Soaring gasoline prices in the Chicago area call for economical driving if motorists don't want to feel broke after each fill-up.

With gasoline prices topping $3 a gallon, it will pay to employ the fuel-saving techniques used by economy driving contest champions of the 1950s and 1960s. That's when economy driving contests such as the Mobilgas Economy Run drew national media coverage.

The economy champs could coax heavy cars with poor aerodynamics, largely inefficient engines and old-style bias-ply tires to get 24 to 29 miles per gallon, which says a lot for their techniques. Most drivers couldn't reach the 20 mpg mark then.

The average modern car is far more economical than old autos, thanks to such things as lighter weights, less wind resistance, radial tires and electronically controlled engines and automatic transmissions. But the old economy driving techniques still can help you keep fuel bills down considerably.

Here are many of the gasoline-saving tips used by the fuel-economy champs.

Make sure your car or truck is in good mechanical shape, although even vehicles in marginal condition will provide high mpg figures if driven economically. The engine should start quickly and operate smoothly. The transmission should shift efficiently. And brakes should be adjusted so they don't drag. Dirty air filters decrease fuel economy, as do defective radiator thermostats.

The heavier the vehicle, the lower the fuel economy because it takes more fuel to get it moving. Thus, don't let your car or truck carry unnecessary weight. Store nonessential items in your garage or home.

Correct inflation will result in tires having less rolling resistance for better economy. The lower the resistance, the better the economy. Inflating tires several pounds above factory recommended pressures will further increase miles per gallon. The 1950s economy driving champs always inflated tires above recommended pressures.

Make sure tires are correctly aligned so they don't fight forward motion.

Don't let a cold engine idle for more than 15 seconds because it guzzles gasoline until warmed up. But let it idle for that number of seconds to allow sufficient time for oil to reach critical engine areas and prevent fuel-eating friction.

After starting out, drive at moderate speeds for a few miles to warm up both the engine and the entire vehicle. Less fuel will be consumed if all parts are at correct operating temperatures. The vehicle usually is warmed up when the temperature gauge says the engine is at the correct operating temperature.

Upshift as soon as possible with a manual transmission to keep the engine at a low rpm level, where it uses much less gasoline. It's often possible to shift from first to third gear_and then to top gear with no complaint from the driveline. Some cars allow easy second-gear starts. But don't shift from second to top gear because that will put too much stress on driveline components.

An automatic transmissions upshifts more quickly to its top -- or overdrive -- fuel-saving gear if acceleration is moderate.

Accelerate casually, and drive smoothly_as if there's is an egg between your foot and the gas pedal. Jerky driving that involves such things as jackrabbit starts squanders fuel. Accelerate slowly on slippery roads to prevent tire spin_another fuel-waster.

Keep speed down. The faster you go, the more gasoline a car or truck uses.

Activate the cruise control system on highways because it allows a more steady, fuel-conserving pace.

Drive in as straight a line as possible. For example, changing lanes a lot causes your vehicle to cover more distance and thus use more gasoline.

Drive "ahead of yourself" to allow you to, for instance, gradually speed up to pass a vehicle. Sudden bursts of acceleration when moving aren't as bad as jackrabbit starts, but also squander fuel.

Maintain momentum and use the brakes as little as possible; it takes lots of fuel to build up speed that braking burns off with no benefit to your wallet. Coast as much as possible when approaching stop signs or stoplights. This technique allows the engine to stay at idle speeds when the car is moving.

Slowly increase speed by 10-15 mph when nearing steep or long hills so the additional momentum gets your vehicle up the hill more economically. Ease off the gas pedal and let gravity help the vehicle down the other side.

Slow down if your vehicle is fighting a strong headwind, which makes its engine use more gasoline. This is especially important with trucks, which have worse aerodynamics than cars.

Avoid stop-and-go driving. If caught in heavy traffic, keep a light foot on the throttle, maintain a good distance from vehicles ahead and drive with as little engine help as possible.

Turn off the engine if sitting for more than a minute in a standing vehicle while, say, waiting for a train to pass.

Use your right foot to brake. Instructors at advanced driving schools say that motorists who brake with their left foot tend to brake more often than necessary -- disrupting momentum.

Windows left open above 45 mph increase fuel-robbing wind drag. Close them and use the air conditioner. Roof-mounted cargo carriers also cause aerodynamic drag that causes more fuel to be used.

Make it a game to see how much you can improve fuel economy. It's especially interesting if your vehicle has a computer that provides instant and average fuel-economy readouts.