1932-09-03 — Page 11

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A ROBOT CAR NOT WANTED.

But Most People Like Automatic Controls.

By Sir Malcolm Campbell

At the moment ovory maker la a

[ law to himself, and he places the accelerator pedal where it seems best to him—either between the two others or outside the brako pedal. I do not think it matters much which of the two positions it occuples, though I think there is something to be said for the out- side position, but I am very strong-

position be decided upon there should be rigid standardisation,

All the tendencies of motor-carjakilful handling the very best out ly of the opinion that whatever design nowadaya appear to be in of car and engine. the direction of making the motor- car more and more an automatic machine.

in the car itself.

But Easter Control Means More Motorists,

Hardly a week passes but I have

But, apart from this, man is a shown to me some device or other curious paradox. Always striving the intention of which is to reduce after new discoveries, he is never the necessity for individuality and theleas at the bottom conservative skill on the part of the driver and to the last degree. Having ac to invest the control of something quired the knowledge, having made discoveries which mean progress and improvement, when it comes to applying them to his everyday life he is inclined to shift and to say that what was good enough for his father and his grandfather ought to be good enough for him!

If we continue at the present rate I can foresee cars fitted with Ja journey control device which will require only setting to the desired destination. Then we shall sim- ply recline in a comfortable seat and be carried without any human intervention where we want to Koi

Gadgets that Do Nearly Everything.

Police Signals We Cannot Understand.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1932.

MOTORING AND MOTORS.

On Judging Cars.

A CRICTIC'S VIEWS.

(By John Prioleau.)

of me.

Prices and Criticism.

in

high-class cars I have tried during the past year the gear-lever plac- ing has been unnecessarily awk- ward. If in one cheap car I know the lever, fn all positions, is within comfortablo reach, why should it not be in all others, whatever the price? The same thing applies to brake-levers.

Why cannot every car havo easily accessible brake-adjusting mechanism? How many cars give A very large number of neci-

proper access to the working side Among the most interesting items; bought the car I described, and ho of the switch-board, with its nu- dents are directly traceable to mis- takes made by a driver unfamiliar of my weekly mail are those re- seems to be satisfied with it, but morous terminals, all subject to with the accelerator position in the quests from Observer readers over. he says he would like to have had the loosening offect of vibration? or two new models car he is driving. Only the other seas who ask me for advice on the job of reporting on it, instead I have seen one

I am sure he would have on which the Instrument board is day a dreadful accident occurred the choice of British cars suitable done it admirably. when a driver stepped on the cenfor the most widely differing sorts

Singed so that these things can be attended to without the need for trally placed accelerator in mis- of country. Their questions are take for the brake. He had been invariably based on such ex-

painful contortion on the part of used to the outside position of the porience and knowledge as are that it is only when a car impres having a detached starting-ban-- It is not true, however, to say all, why the insane practice of the owner, but no more. Above throttle pedal.

comparatively rarely found among sos the enthusiastic driver with ita dle? Apart from the fact that it the stay-at-home motorists, the excellence that he begins to be owners of cars which are specifi-really critical, but, so far as my weather (so long as our batteries 18, or should be, used in cold ifaving got on to the subject of cally designed for the easy road own experience goes, I certainly are what they are), what better or this attitude to the logical end,

Of course, he does not carry standardisation. I am reminded of conditions of Great Britain and find that, as prices rise, I subcons- tidier place can be found for it a direction in which I think it in most of the countries west of Hun- clously begin to apply a higher than in its working position? It else there would be no progress, high time the authorities made a gary. Lately I have had letters standard of criticism. What you cannot be lost, and it is not in the but the feeling is undoubtedly move. I refer to the lack of uni- from Hongkong, Rhodesia, Western damn unmercifully in a £2,000 one. worst sort of encumbrance.

