Date:         Sat, 12 Dec 1998 17:31:35 -0800
Reply-To:     YauMan Chan <YAUMAN@CCHEM.BERKELEY.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         YauMan Chan <YAUMAN@CCHEM.BERKELEY.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Friday - Geo Metro Race
Comments: To: kevinm@RED.PRIMEXTECH.COM, vanagon@VANAGON.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

Thanks.. that's a funny story.... 

In 1975 I was back home in Borneo to visit my mother.  She just bought a new car.. Diahatshu Charade (which later made it's appearance in this fine country as the Geo.)  But this 3-cylinder marvel has only 850cc but it came with air condition (Required in the equatorial rain forest.)  She let me use it to putt around to visit my high school girl friends.  I noticed a big blue push button switch on the dash marked "Accel"  Hmm.. I ask my mom if it is like a cruise control acceleration.. No. it doesn't have a cruise control.. And she proceed to explain to me what it does.  

When driving with your air-cond on, and and you feel the need to pass some slower car, press this "accel" switch to give it a boost in acceleration!  What does this do? Inject nitro in the fuel.?  No..silly boy.. it disengages the air condition compresser clutch to unload the engine and let you accelerate!  Those Japanese engineers.. they think of everything!

What a concept!!... what a button!!.. I should put in in my Vanagon too..

Yau-Man
87 GL