PROTESTS NOT ENCOURAGED (Continued from page 209.)

necessary, but actually this is not permissible for holders of a British licence taking part in a competition held under the jurisdiction of the R.A.C.

Appeals to the A.I.A.C.R. may only be made by the licensee of another country against a decision by the R.A.C., or if the national clubs themselves fall into an Olympian wrangle. It was just such a wrangle which brought the A.I.A.C.R. into being, after a dispute over the Gordon Bennett race in 1905. All these new rules—that concerning the A.I.A.C.R. is not new—seem designed to reduce protests and appeals to a minimum. The proviso that an appeal fee of j:,10 should be paid in cash should make the most disgruntled competitor think twice. While it is a good theoretical point that grievances should he aired, in

practice it is usually better to abide by an official decision without complaints, unless a flagrant error has been made.

A small change in rule No. 81 allows a change of cars in a trial entry, after entries have closed, provided that at least twenty-four hours notice before the startis given. An old rule which not all promoters realise is No, 13, which lays down that entrants in a closed or closed invitation competition must have been registered as members of the club concerned for at least twenty-one days. Penalties for ” beating the flag” at the start of a competition have also been laid down (rule No. 95). Where there is a massed start, a penalty is incurred of at least one minute added to the time taken by an offending competitor to complete the course. Where cars are

started separately, the penalty is an additional second.

A standing start has been defined, when that part of the automobile which by contact or passage causes the timing apparatus to be actuated is stationary, and behind the starting line by not more than 2 in. This definition should be useful in speed trials, where there is increasing use of a portable starting strip to be placed just in front of a competitor’s front wheel. Finally, as is now well known, Siam has been admitted as a member of the A.I.A.C.R., and its national colours have been allotted, viz., body and bonnet,

blue chassis and ‘v heels, yellow. ” _B. Bira’s ” car appeared in these colours in the International Trophy race.