Page:Motors and motor-driving (1902).djvu/357

Rh notch—that is, to the first or low speed and slowly lift the left foot until you feel the engine beginning to move the car. Immediately it does this, if only for a yard or two, press the left pedal down again, so as to get thoroughly accustomed to the feeling of the car moving forward with its own power and yet stopping immediately the pedal for disconnecting the power is pressed down.

When once confidence is acquired, and the novice feels that the car is quite under his control, longer distances, say fifty feet at a time, may be attempted; but as it will be obvious that in this distance some momentum will have been attained, and that even though the left pedal is pressed down the carriage still rolls on, opportunity has now come for making use of the right pedal. This being pressed down gradually by the right foot, at the same time still keeping the left pedal down, applies the band brake and so stops the car.

Second Speed.—Having now thoroughly mastered starting and stopping on the low speed, a change may be made into the second speed. To accomplish this, first get the vehicle running as fast as possible on the first speed, then press down the left pedal quickly, push the speed lever firmly into the second forward notch, and lift up the left pedal gently as when starting. You are now on the second speed, which you will no doubt observe is considerably faster than the lower speed, and the novice should familiarise himself with this in the same way as on the first speed, i.e. letting the car run short distances and thus becoming accustomed to the speed. Keep on the low and second speeds until you feel thoroughly at home and confident that the car will do that which you mechanically direct it to do. Remember that with a motor-car the driver controls the vehicle, and in this it differs from a horse-drawn vehicle, in which the driver is often at the mercy of the animal, to be pulled here, backed there, or upset altogether should this chance to please the noble quadruped.

Third Speed.—The third speed may now be used, and you obtain this under exactly the same circumstances and in