Hudson Super Six 1916 Reference Book page 48

When turning a corner on asphalt pavements which are slippery, it frequently occurs that the front wheels
skid. In a case of this kind immediate action is necessary. It will usually be found that by applying the brakes
suddenly for a moment so as to lock the wheels, the rear end of the car will skid in the direction in which the car
is to be turned. This will help the action of the front wheels and the releasing of the brakes and the touch of the
accelerator will bring the car around the corner without any over-travel of the front end. By applying the brakes in
this way, it is possible to turn the front wheels in the direction opposite to that in which the car is to be turned for
a moment while the rear end is skidding. When the brakes are released, it is plain to see that the front wheels will
have no tendency to skid farther, as they will be pointing in the direction in which the car is to be turned and the
rear end will be in line with it, due to the skid.
Needless to say, this manipulation requires a little more expertness than the correction of an ordinary skid on
a straight road.
IN CROSSING STREET CAR TRACKS AND CLIMBING OUT OF RUTS - Skidding can be prevented and
accidents avoided, also the life of your tires lengthened if you will learn how to turn your car out of street car
tracks and ruts. Make a sharp turn if your front wheel. Do not allow the wheel to climb along the edge of the rut
and finally jump off suddenly, and do not attempt to climb out of these conditions at Speed.
ROUNDING CORNERS AT SPEED - Driving a car around a sharp corner at twenty-five miles an hour does
more damage to the tires than does fifteen or twenty-five miles of straight road work. This is an economical
reason why one should drive around corners cautiously and slowly. The other reasons are obvious.
WATCH YOUR CAR CLOSELY - You will very soon become accustomed to all of the noises your car
makes, and any sound, be it ever so slight, will be immediately perceptible.
DRIVING OVER ROUGH ROADS - The natural inclination of the driver is to throw out the clutch in coasting
down hill or driving over rough roads. This should not be done. Keep the motor pulling your car over rough
roads. Thus it keeps everything taut and lessens the shock and jar that the car gets through bumping over ruts.
USE YOUR MOTOR AS A BRAKE - It is a natural brake whenever the throttle is closed. Prove this for
yourself in the following way, At a speed of twenty miles an hour, release the accelerator and retard the spark, at a
certain mark by the roadside a telegraph pole, for example. Don't throw out the clutch, or the motor will have no
braking effect. Now note how far you have traveled from the pole by the time your speedometer registers five
miles, Then over the same road and at the same speed (20 M. P. H.), pass the pole again, but this time throw out
the clutch. You will coast much further this time before you drop down to five miles. Note the difference between
this last mark and the first. This distance is proportional to the work done by the motor as a brake. By the same
token, the wear on your brakes will be lessened in this proportion if you let the motor help. In short, never throw
your clutch out until you have dropped down to the lowest speed at which the car will run, say two to four miles
an hour.
And don't forget to fully retard the spark when coasting.
If the grade is long and steep, use the foot and emergency brakes alternately. This equalizes the wear on them.
A CAR'S SERVICE DEPENDS UPON THE DRIVER - Much of the satisfaction that an automobile gives
depends upon the driver. If he neglects his automobile, if he does not lubricate it,, or if he tinkers with it too
much, he is bound to receive unsatisfactory service.
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