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PAGE 8-SUPPLEMENT TO McHENRY PLAINDEALER-OCTOBER 3 Keep left center of your lane for safety ,ire * » • ' 2 . H e a v y s h o e s o r b o o t s is advice from expert to motorcyclists ankle protection for any * * eventuality you may en- By KENNY ROBERTS Yamaha Team Captain 1973-74 AM A Grand National Champion Motorcycle riding is just about the most exhilarat­ ing form of transportation available today. And in these times of fluctuating fuel supplies and ever higher prices, it certainly is the most economical form of motoring. Yet, when I see some of the personal equipment worn by motorcyclists rid­ ing along the highways and expressways of the nation and some of their maneuvers, it positively terrifies me. » You may think that is a peculiar statement com­ ing from a guy who, on two wheels, has been clocked through the traps of Daytona (Fla.) Inter­ national Speedway at just over 190 miles an hour in tests for Yamaha. I want that helmet, the We can only give Auto Loans To folks who ask for them. Pay us a vis!. We have payment plans deigned to ft almost any budget. Let our finance specialists put you in the "car of your dreams"today. "The Wednesday Bank" THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK Of McHENRY 3814 W. ELM McHENRY 385-5400 best available . . . and a lot counter. These could be more. of the lace-up or buckle Also, I want that light type used in motocross or turned on because Of the trials riding. They have visibility factor, even at been perfected for motor- high noon on the bright- cycling safety. (I shudder est of days. You'd be sur- to recall it but do you prised how often its beam know, I once saw a guy is the only thing that Will riding our freeway in . capture the attention of a sandals?) motorist ahead, letting 3. Strong, supple gloves him know you are there. that afford protection to As to personal equip- the hands, yet enable you ment, here are the things to operate with the neces- that I strongly recommend sary freedom of your con- if you are going to ride the trols. highways and streets. 4. Heavy pants and a 1. A top-quality helmet, durable jacket of some of course, preferably of sort that will protect the the full-face variety and legs and arms from those with a strong shield. Sun- things that may be kicked glasses or the skin on your up by the car in front, forehead aren't going to Your basic rules for rid- protect you from that ing are the same as they stone or metal bolt that are for driving an auto­ mobile, with some minor adjustments to give you an even better cushion in the matter of safety. An example of the lat­ ter: on a well-traveled thoroughfare, always stay a little bit to the left of center in your lane. That keeps you out of that slick created in the middle of the lane that has been s ' caused by oil dripping from countless cars. j i i a jIPI Ih It also offers the best • r "V" vis ib i l i ty f rom a "defen- Kobtrts sive" standpoint. That mo- may be kicked square in- torist in front Of yOU has McHenry County's Largest AMC/Jeep Dealership! Cheek Our Quality Used Cars! Mitchell Amc/Jeep "THE PEOPLE PLEASERS" Order that NEW 76 Gremfim, Hornet, Pacer or Matador Near and $ave( Purchase any new or used car and receive FREE grease & oil change for as long as you own the car! Cone See... Come Drive EVERY CAR ON I HE LOT GOES huge discount / (Only v Fin 9 1975 AMCi LEFT! Final Clearance Sale On New! OCTOBER SPECIAL! 13 Point Winterizing Check: •1295 HPS DISPLAY/ n Mitchell Amc/Jeep 907 N. FRONT ST. McHENRY (815)385-0403 NOW ON DAYS A WEEK his rear view mirror cock­ ed more to the left than to dead center or the right. He also is required to have a side mirror on the left side of the car. Seldom does he have one on the right. Thus, your visibility factor is better to the left of center of your lane. And by that I don't mean straddling the lane. That is one of the most violated rules to be seen in rush-hour congestion on the freeways and ex­ pressways in and around any large city. That kind of riding is foo lha rdy . Motor i s t s switching lanes are not al­ ways aware of a motor­ cyclist buzzing through be­ tween lanes. He has those blind spots built into his car. He also probably can't hear you because his radio is playing and, in most cases, his windows are closed. There also is another -\spect here. Usually, the texture of that divider strip on the highway is slick ... just as slick as oil. It is only common cour­ tesy to stay in your lane, stopping when the cars in front of you stop. Naturally, the mechani­ cal performance of your motorcycle also is a vital part of the picture. It needs periodic service and tuning, just as a car does. Cars in warm weather not immune The agonies of snow, shivering and skidding may^not plague motorists in the warm winter areas. But a fourth unpleasant 'S' is as much a problem in Miami as it is in Minne­ apolis, and in Vancouver, B.C. as it is in Montreal. And tha t i s S ta r t ing Trouble. According to the most recent Champion Spark Plug Company study of hard starting problems, warm weather area motor­ ists continue to have as much trouble as their col­ leagues in frigid climes. Percentage-wise, cars in the Pacific Coast regions of the United States were the leading victims of "can't starts." Three out of every 10 cars experi­ enced at least one starting failure during the winter. The best record was set by motorists in the cold New England states where a 25 per cent failure rate was registered. Cars in the south averaged a 27 per cent incidence of starting trouble, only slightly bet­ ter than a 28 per cent diffi­ culty rate in cold northern states. The Canadian story was similar. The warm weather area of British Columbia had a 29 per cent rate of starting trouble. Cold Que­ bec had a 26 per cent rate. Part of the reason for the discrepancy is tune-up purchase, Champion re­ ports. The New England and Quebec survey areas had the highest rate of tune-up purchase.