Hillrally comment

Sir,
You seem to have missed some points in your excellent report on the “Senior Service Hillrally” (Rumblings, Motor Sport, June, 1971). As you quite rightly state, there’s nothing new, in this country at any rate, about four-wheel-drive events, but at these events vehicles, although quite carefully scrutineered, are not required to have rollover bars, full safety harness or pay a prohibitive £10 all-in entry fee. By, and as a result of, these measures the Senior Service “Hillrally” has placed itself into a position whereby from the outset it is “fair game” only for the monied professionals.

The average owner of gypsies, champs and jeeps, although enthusiastic, use their vehicles as daily transportation; the fitting of rollover bars, £10 entry fees and all are just not on, vehicles doubling as to-work-and-back transportation in the week and trials machines at weekends.

In an age of “paid professionals” events run by the All-wheel Drive Club and Land Rover clubs make a refreshing change with their great sense of fun and general sportsmanship, and I for one would deplore seeing factory-paid teams and accompanied ballyhoo in four-wheel-drive events of the type we now see in international rallying.

Barry Moon.
Rickmansworth, Herts.