when the gear will prob- ably engage readily enough. Gentleness With the Clutch Now let the clutch in gently. It is, perhaps, to be feared that originality can hardly be claimed for this very sage piece of advice ! Nevertheless, there is more in it than meets the eye. How many drivers, think you, manage to start their car each time without mak- ing one or other of the driving wheels spin round faster than the relative progress of the car ? Taking it all round, and especially where the roads are greasy or slippery, it is to be feared that by no means so many could claim this distinction as should be able so to do. Nevertheless, it is bad driving to let the clutch in, or to accelerate the engine, or the two in conjunction, in such a manner as to cause either or both of the driving wheels to spin round at a speed in excess of the progress of the car. In the first 32