permit in a £200 economy car you way. Anywhere else it is the there, and I am inclined to think formity in police signale. that the motorist of long standing Yes! that is a little far-fetched, and experience and I include my-laid down a simple code to be used Columbia, where one would have profit to the dealer is worked out The Ministry of Transport has agreeable surprise, from British as it works, in a car on which the Australia, Southern India, and, an I can forgive mediocrity, so long but, really, one does begin to won-self in the indictment--is affected by drivers, and it is now held to

And Real Improvements. der where all the striving for au-by it in his verdict on the new be at least a prima facie proof of expected the American machine to in five-pound notes, but there can tomatic car control will lead us. trend towards simplification of default

Against this array of complaints for drivers not to give reign supreme. In every case the be no excuse for it when the sell-there are very real improvemente We have gear-boxes that automa-control.

these signals with reasonable cor- writers have displayed an appre. ing price is ten times higher.

the new cars, improvements tically change speeds for us; fluid' Taking a larger view than myrectness. This code has the me-eintion of the special qualities of

which, though we do not always fly-wheels that make the interven-own preferences, I think this ten-rit of being uniform over the whole the British car, which is a decld- less frequent now than a few yearsly transformed, motoring.

Although these discrepancies are remember the fact, have absolute- Ition of the conventional clutch deney is in the right direction. country, and is understood from edly hopeful sign of better days in ago, there are still a number of rarely that you come across a car It is needless; automatic ignition con- The motor-car has long ceased to Land's End to John O' Gront's, trol we have had with us for years; be a vehicle for pleasure only. It

our struggling export crimes of stupidity committed by with a bad clutch or ineficient automatic mixture control-again has become for the million a means

manufacturers of all nationalities brakes. Cooling, whether by pump a feature which is years old but of convenient locomotion, and the

which nothing can explain. They or thermosiphon, is usually on the has now become the rule rather moment we realise this we must

The Teaching of the Wild.

are just things we put up with, generous side; suspension, with or. than the exception; automatic

prices that, in his own words, we without shock-absorbers, is im- Separated in many cases from like the weather, for instance. mensely superior to what we en- control of the shock-absorbers, or agree that everything that assist as nearly automatic as possible, must attract more and more people policeman drops the hand that has by distances which render it practi- correspondent reminds me.

In London when the controlling anything in the form of "service" Here are a few of which my China dured five years ago; steering is towards simplification is good and since by turning a button you can, to the ownership of cars.

buen against you you may proceed,cally non-existent, these

light and steady instead of heavy while driving, adjust the shock-

Most people are profoundly ig-Pass the Manchester policeman un-have learnt things about motor- owners

and wandering; carburettora, par- absorbers to suit the load and road norant of engineering, and a very til he has waved you forward, and cars in general, what they should

ticularly the latest types, are much more effelent; and, finally, tyres. Indeed, you may now own a car large proportion of the whole are you do so at your peril.

not particularly interested in Edinburgh, again, seems to have or should not do in given circum- the specification is there any have fallen to the lowest place in in which everything is done for you what makes the wheels go round. its own particular code. Colches stances, which I have little doubt means of altering the length of the list of our sources of anxiety. jexcept the handling and steering. Their Pole concern is that

I Prefer to Do My Own Driving.

theter is another case in point, where more than one manufacturer would the steering-column. Drivers, tailIt is not so long since they headed I often hear old stagers speak wheels should go round and con- the stranger is completely at sea

be glad to have filed in his draw or short, long-or short-legged, it.---Ex. in the interpretation of police ing-office, however successful his must adjust themselves to a co- slightingly of the tendency to aim-tinue turning with the minimum of

signala.

lumn-length which, incidentally, plify control. Some declare that care and attention.

