The vintage Monza meeting

The recent vintage car gathering at Monza was of outstanding interest and enjoyment and British participants did very well therein. Fiat Register members were liberally entertained by Fiat and the Turin Museum authorities and given dinner by the V.C.C. Italiano, They visited the Fiat factory and training school, their cars were given a full service and two Fiat 2300s were placed at their disposal. 112 cars competed at Monza, including 35 Fiats (five each of 501 and 509, 17 BaliIlas) and 16 Alfa Romeos. Oldest car was a Menon dated as 1899. Best time in the 2-lap speed trial was shared between D. M. Ross (4.5, Invicta) and C. L. de Priolo (2.3 Alfa Romeo 8C), at 82 m.p.h. A 1750, Alfa was second, at 78 m.p.h., and Liston Young’s Fiat Balilla won its class at 70.7 mph. Binns won the O.M. cup, B.P. served lunch for some 1,000 guests with a minimum of publicity, and expenses and accommodation in Turin were free.

On the Sunday Monza’s Museum, of some 18 competition cars, was opened and demonstrations were given on the track by Lang in a W163, G.P. Mercedes-Benz, Henri Malame’s 1923 G.P. Rolland-Pilain, 1906 Sizaire-Naudin and Type 37A Bugatti, Taruffi’s twin-boom Tarf and by monoposto, blown Monza, “Disco Volante,” and unmodified 1924/5 P2 Alfa Romeos, while the 1940 rear-engined flat-12 Alfa Romeo, that was never raced, made its first public appearance. Lord Montagu was awarded a gold medal for bringing out the 1907 Itala and Naylor was given a silver model of an 1899 Fiat and a gold medal for demonstrating the 1907 Fiat “Mephistopheles,” in which Salamano had a ride. The previous week-end the Invicta had won the Lago Maggiore hill-climb, at Monza I. S. Hallow’s Rolls-Royce P3 won the Concours d’Elegance, and the following week-end I. Grant’s Fiat 501B won the cup for best Fiat in the Palladian Villas Rally, which had 80 entries, of which about half were Fiats.—W. B.

Change of ownership

When a car changes hands the former owner is obliged by law to notify the tax office of the new owner’s name and address. This is supposed to be a safeguard against stolen cars, but is probably of more value to old-car enthusiasts who can persuade the Council concerned to trace for them the history of their vehicles. However, we have no grumble with the system as such, except that we fail to see why a 2,1/2d. stamp is required; it is high time the already heavily-taxed motorist was permitted an O.H.M.S. form for this purpose. Also, it is very essential that acknowledgment of the p.c. or form be made, judging by a recent court case in which, if the facts are as presented to us, someone who sold a car and duly notified the appropriate Council of the change of ownership was asked by the Police to name its driver on a day six months later, on account of a parking-meter offence. The person concerned states that he told the Police he couldn’t do this as he had disposed of the car. He then received a summons for failing to disclose the name of the driver. He attended the Court, armed with a carbon copy of the form on which he claims to have notified change of ownership. This was ignored and a fine of £3, with £1 1s. costs, imposed.

Unless facts not in our possession are involved, this is a startling instance of an innocent party being found guilty and one is left wondering whether some of those who try motoring cases in this Nation of Shop-Keepers are more concerned with the collection of finance than in dispensing justice. We gather that this case has been taken up with the victim’s M.P., etc. But it does seem important to request acknowledgment of form R.F.70 when you notify change-of-ownership, otherwise, it appears, the crimes of all subsequent users of your late property can be vested on you in person, If requested such acknowledgment will not, we think, be refused.

Too keen!

Goodwood spectators on Whit-Monday were disappointed that Dan Margulies’ 2.9 Maserati was a non-starter in the Pre-War Racing Cars race, because it usually gives the E.R.A.s good competition. Margulies was also entered to drive a new Gitane G.T. at Castle Combe on Whit-Saturday, but again he non-started. Why? Because he had elected instead to compete in the Alpine Rally in a Mini, in which he was delayed with tyre trouble. This shows notable enthusiasm but is hardly fair to race organisers and spectators. Let us hope Margulies makes amends by driving the Maserati at the V.S.C.C. Silverstone Meeting on July 21st.

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Porsche have issued an illustrated 74-page booklet listing every “Meisterschaften auf Porsche” of 1961.

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7th International Police Rally (May 215127th)