R.A.C. RALLY PROSPECTS

R.A.C. RALLY PROSPECTS

This year’s R.A .C. Rally promises to be quite one of the most interesting and instructive of the series. Entries have closed at 221 cars,’, or thirty-four fewer than last year. Seventy-five are due to start from the London control, fifty seven from Blackpool, . fifty-four from Stratford-on-Avon, and thiry-five from Torquay. Cars will be of production type and blowers and competition tyres are banned. The average speeds-26 m.p.h. to Scarborough, 24 m.p.h. on to Buxton and 30 m.p.h. on to Brighton—are quite stiff, as no allowance is made for stops. Moreover, an optional colonial section will be included on the Scarborough-Buxton route, for which extra marks can be gained. If the final tests are of a nature which involves accelerating to, and braking from, decent speeds, the 1939 Rally will provide a very excellent test of carperformance. In recent years the Rally has rather had the air of being a sort of grand ” motor-propaganda ” event so far as the road-section was concerned. Now, the stiffer sections and slightly raised averages will ensure that it possesses

more of a ” conte3t ” nature, and this impression will be strengthened because the ornate Rally plaques will be replaced by quite .small numbers. Brighton’ should make an excellent rallying-point, because it is one of the brighter seaside towns, and ‘fortunately

not at its very brightest in April. The Madeira Drive is very well suited to spectating and for tests. The competitors reach Brighton on April 27th, late afternoon and evening. There is a final control in Aylesbury, if you wish to see them pass through, about • mid-day. There will be a stop-go test on arrival at Brighton and the other tests—which are of a secret nature—will be contested on Friday, April 28th. The Coachwork Competition happens on Saturday, April 29th.

AN IMPORTANT BRITISH FIXTURE

One of the most important British races of the year, this year’s J.C.C. International Trophy Race will probably be the finest Brooklands fixture of the 1939 season. It happens on May 0th at Weybridge. The race owes much of its success to the ingenious system of channel handicapping, which enables all classes of -cars to compete on a common basis, so that the •event .easy to follow as a scratch contest,..’vithile a full and diverse entry is assured:: A combined road and track circuit of 3.4 miles will be Used, and the race -distance will be 60 laps, or

204 miles. The famous rolling start will be retained, but cars will be positioned in accordance with practice lap-timesso make a point of getting down to see “the training.” if you can. Brooklands is the only track at which this ingenious type of handicap can be effectively operated. The splendid way in which it plans out is little short of a miracle. This time blown 1,100 c.c. and unblown 1,750 c.c. cars go into one group, blown cars up to 1,750 c.c. and unblown cars up to any limit into another group, and all blown cars over 1,750 c.c. into a third group. This is one of the big races of the year and should not be missed. Last year the entry was thirty and the winner was P. Maclure (Riley) at 84.36 m.p.h.

Details from : J.C.C. Empire House, Brompton Road, London, S.W.7.