There are some places I know } products may be in the hands is seldom the same in any two cars. | to name them might be asking for the man who drives

A writer in "Good Roads" states trouble when next I visit them-year's end to the other on tarred a matter of fact I know of two that in other walks of life ignor which have this most important ance cannot be offered as an ex- with a code of signals which I am and cemented tracks.

| feature, but that is all. Engines, certain has been evolved by n

cuse, but in road repairing, ap- A reader in China, commenting a whole, are accessibly arrang-parently, it forms a complete safe. teacher of classical dancing. It is

on a report I wrote some eighteened, but in the cheaper types toole, guard and at the public expense. and particularly tyre-tools, are monta alle ou de rat model of often accommodated as an after- now well-found ear, complains of thought. I only know of one car our being spoilt at home. We have (and that a cheap one) in which There were 8,325 miles of high- prices that, in his own words, we temperamental part of the plant, the end of 1931 and 37,667 moter so wide a choice of cars at various the battery, the most delicate and ways in the Philippine Islande at

let them off much too lightly." He is properly positioned. In several vehicles registered.

surface.

The more the car can be sim-

If a person is so unskilled that he plified and control rendered au- cannot carry out the few simple operations of changing gear, and tomatic, the more people will buy so on, which make up skilled driy-cars, to the manifest benefit of

trade and industry. ing, then he has no business to be driving a car.

Position of Pedals Should be Uniform For my own part, I am not par-

in general ticularly enamoured of driving the Writing of control automatic car. I very much pre-brings to mind a matter which fer to have something more to do think requires attention at the in the matter of driving than mere hands of designers and car con- ly to steer. There is, to the skill-structors. I'mean the question of ed and experienced driver, a great standardising the positions of the Ideal of pleasure and satisfaction clutch. brake, and accelerator

in getting by nice adjustment and pedals.

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That cannot be said of the sig- nals used by the traffic police. I would defy the Londoner to under. stand what is wanted of him in, let us say, Manchester.

not fair to expect the traveller who is in the place for the first time to undersand what the an- tics mean. Constables' conference to agree to It would be simple for the Chief a single aystem of traffic signals

for general use.

A Device That Should Save Lives'

A large number of accidenta happen through the thoughtless habit of people stepping off the pavement to attract the attention of omnibus and tramcar drivera at optional stopping places. Now 1 have had my attention drawn to a new signalling device, for affix- ing to lamp or tramway standards, which, if generally adopted, would, I think, go far to eliminate the dan- ger arising from this cause.

The device is a battery operated lamp, with a time control, which shows a light indicating to the driver that he is required to atop. It is worked by a push-button, to be pressed by the intending pas- senger, and the lamp remains alight long enough to convey its warning message.

I understand it is to be adopt- ed by the Manchester Corporation, which would indicate that it has been found efficient after trial. British Manufacturers Stil Keep Ahead,

All roads seem to lead to Gune- va nowadays! I read that there has been held there a committee meeting of motor exports which has reported to the Economic Com- mission on motor trade conditina throughout the world. -

From this report it appears that the world production of motor-cars fell in 1930 by 33 per cent, in com- parison with the 1929 output, while there was a further drop during last year of 25 per cent,

The output of British factories fell in 1930 by only 1 per cent. and in 1931 by only 4.3 per cent. These figures are A remarkable tribute to the British manufactur- er and his product.

Where the Motorist Must Know His Law.

Manchester seems to be trying to gain unenviable notoriety for its vexatious prosecution of the motorist. There has been a crop recently of prosecutions for driv ing at night with the rear blind down, thus obscuring the view in the Interior mirror--a very doubt- ful offence, to say the least.

The purpose of the mirror is to inform the driver of the presence of another car wishing to pass. I cannot remember having driven in any closed car with a roar blind so nearly opaque that, with it down, It was not clearly apparent when anothor car was over-taking. How-| over, they seem in Manchester to inalat upon the most literal com- pliance with the regulation.

Tho samo city was recently the scone of the prosecution of a mo- tor-cyclist for having no rear chain guard on his machine. · After a lengthy, hearing the summons, Was

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Crimes of Stupidity.

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