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W6HB9DU

Because it happens that I have on my other car a somewhat seldom plate and I think it could be interesting you in writing you book. Enclosed you will find a bad drawing of the plate. It shows: W6HB9DU.

I will try to answer your questions: License plate W6HB9DU State: CA Car Make: DAF Model: 46 Year: 1974 Color: brown

(About the car: In 1974 the Dutch Automobil Fabrieken (Holland) made a series of experimental cars, the so called DAF. They were never exported to U.S. The weird thing is, that the car has no gears. After the automatic vacuum-driven clutch the rotation is going on two wheels with V-belts. The V-belts go to similar wheels sitting on the rear axle. Now when you start, you press the gas. Motor starts running. As soon as the vacuum is built up, the clutch transmits the power to the first V-wheel. This wheel is held narrow, so the V-belt is in the lowest diameter. The next V-wheel is held at its largest diameter, so the transmission ration is 1:10, that means the car begins to run. As soon as the motor feels that he needs less power, the vacuum opens the first V-wheel and closes the second V-wheel. So the transmission ratio goes to 1:1. If you still have you foot on the gas, it goes faster and faster, until the transmission ration is 10:1, that means full speed. Because there are no teeth-wheels, that changement is very soft and quick. The car always stays on that velocity which you are chosing with your gas-foot. When it comes to a hill, the motor automatically changes to the best torque. That means that you make big savings in gasoline. Being an experimental car the speed limit is in the 80. But you can drive it as fast backwards as forwards only by changing a little lever! When I moved from Switzerland to California, I took that car with me.

My age: 80 sex: male Full description or meaning of license:

Ham radio operators have a call sign. The first Californian hams had W6 and after the 6 personal call letters. The international call for Swiss hams is HB9, followed by personal call-letters. My Swiss call is HB9DU. When I am working my ham radio station here, I work on a reciprocal license from the FCC. So my call must be W6 HB9DU. So every other ham in the world knows: this is a Swiss radio amateur working from a location in California. And when you are driving with that license plate the amateur behind you on the road can recognize you.

 

©1994 by Dennis R. Cowhey
All rights reserved.
Library of Congress Number: 94-96301 Guest Post