Matters of Moment, December 1949

The 1950 International Calendar
The Calendrier for next season has been passed by the Federation International de l’Automobile after a special meeting in Paris, and issued for all those interested to heed and digest. Conscious of the clashing of fixtures and general congestion which characterised the 1949 list, the F.I.A. asked that national bodies would cut down their demands for international fixtures to an absolute minimum. This so reasonable request was honoured by Stanley Barnes on behalf of the R.A.C. after he had come to an agreement with the S.M.M. & T. that events that formerly had international status will continue to receive trade support in 1950 even though changed to national fixtures. After this piece of praiseworthy diplomatic negotiation, the R.A.C. asked for only seven dates in the F.I.A. Calendrier — the G.P. d’Europe, Jersey races, Ulster Trophy, Isle of Man races, B.R.D.C. Silverstone Meeting, the Tourist Trophy, and the Easter B.A.R.C. Meeting. However, France required 27 and Italy 22 fixtures, and the grand total rose to 99 dates. Under the circumstances it is a question not so much of why unfortunate clashes or “closenesses” occur, but of praise that the F.I.A. has managed another unwieldy list so well. True, Le Mans follows the Empire Trophy meeting of the preceding Thursday and those British drivers competing in the Belgian Grand Prix must be in Douglas for practice for the B.R.D.C. races a mere three days later. Then Albi closely follows Jersey, and Formula II races are jumbled mightily. But on the whole it could be worse, and we gather than in 1951 severe slashing of unnecessary dates will be undertaken.

The season is due to start with the Circuit de Mar del Plata, in the Argentine, on January 6th, and end on November 12th with the G.P. of Morocco at Casablanca. The “star” Formula 1 races constitute the G.P. d’Europe at Silverstone on May 18th — a signal honour for Britain as it is the race of 1950, and the obvious one in which the B.R.M. team should appear, if it is going to — the Monaco G.P. on May 21st, the Swiss G.P. at Bremgarten on June 4th, the Belgian G.P. at Spa on June 18th, the G.P. de A.C.F. at Rheims on July 2nd, the G.P. of Holland at Lan.dvoort on July 23rd, the German G.P. at Nurburg on August 20th, the Monza G.P. on September 3rd, and, finally, the Czechoslovakian G.P. at Brno on September 24th. Busy days ahead!

Formula II cars are well catered for, and it is particularly interesting that a new formula, Formula III, has been recognised, for unsupercharged cars not exceeding 500 c.c. and a minimum weight of 440 lb., such is the world-wide interest that the little cars have aroused.

To support the racing-car events there is a long list of sports and production-car races, notable fixtures being the Targa Florio on April 2nd, Le Mans on June 24/25th, Spa on July 8/9th, and the R.A.C. T.T. at Dundrod on September 16th. Shelsley Walsh and Prescott do not get international status, but their former international meetings will receive the S.M.M. & T.’s blessing. Mont Ventoux, Freiburg and Maloja are amongst the venues for international sprints.

There are nearly as many International Rallies as “star” events being the Monte Carlo Rally from January 22nd to 29th, the Lisbon Rally from May 18th to 21st, and the French Alpine Rally from July 12th to 21st. We may be confident of strong, successful British participation in these events.

The British (and Irish) international fixtures are: — 
April 10th: B.A.R.C. Easter Meeting, Goodwood.
May 13th: R.A.C. G.P. d’Europe, Silverstone.
May 27th: Ulster A.C. Ulster Trophy Meeting.
June 22nd: B.R.D.C. British Empire Trophy Meeting, I.O.M.
July 8th: I.M.R.C. Leinster Trophy Races, Eire.
July 13th: B.A.R.C. Jersey Road Races.
Aug. 26th: B.R.D.C. Silverstone Meeting.
Sept. 9th: I.M.R.C. Wakefield Trophy Meeting, Eire.
Sept. 16th: R.A.C. Tourist Trophy, Dundrod.

Montlhèry
With the disgraceful demise of Brooklands people have been heard to bewail the lack of a banked track where record-attacks and precision duration-testing could be undertaken. When Montlhèry Track, near Paris, re-opened Motor Sport suggested that it was worthy of consideration by British drivers as a replacement venue for Brooklands. The recent record-breaking runs thereat by British motor-cycle riders and by Geoffrey Crossley with his Alta lend practicability to our suggestion, although we are well aware that the French motor course is not so accessible as was Brooklands, which was situated less than 20 miles from London.