Announcement

This issue, August 1939, marks a milestone in the history of Motor Sport. For, from now onwards, this journal will be the official organ of the British Racing Drivers’ Club, and that is a fact of which we feel justly proud.

At the same time, we have acquired the goodwill of our contemporary, Speed, which now ceases to exist as a separate publication and is incorporated in Motor Sport.

First of all, then, we should like to welcome the B.R.D.C. to our pages on our own behalf and in the name of our readers. In future every issue of this journal will contain a special section devoted exclusively to the B.R.D.C., and its many activities, and we believe that this will be a feature of interest and importance. The B.R.D.C. fills a very valuable place in British motor-racing. As an organiser of long-distance races it has many fine accomplishments to its credit, notably the 500 Miles Race and the British Empire Trophy. It has also been of great value as a means of bringing together the racing drivers of this and other countries, and in representing drivers’ interests in their dealings with the R.A.C. Appeals Committee. Membership of the B.R.D.C. cannot be acquired by any other qualification but actual participation in motor-racing, with the result that it carries with it a positive distinction. It is a good thing that this rule has never been relaxed.

Membership of the B.R.D.C. has also come to be regarded as an invaluable passport to goodwill on the Continent and in the U.S.A. — indeed many famous Racing drivers abroad have been deeply gratified at being made honorary members. For example, we believe we are correct in saying that the B.R.D.C. badge is one of the two badges carried on the front of Rudolf Caracciola’s private Mercedes-Benz. There is a third function which the B.R.D.C.under its distinguished President, Lord Howe, and its able Secretary, Mr. D. J. Scannell—has fulfilled with conspicuous success. It is that of welcoming and serving as cicerone and friend to any foreign racing drivers visiting this country, and thus fostering the bonds of international sportsmanship. The party given to the German drivers after last year’s Donington Grand Prix was a notable example of this excellent work.

And now perhaps we shall be forgiven if we say a few words about ourselves. Motor Sport is fifteen years old—still a youngster in terms of publishing, but a wise old man in terms of motor-racing. Its Aim is now, as it has always been, to cater for the motor-racing enthusiast. Not just the motorist who occasionally visits Brooklands, Donington or the Crystal Palace, but the man—and woman, too—who takes a real interest in what we consider to be the finest sport in the world. It is for this reason that in the pages of this journal you will find all the inside news there is to be had about motor-racing and the people associated with it. Motor Sport is written by enthusiasts for enthusiasts. And fifteen years of continuous publication have taught us that this plain unvarnished recounting of the details of motorracing is what people like.

We do not pretend to publish the perfect journal. There are certain ways—unfortunately, expensive ways, — in which we realise our paper could be improved. But we do our best according to the economic factors which govern this materialistic world.

In the meantime, it is with pleasure and pride that we annouce our association with the British Racing Drivers’ Club, because we believe that the news in the section devoted to the Club every month will add considerably to the interest of our journal.