The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

PAGE »• PLAINDEALER • FRIDAY. OCTOBER 3.1*80 Pothole tab is $5.6 billion without counting wasted gas Almost every driver has had the experience, at one time or another, of hearing the cninch and feeling the thud of the chuckhole he didn't see. Many have had to get wheels re­ aligned or repairs done to their brake, steering or suspension systems because they hit one of these menaces. All told, this year motorists will shell out about $3.5 billion to repair brake, steering and suspension systems damaged by driving over cracked and broken pavement and another $2.1 billion for tire wear and damage, according to The Road Information Program (TRIP). And that doesn't even take into account the estimated $13.6 billion in added fuel bills caused by driving over poor roads, or the cost of accidents caused by potholes, or even such common things as lost hubcaps and bent wheel rims. For individual motorists, the cost of repairing all this damage can be a big expense. A major wheel alignment involving ad­ justments of the caster, camber and toe-in cost just over $20 in 1976. Three years later, the price had jumped to nearly $28. Things could be worse. TRIP reports that American motorists got something of a break this year because last winter was milder than usual. As a result, drivers had to contend with "only" 82 million potholes. While that was down 13 percent from a year ago, it still repre­ sented an average of 42 pot­ holes per mile of paved road. Although the number of pot- Perilous potholes such as this are costing American motorists billions of dollars a year In damage to brake, steering and suspension systems as well as tires and wheels. holes declined this year, the cost of plugging them with asphalt filler, which is made from pe­ troleum, did not. State highway departments will spend about $300 million dollars just to fill potholes this year. That's an in­ crease of 17 percent from a year ago. And because the patches often are temporary, many of those potholes will reappear in the same places next year. "Potholes are really symp­ tomatic of a larger ailment," said TRIP chairman H. W. Reece. "More than 42 percent of all paved roads in this coun­ try suffer from cracks, bumps and broken pavement." Reece called for a "massive - resurfacing program that would keep us from having to fill the same potholes year after year at ever increasing prices." SyUWVWVSMWVVWWVWVUVVWVIIUIIVVVVIAIIAAIVWWWVVUVVVWWVUVVWVy; TRAILERS ARE OUR SPECIALTY! See McHenry's Trailer Specialists For All Types Of Trailers And Trailer Accessories... Reese Hitch Distributor ADAMS ENTERPRISES (815)385-5970 Shocking feeling could mean it's lime to gel hew shocks 3017 W. Rto. 120 u III. Car's bouncing like a bronco at a rodeo, you say? Podner, could be it's time for new shocks. As any savvy mechanic will tell you, shock absorbers go to the top of the list as the compo­ nents more neglected by the av­ erage motorist than just about anything else. You can go along virtually ignoring your shock absorbers until suddenly--whoops!-- your stomach takes off over that big dip in the road. Or the car body threatens to divorce the chassis on that sharp turn. Fluid leakage is the most common reason why shock ab­ sorbers need replacing, but it's not the only one. Worn mounting bushings or, for that matter, broken mount­ ings can make a shock absorber just as useless. Picture the piston like device that keeps your storm door from slamming. A shock absorber works very much like this a telescoping tube with a piston inside. Fluid inside the tube passes through several small openings in the piston as it moves in and out. One end of the tube is con nected to the car's suspension system while the other is at tachcd to the body or frame. As the automobile passes over the bump or moves into a turn, the shock absorber tele scopes accordingly, cushioning the sudden change in course. New shock absorbers won't compensate for badly wom sus­ pension components. But in­ stalling a heavy-duty type of shock absorber on an older model car to compensate tor suspension parts that have lim bered up can help to restore that new-car ride. Car Share Down Good news: Cars cost less. Who says? The Automotive In­ formation Council. AIC says a typical 1980 car costs 36% of a median family annual income. This is down from 38% in 1970, more than hall in 1960 and 70% in 1950. The Bureau of Labor Statistics found cat costs below average in cost in creases, tailing below medical cure, food and housing prices. Turn to the NaTioiNiaL BclMK OF MCHPNRY For Your Next Auto Loan. OUR NEW CAR RATE IS 12.83% A.P.R.! One good turn deserves another. If you are planning on buying a new car, finance it at the 1st. Our low interest bank rates will save you money. Whether or not you have an account with us, visit our loan department and arrange for an auto loan to suit your budget. Shop around for the car of your choice assured that the money will be available when you need it. When you come to the 1st, you will know you made the right turn. LOAN OFFICE HOURS Mon., Tue»., Thurs. Wednesday, Sat. Friday 9.00 AM to 3:00 PM 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM 9:00 AM to 7:30 PM Serving the banking needs of the McHenry area. M M Nai Member FDIC NaTIONclL BatVIK OF M< HeiMRY 3814 WEST ELM STREET P 0 BOX 338 McHENRY, ILLINOIS 60050 815 385 5400 " M 1 ' I U I I I ' . . ' l i , . V . j j i