PAGE 20, THE HERALD, Tuesday, April 18, 1978

Make Certain Your Car
Is Ready for Safe
Trouble-Free Motoring

Is your car in shape for the strenuous schedule of sum-
met travel you have planned? Or, like too many in this
country, is it a candidate for an exasperating, expensive
and possibly dangerous breakdown?

It’s a lamentable fact that too many motorists will expect’

a thoroughbred’s performance from a car that is, in fact,
more. like a candidate. for the Swayback Derby.

Study after study shows that in critical safety and per-
formance areas, the average car is not equipped to handle
the long, hard driving most vacation trips require.

Why is this so? Why do John and Jane Owner allow

their cars to deteriorate?

Champion Spark Plug Company recently conducted a
survey which sought to determine the reasons for tune-up
neglect. While the survey concentrated on tune-up, it is
probable that the rationalizations given for not buying
needed tune-up apply to other maintenance musts as well.

The major reasons cited were:
My car is running fine just the way it is.

I don’t have time.
I don’t have the money.

As plausible as these reasons may have seemed to the
motorists, they ‘often defy cither Fact or logic (or both).

*

Consider these facts.

*

Are most cars running fine just the way they are? Not
according to compulsory vehicle check lanes or private

diagnostic clinics.

More than half the cars inspected at these facilities show
dangerous safety and operational defects, many of them

unknown to the car owner.”

.

%

*

Is “I don’t have time” a valid excuse?
Certainly, most people live busy, active lives. But a busy
person soon learns that to accomplish what he must, he

has to schedule activities.

It may be inconvenient to bring a car in for service but
it’s even more inconvenient to ruin a vacation irip by
having an undermaintained car break down in a strange

location.
*

*

Who said, “I don’t have the money”?

Few of us have ali the money we need. But a few dollars
spent on preventive maintenance can save a lot of dollars
spent on corrective maintenance. A squirt of lubricant
often can forestall the breakdown of an expensive part.

How to Have A Happy,
Healthy Camping Trip

You're going camping.
You've selected the site,
checked on clothing and
food supplies, and decided
on sports equipment, for
hiking or fishing, perhaps.

Now all you have to do is
get there, by car, camper or
motor home, and you'll
enjoy yourself, right?

The answer is, “Probab-
ly.” It can be, “Certainly,” if
you remember to stock and
take. along a first-aid kit.
With the right. first-aid
supplies, you and your
family can go camping and
be happy, because you'll
stay healthy. +

If you're headed for a site
which offers facilities for
campers and is reélatively
near a hospital and doctors,
your first-aid kit can be
planned around the basics.

If you aim to rough it in
the wilds where a doctor
isn’t quickly available, the
kit should be comprehensive,
taking into account possible
severe cuts or even broken
bones.

Healthy camping begins
with a physical check-up for
all family members. Happy
camping, especially in an
isolated area, continues with
a record of {ull information
about the nearest doctors
and hospitals,

Even a long weekend ata
well-equipped campsite calls
for these first-aid basics:
drugs such as aspirin for
pain, a mild laxative, a
diarrhea zemedy, an ant-
acid,an upset-stomach aid,
prescription drugs such as
those for family members
with allergies, sterile dres-
sings and easily-applied
tapes. ,

Bandaging cuts, bruises
and other injuries can be
easier with Micropore first-

camping activities.

aid tapes, whichare designed
for particular needs. Gentle
first-aid tape is what its
name implies — kind to
sensitive skin, in white and
light skin tones.

’ Waterproof tape ban-
dages protectively, while
Action first-aid tape takes
care of hard-to-bandage
areas, For all bandaging
purposes, strong, porous
cloth tape is available.

If your camp-bound
vehicle doesn'l have — and
the selected campsite can't
provide — refrigeration
facilities, do carry an ice
chest to keep-food fresh and
prevent illness caused by
tainted food. °

A refrigerator or ice chest
will enable the use of a
many-purpose first-aid
product, a 3M Cold/Hot
Pack, It consists of a gel
sealed in a soft plastic bag,
and, even ice cold, it readily
fits body contours.

