Keeping Up With the Joneses
Page 30

Page 31

If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
' HAVE been hearing some distressing stories lately about
crankshaft failures in diesel engines, and it appears that the cause of the trouble can be divided between motorways and the more powerful engines now being fitted in British heavies. Apparently there are operators who run new and old vehicles in tandem and, being gregarious by nature, the drivers like to stick together.
This is all right for the fellow in front with the powerful engine, but the tail-end Charley—doing his own version of "keeping up with the Joneses "—has to do some pretty nifty work with strong springs and pennies to "adjust" his engine governor to enable him to keep up. Hence the broken crankshafts—and a big bill for the vehicle owner.
Operators would do well to bear this in mind and should try to keep their "convoys" down to vehicles of one type and power. •
Recalled to Mind
"D°you remember making an application to increase your B licence radius from 15 to 150 miles," asked B.T.C. solicitor.
"No, I never did," said the applicant. "I've never wanted to go that far, never."
" Never" queried the solicitor. " No sir." " But. ybu did," interposed the L.A. "Here is the form in your own handwriting."
"Ah, well, I must have made a mistake and dropped a n after the 15."
"But you added the words 'unrestricted mileage or' t the 150 . . . and in your own handwriting, too."
" Well, fancy that, and me never remembering it eithi
Abnormal Us w HAT is the Ministry going to do about Cri VY Airport?" inquired Mr. D. 1. R. Muir, the Metrop Licensing Authority.
"Well, it is doing very well already. It is making far money than it ever did when it really was an airport,' the witness. "They've just had our place painted throut It looks as though we might remain there for anything be ,three and 10 years more."
An example, no doubt, of this "abnormal user" th hear so much about in the traffic courts.
Pennies Pl•
THERE must be numerous occasions when drivers
make reverse-charge telephone calls to their depot! method dispensing with the need to carry'pocketfuls of pe sixpences and shillings. How annoying, therefore, to fin four pennies are needed in the coin boxes of the publii phones at the Ml Newport Pagnell service area befoi I n be contacted. It's time these outdated exchange re abolished, particularly on Europe's most modern
Say it with Flowers
the introduction of their Daffodil car, van Doorne's obielfabriek, N.V. (DAF), of Eindhoven, Holland, 3f their friends a dozen large daffodil bulbs. As ling mine the other day (a bit late, I know, but the Dutch know when to dispatch their bulbs) a
■ ssed my mind: supposing Leyland Motors had had a when they introduced their latest Lion, Hippo and )dels. .