Clean Air

Clean Air

Sir,

In the very early thirties, when I was flying aircraft such as Gypsy Moths, Fox, Puss and Leopard Moths, I owned three very fine motor cars; a Lancia Lambda, a 20/60 and, later, a 30/98 Vauxhall. The two Vauxhalls, I believe, are still running round Johannesburg.

What puzzles me is that none of these cars was fitted with an air cleaner, and in those days there were far more dirt roads than tar in S. Africa. Admittedly the revs, were lower, the 30/98 fired about once every lamp post at 6o; but the dust made up for that as far as gulping trouble through the carburettor intakes was concerned.

Why then must every car today be fitted with air cleaners? I am puzzled.

I wish your G. P. Boys wouldn’t get so worked up about Jody Scheckter’s way of driving. He’s merely following what our Government calls the S. African way of life. Out here the general idea is to get in front and stay there, even if it means motoring a family saloon at ten tenths downhill.

Keep up your fine magazine; it’s something to look forward to every month.

Plaston, E. ‘Transvaal. J. WOLSTEHOLME.