The pack can be stored
frozen and instantly em-
ployed to treat burns,
headaches, toothaches and
insect bites. It relieves
itching of cutsand abrasions,
helps reduce swelling and
pain of sprains, bruises and
muscle injuries, and can be
applied to an immobilized
broken bone,

For aches caused by
strains or whenever com-
forting warmth is needed,
the cold pack becomes hot
by immersing it briefly'in‘a
container of boiling water,
removed from heat.

Areliable first-aid manual
will help ‘you cope with
accidents and health emer-
pencies.

To your first-aid kit, adda
liberal helping of reasonable
care and caution during

CHECKING OVER FIRST-AID ITEMS is fundamental before taking a
camping trip. Micropore first-aid tapes, including one that is
waterproof, help if there is sudden injury.

ba

_ failure. If

ws Peete Re
Vacation driving means taking extra care toe

ngure your car is inshape.

Seven Points Cited as Way
To Cope with Brake Trouble

Powered or unpowered,
drum or disc, your car's
brakes are one of the sim-
Plest systems In your car
and one of the most critical
to your safety, So an under-
standing of the following
seven common points of
failure is vital, says the
Canadian Safety Council,

o a +

1. Fade is one of the moat
common problems.

Although cheap or defec-
tive linings, fluid or drums
may be at fault, the usual
cause of fade is simply
overheating from severe
service. Three things can
happen, any of whith can
cause partial or total brake
two or three
happen shnultaneously, you
have very little hope of
stopping your car.

FIRST, excessive heat can
temporarily weaken the
drum and cause it to distort
from the pressure of the
shoes Inside it, This may
allow excessive movement of

_the shoes and cause the
pedal to go all the way to
the floor.

SECOND, heat may cause
the brake fluid to boil and
become compressible; this
would also allow the pedal

to go to the floor,

FINALLY and most com-
monly, heat glazes the lin-
ing, giving it an almost
liquid coating that acts as
a lubricant, preventing the

buildup of friction necessary .

to stop the car. -
In a nilnor case, all the
cure that's needed is tlme—

15 to. 30 minutes at the most
— to allow the brake parts
to cool. When they do, they
will operate normally If they
have not been damaged by
excessive heat. The trick !s
to recognize the onset of
brake fade and get the car
stopped before Lt gets worse.
* .

2. When the brakes don't
take hold until the pedal al-
moat touches the floor, this is
known as excessive pedal trav-
el and is a serious problem.

If not corrected, it will
lead to a total brake failure.

Asimple sdjustment may

‘cure the problem, but a

complete system check is
called for because there
may be a leak or other crit-.
ical hydraulic defect. If the
pedal goes all the way to
the floor, do not attempt to
drive; have your car towed
to a repair shop.
* + *
3. Spongy pedal is usually

* caused hy air getting into the

hydraulic system when the
Auid level is low.

Correction may require
only a slmple “bleeding” job
that usually costs a few
dollars for an hour's labor.
But there could also be a

serious mechanical failure;

get a thorough Inspection,
‘ ,

* 8

4. Wheel pull or failure of
the car to stop in a straight
line can result from a defec-
tive brake or simple malad-
justment.

It can also be caused by
excessive wear somewhere
in the steering system or an

oll leak from an axle.

But don’t treat it as an
gnnoyance; It will probably
get worse — perhaps sud-
denly — and it could easily
cause you to lose control of
your car, Have it looked at
right away.

. *. a

5. Squeal somelimes comes
from certain brands of extra-
hard brake linings, ;

it’s annoying, but not nec-
essarily a danger sign, On
the other hand, the noise
may result from a mechan-
jeal malfunction or worn
lining, ;

Excessive or sudden new
brake squeal calls for a
checkup.

*

.

