Transactions Volume 9, No. 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1914 Excerpt: ...is worth more than the mere mention which has been given it. Many think--as did England to her sorrow--that nothing but side-by-side seating will do. It is probable that road work and sales will dictate otherwise. In the first place, the cyclecar is a new vehicle and must look the part. It must have lines and not look square or squatty. It must have speed and roadability. It must have maximum comfort and style. In all of these points the tandem excels, and is a very close second to the side-by-side, public opinion to the contrary, in the matter of sociability. To drive it is a new sensation, which is not the case with side-by-side seating. There is plenty of seat and shoulder room, and above all the best springing possible and the best dust protection. It is not possible to give as ample dust protection with side-by-side seating as with tandem; this item is important, as the cars are so low that what is dust to a big car is grained sand to the cyclecar. The cyclecar must have much better dust protection and fender equipment than a big car. Again the tandem car is safe at steep angles. Both passengers leaning to one side can hold the vehicle steady at a 4O-degree angle, while in a side-by-side car the weight can be shifted but little and the lower passenger is at a great disadvantage. WIND RESISTANCE Second to the more comfortable springing of the tandem is the matter of wind resistance. The term "streamline" is much abused. We must thank aviation for our knowledge of the importance of the elimination of wind resistance, as pointed out by Mr. Twombly on a former occasion. At 20 miles an hour wind resistance is a small matter. At 40 it is worth noticing, at 50 it is an important item, but at 60 it is a real problem. One often drives against a 3o-mil...