AUTOMOBILE NOTES 



403 



problem, of course, is to build a fast car, one 

 that will maintain an average of sixty miles 

 an hour easily, that will come under the 2,200 

 pounds limit yet be perfectly strong and re- 

 liable. This combination cannot be secured 

 hap-hazard. Slip-shod methods absolutely 

 preclude the possibility of making a good car, 

 and the greatest skill is required in the de- 

 signing of parts so that they will be very 

 strong and at the same time very light. My 

 thoughts all along on this subject were to 

 the effect that ,any good manufacturer could 

 stick a big motor in a light chassis, and with 

 proper luck and skilful driving make a first- 

 rate showing, if not win the Gordon-Bennett. 

 It also seemed more logical to limit the 

 size of the cylinders when limiting the weight 

 of the car, or by some other rule limit the 

 production of useless freaks. I am willing to 

 say, however, that the 2,000 pound-rule is a 

 just and a very simple one, and that the pro- 

 duction of these big racing cars is valuable 

 experience for the manufacturer. 



A. A. A.— AMERICAN AUTOMOBILE 

 ASSOCIATION. 



The American Automobile Association, kit 

 and caboodle, has been to the repair shop 

 this spring, and with what seemed to be very 

 gratifying results. Messrs. Lee, Morrell, and 

 Batchelder might be likened to a new fly- 

 wheel, a new engine, and a new transmission 

 gear, respectively, for the old A. A. A. ma- 

 chine. 



Mr. Elliott C. Lee and Mr. Robert Lee 

 Morrell are delightful gentlemen, enthusias- 

 tic pioneer automobilists, and singularly well 

 fitted for their positions. Mr. Lee is the new 

 president, and Mr. Morrell is the new chair- 

 man of the Racing Board. Mr. George 

 Batchelder, with his long newspaper train- 

 ing and experience in executive work in Na- 

 tional bicycle 'Organizations, should prove a 

 valuable man for the post of secretary. 



With these active and capable officers in 

 charge, the old A. A. A. machine ought to 

 run better this year than ever before. 



A CIRCLE OF SHOWS. 



Since the big national show in New York 

 last January, there has been a succession of 

 similar exhibits in all of the large cities, and 

 the great number of exhibits and the serious, 

 curious crowds which have examined them 

 reflect the tremendous interest in automo- 

 biles in the country this year. 



The automobile show is an excellent thing. 

 It gives the small manufacturer an oppor- 

 tunity to do excellent advertising at very 

 little expense, in many cases it is the one 

 great opportunity of the year for him to dis- 

 play his wares to advantage. It is equally 

 valuable for the large builder on account of 

 the big business which is sure to be done and 



the number of cars which he can sell if his 

 product is all right. The show is of great 

 value to the purchaser because all of the cars 

 in which he is interested are brought together 

 under the same roof, and he may study them 

 carefully, comparing their good points, and 

 he may then later try such cars on the road 

 for a short run so as to compare their re- 

 spective running qualities, hill climbing abili- 

 ties, etc. And, of course, the show is of great 

 value to the uninitiated. 



Many people cannot decide at the show, 

 and it is small wonder. The cars look alike; 

 the salesmen are all equally plausible, and the 

 trial rides may not settle the matter. Of 

 course those who do not purchase promptly 

 need not expect prompt delivery, as a general 

 rule, and that is why shows are so valuable 

 from a business point of view and wjiy so 

 much business is done at them. 



Apropos of this matter of choosing an 

 automobile, Recreation cannot put itself in 

 the position of recommending any particular 

 types of cars, but subscribers are invited to 

 send into this department all the questions 

 that they may wish relative to automobiles. 



SELECTION OF AN AUTOMOBILE. 

 One of the most interesting things con- 

 cerning automobiles which I have come 

 across recently is the publication of a large 

 number of letters from users, giving rheir 

 reasons for selecting the particular type of 

 car which they purchased. These results 

 were received in reply to a circular which was 

 sent out by The Autocar, asking for the 

 opinion of automobile users as to the value 

 of reliability trials, endurance contests and 

 such public competitions. 



The general opinion seemed to be that the 

 performance of cars in public trials had very 

 little weight with the prospective purchaser; 

 the disinterested advice of personal friends 

 who had had much experience with auto- 

 mobiles was by far the best guide to the larg- 

 est number ; others had been greatly assisted 

 by the advertising of some of the automobile 

 firms and by the demonstrations of trial rides 

 given by the manufacturers or agents. Every 

 one of these letters was extremely interesting, 

 and the collection brought out the fact that 

 the average purchaser must be sorely puzzled 

 in these days as to just what car is most suit- 

 able for his purpose. 



INTEREST IN STEAM CARS. 



One of the best shows held this year was 

 at Boston. The number of exhibits was larg- 

 er and the floor-space greater even than at 

 Madison Square Garden. The ample room, 

 and quiet and uniform decorations provided 

 an atmosphere of dignity and modified com- 

 mercialism which was entirely lacking at a.ny 

 of the other shows in v the large cities. The 