6. Drag may he caused by
many things, but the scraping
sound isa sure sign that some-
thing is wrong.

To neglect dragging
brakes (partly engaged) will
not only allow them to ruin
themselves but will inevi-
tably lead to a total failure,

s 6 &€

7. Pulsation or chatter, a
vibrating sensation you may
Feel at the pedal or notice at
the wheel, comes from a loose
support plate or from a bro-
ken or out-of-round drum.

It is usually a minor
problem to correct but it
needs immediate attention.

Keep this in mind about
brakes: when defective they
never get better of thelr
own eccord; they only get
worse, And when e defect
shows up, total failure may
be only seconds away.

No Need to Rough It with RV Camping

Camping is no longer just
pitching a canvas tent and
building a campfire. Today,
feople “campout” in elab-
orate . trailers and motor-

homes, vans, pick-up camp- -

ersand fold-out tent trailers.
A handful of die-hards still
pitch tents but they are
usually made of modern
materials such as nylon of
polyester.

Some people like to
combine recreational ve-
hicle camping with tent
camping by taking along a
small ‘tent forthe kids. But
most adults prefer to enjoy
the various degrees of
comfort offered by a
recreational vehicle.

If you have not tried
camping in an RV, you can
even rent one for a summer
vacation. Rental RYs are
available from private
owners or RV dealers.
Trailers, motorhomes, vans,
tent trailers and pick-up
campers are ail available
with the rental price deter-

mined by the type of vehicle
rented _and the length of the
rental, A standard Ameri-
can automobile_can pull a
trailer and even compact
cars can iow the fold-out

tent trailers. Motor homes -

and vans have their own
engines and camper units fit
on the beds of pick-up
trucks.

. You can visit any of the

more than’l5,00) public and .

private campgrounds located
across the United States and

Canada in your RY. Many

campgrounds offer water
and electrical hookups in
addition to laundry facilities,
recreation rooms, swimming
pools, showers, picnic areas
and barbeques. Many
campgrounds are located in
state or national parks with
access to beaches, lakes,
rivers,- mountains, and
hiking trails.

Most campgrounds charge
anywhere from $2 to $ila
night for ‘an RV, depending
on what facilities are

available, There is no charge
for camping in a national
forest; however, you will not
find any facilities except

-.perhaps pit toilets. National

forest campgrounds appeal
to campers who like to
“rough it” or péeple in
completely . self-contained
RY¥s,

Most RVs are equipped
with at least a two-burner
stove for cooking, a refrig-
eration compartment that
uses ice, and a sink with a
cold-water tap. More ela-
borate trailers and motor-
homes offer hot and cold
running water, bath tubs

and showers, heating, air .
conditioning and even a.

microwave oven!

Camping in an RV is a
good way for a family to
travel and enjoy the outdoor
life with some of: the
comforts of home included.
Give it a try, there is an RV

‘available to suit every

lifestyle!

Happy Hiking

Many state and national
parks and forests offer
excellent hiking trails that
take visitors through beauti-
ful scenery, Even parks that
don't allow overnight
camping often have hiking
trails for daytime explorers. -

If you are not an experi-
enced hiker or you are out of
shape, stick to fairly easy,
marked trails that do not
caver rugged terrain, Read
the signs and markers that
usually offer information
about the native vegelation,
historical events and what to
expect on thetrail. Walkata

ceearitatet ot sesararen
9,4 00et, On oro 76.408:
ie ee aratet eter

A Fishy Tale!

When the wind is in the
East,
Then the fishes bite the
least:
‘When the wind is in the
“West:
Then the-lishes bite the best:
When the wind is in the

comfortable pace and enjoy
the scenery. Stop occasion-
ally and just look around at
the natural beauty of the
setting.

Many parks offer con-
ducted tours lead by rangers
who relate interesting
information about the area.
Other parks may offer loops
that cover a section of the
park or the entire park.

Gradually take longer
hikes until you are ready for
an all-day hike, Unless you
are an expert at wilderness

North,
Then the fishes do come
forth:
When the wind is in the
South,
It blows the bait in the
fish’s maduth.

—Anonymous

venture off on seldom-used
trails.

