THE STEERING COLUMN

Yesterday we descended a hill that was a challenge - a hill that was a 12 per cent grade for five miles and today we crossed over the Cascade Mountains.

Hill climbing on organized club tours is a lot different than long steep grades like these.  If you are going up a 12 per cent grade for more than a mile, you've obviously lost all your momentum and in hot weather, you have lost all of your cooling system's reserve.  There is a concern for overheating for the next 4 miles.

 I've learned some tricks to minimize the chances of overheating for the long haul.  Generally 2nd gear is best, drop down into first only if you have to.  The faster the car's ground speed is, the more air goes through the radiator and increases it's cooling effect, but this extra ground speed does not offset the heat built up in the engine from higher rpm's and the increased laboring of the engine.  Engine speed should be kept low but not so low that it causes lugging or unnecessary laboring.   If the engine speed is too high, extra heat is built up.  There is a "sweet spot" that needs to be found whereby the engine speed and labor in the engine are minimized.  This is where the engine is doing the most work for the least amount of effort.  Once you find this speed, maintain it for the entire ascent, then watch the motor meter (thermometer).  If you increase the engine speed, the temperature will rise.  If you decrease it, the temperature will also rise. I've been able to find this happy medium and have been able to climb at this rate for nearly an hour without overheating.  It was right on the verge, but I was able to keep it in check.  It's best to keep moving if at all possible, because if you stop for a brief time, the temperature goes up rapidly.  If you have to get down into first gear, the same rules apply, however, you have even less air going through the radiator because your ground speed is only 3 - 5 mph and it is less efficient.

Now we have reached the top of the hill.  Wheee!  We go sailing down the hill, right?  Not on your life!  Going down the hill can be dangerous and special precautions need to be taken seriously.  Generally, whatever gear you used to climb the hill, you use in your descent.  If you had to climb the hill in first gear, you had better come down in first gear.  I came down in first gear and still had to use my brakes some, alternating from foot brake to hand brake and also running two wheels on the soft shoulder where possible to create more drag.  It is important to not "ride" the brakes, that is, hold your foot on the brake pedal all the way down.  If you do, you will reach a point before you know it when the brakes have gotten hot, they've started to fade and and they will eventually stop working completely.  It's best to apply brakes for a few moments, then release, then apply again.  This allows for a good "test" to ensure that the brakes are still working.  At the very first sign of fading or if you smell them burning, stop the car immediately while the brakes still work.  Stay parked and be patient until things cool down.  Keep your speed down and don't take chances.

 It took us almost three hours to get over this mountain range, but we did it safely, the engine didn't overheat, and there was no loss of brakes.

......AND THAT'S ALL PART OF MOTORING.......