_June 1908._--Prinz Heinrich Trophy, Germany. Made absolute non-stop run on 45 horse-power Napier. Won large silver placque. _July 1908._--Aston Hill Climb, Aston Clinton. Made second fastest time of over 50 competitors on 60 horse-power Napier. _August 1908._--France. Trouville, La Côte du Calvaire. THE WOMAN AND THE CAR [Illustration: _Photo. H. W. Nicholls._ “DRIVE YOUR OWN CAR”] THE WOMAN AND THE CAR CHAPTER I THE CAR--ITS COST, UP-KEEP AND ACCESSORIES Motoring as a Pastime for Women--Patience of more Value than Nerve--Selection of a Car--Single-cylinder the best for Women who are going to drive themselves and attend to the Mechanism--Cost of a Small Car--Necessary Accessories and their Cost--Expense of Up-keep--The necessary Licences and the Cost. Patience, the capacity for taking pains, is of more value than the most ponderous nerve. You may be afraid, as I am, of driving in a hansom through the crowded streets of town--you may be afraid of a mouse, or so nervous that you are startled at the slightest of sudden sounds--yet you can be a skilful motorist, and enjoy to the full the delights of this greatest of out-door pastimes, if you possess patience--the capacity for taking pains. Motoring is a pastime for women: young, middle-aged, and--if there are any--old. There may be pleasure in being whirled around the country by your friends and relatives, or in a car driven by your chauffeur; but the real, the intense pleasure, the actual realisation of the pastime comes only when you drive your own car. I have hunted--and was one with those who declare that the most glorious of all out-door life is in the saddle, on a fast, clean-jumping hunter; but when, by accident, I took up motoring I found the exhilaration, the delights of the gallop doubled. It fascinated me, and it will fascinate any woman who tries it. I am writing this little book not so much for those women who have already taken up motoring, but for those who would like to, but either dare not because of nervousness, or who imagine it is too difficult to understand the many necessary details. In the following chapters I will endeavour to explain everything in the simplest possible manner, without lapsing into confusing technicalities. The first thing to discuss is the car. There are scores of makes, good, bad and indifferent. I have tried many different makes and have come to the conclusion that the De Dion is an ideal single-cylinder car for a woman to drive. It combines simplicity with reliability--two very important items to the automobiliste.