+

Open: Mon.-Sat. 9 a.m.-Gp.m.
CLOSED SUNDAY

It’s Vacation Time!

Vacation enjoyment al-
most always means driving
to get there. It’s great when
you arrive, but thedriver has
a lot to contend with on the
way. In the daytime, there is
bright light striking through
the windshield and at night,
the flash of oncoming
headlights creates a tiring
problem.

Paradoxically, sunglasses
can help provide better
seeing both day and night —
although under ‘no circum-
stances should sunglasses
ever be worn whendriving in
the dark. .

Wearing sunglasses on a
bright day, especially if you
are going to be driving at

night later on, is an impor-_

tant safety measure. Without
daytime eye protection,
your night vision may be
diminished by an overload
of brightness and you could

be driving at night with your .

visual acuity cut in half
without even realizing that
you are not seeing asclearly
as normal. Wearing sun-
glasses, then, during the day
helps to protect your night
vision. However, remember
to never wear sunglasses to
drive in the dark, no matter
what anyone might tell you
about how they kill the glare
of on-coming headlights.
Sunglasses do diminish
headlight glare, but they can
do it on}y by reducing all the
other light to a dangerously
low level. Daytime-glare

. problems are the ones that

can easily be helped by
wearing the right kind of
sunglasses.

But what is glare?

Glare is largely horizon-
tally polarized, reflected

light bouncing off aspecular
surface such as the road,
cars in front of you, packed
snow, wet pavements and
any other reflective area.
Horizontally reflected glace
is a bright sheen — useless
light that “brings no infor-
mation to your eyes and
actually may obscure what
you need to see to drive
safely.

Everyone who drives has
experienced sudden blinding
glare, At a bend in the road
or as you pull out to pass
another car, the“ world is
suddenly covered with 4
sheen of white light. You
may find yourself driving

-“blind™ for 1 to 5 seconds.

Obviously, that’s not a
pleasant prospect.
Polarizing sunglass lenses,
such as those found in all
Polaroid synglasses, have a
molecular ‘structure which
screens out as much as 99%
of the-horizontaily reflected
glare and allows useful light
to reach your eyes so you
can see the road in front of
you, comfortably and safely.

There are other safe-
seeing precautions a good
driver takes as well. Before
you start out, be sure ail
your car windows are clean,
inside as well as out. Do not
leave maps and other
articles on the dashboard
where they will reflect in the
windshield. Be sure your
headlights are properly
adjusted to give your eyes
the best possible view of the
road without blinding
oncoming drivers. Remem-
ber to have the headlights
cleaned off too, as they are
subject to the same road dirt
as your windshield.

Always keep more than
one pair of sunglasses in the
car so thal you will never
have to drive without their
protection. And you can
also extend to your passen-
gers the comfort of protec-
lion against bothersome
glare light.

He sure your driving
sunglasses are comfortable,
fit lightly but firmly and give
your eyes a wide field of
vision. Wide temples -can
block your peripheral vision
which is highly important to
safe driving, so when you try
on sunglasses, don’t just

look straight ahead — test .

how wide your field of vision
is with them on. You'll need
the full range of it.

To avoid handicapping
your vision, take your
sunglasses off as soonas the
day’s glare has diminished.
Twilight is a good time to
plan a meal stop, staying off
the road until all the carsare
properly lighted and your
rested eyes are betler ready
for the job ahead

" eect tata
Have Camera,

Part of the fun of taking a
vacation is in looking at
photos taken during your
trip.

Make sure you have
plenty of film with you
before you leave — you
don't want to be caught
short just when you discover
an exceptionally scenic area
or a summer Testival. Be-
sides, film is usually costier
al vacation spots.

Be sure you know your
camera; nothing is so disap-
pointing as finding that you
didn't load that borrowed
cumera properly and don't
have a single photo sou-
venir!

635-8384

Specializing in Quality Handcrafted Items

GEMSTONE JEWELLERY « CERAMICS
“SCROOD” WOODCRAFTS : MACRAME -

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