MOTOR SPORT
Tall’s/zed on /le grsl ofeaclz Monill !Price Pfeil /4/per annum postifee No. 10 incorporating THE BROOKLANDE GAZETTE PROPRIETORS RADCLYFFE & HUTCHINGS, LTD., 28 VICTORIA STREET LONDON, s.w.i. Telephone: Victoria 5021. Edited by RICHARD TWELVETREES, A.M.I.MECH.E., M.S.A.E., (France). VOL. 3. APRIL, 1927.
EDITORIAL NOTES. Is Motoring Sport on the Decline ?
N a recent issue we published a letter from an American correspondent, who deplored the condition of
motorcycle and motoring sport in that country. Readers will doubtless remember the somewhat scathing comments on the uses of the car in the U.S.A. and the terribly unsporting atmosphere of the average race meet ing, even the really important races being robbed of much potential interest by the fact that nearly all the
competing cars are the product of one brain, and are merely purchased by seekers after publicity, to be named after the marques which they are intended to represent.
We are happy to say that, so far at least, the condition of the sport in this country has not approached such a pass, but we notice with apprehension several ominous symptoms that lead us to believe that such a day is not so very far distant.
In the first place, among the large and flourishing motor manuf acting concerns in this country, how many are even faintly interested in serious racing ? The answer is two—an one of these, we suspect, is mainly influenced by its Gallic associations.
Again, what British concern can meet the challenge of the small French sports car that is seen on the road in ever increasing numbers ? The answer here is -none, the only possible candidate being ruled out on the score of price. Lastly there is that never changing spirit of opposition and conservation which effectually chokes at its birth any attempt at extending or improving the facilities of motoring sport ; we have the same old B.A.R.C. programme with its 956th 90 m.p.h. Long Handicap and so forth, and the same apathy towards the Road Race Bill, never ending delays in the passing of the New Motor Car Act and a still smouldering spirit of ” motorphobia” throughout the country. In America there has never been a strong anti-motoring feeling–everyone has his car and enjoys using it, up to a point, yet as a sport, motoring is dead: is it not wonderful then
that in this country the sport should have survived so long ? And is it not almost incredible that it should continue in existence for more than a year or so at the most ?
There is, it is true, a small body of enthusiastic individuals who support such motor races as are to be found in the country, but we fear that even these will tire of a sport which rouses so little interest and enthusiasm.
The one bright spot in the whole question is the condition of British motorcycle sport. We still have our scrambles, our M.C.C. events and the big open Trials and large numbers of ” madmen” still ride in them. Better still, the trade actually continue to support such events, in direct contradiction to the motor car manufacturers, while finally that most sporting of all events, the A.C.U. Tourist Trophy races continues to be held in spite of annual threats of abandonment.
On the day that the T.T. is discontinued we shall feel that Motoring Sport is indeed doomed, and this office will be consumed in flames.
CONTENTS.
Editorial Notes … Great Racing Marques—” Fiat” • • • ” Here and There” Sporting Cars on Test … • • • • • I, Camberley, 1927
Sporting Machines on Test … • • • Sporting Events in Pictures … Motoring Sportsmen : Mr. H. W. Purdy ••• Tuning Carburettors for Competition Events
Inter-Varsity Hill Climb •.• Racing News of the Month …
W.1Eon Motors and the Burghley Models …
Hints on the Tuning and Maintenance of the P. & M. Panther … ••• • • • 291 … 292-296 296, 319, 320 … 297-299 300-301 • .• 302-303 304-305 306-308 310-312 313 314-315 316 • -• 317-319