The 1961 R.A.C. Guide and Handbook

” Handy-bility ” is the keynote of the Royal Automobile Club’s 1961 Guide and Handbook which has made its appearance in a bright ” new look ” three-colour cover and new page format.

For the first time since its original publication in 1904, this million-word manual—claimed to be the World’s most comprehensive travel encyclopaedia—has distinctive contemporary cover designed both to please the eye and to stand up to the rigours of parcel-shelf travel. It comes in a new size especially evolved for easy handling.

Inside, too, the R.A.C. Guide and Handbook has had a ” facelift.” New, easy-to-read, type has been employed throughout, making reference to the information contained on 4,000 towns and villages even more simple than in the past. Yet another innovation—the introduction of coloured sections—again simplifies matters.

All the features which have earned the Handbook its well-merited popularity are again included, together with several new ones. In addition to the directory of 4,500 R.A.C. Appointed and Approved Hotels and 8,000 R.A.C. Appointed Garages in Great Britain and Ireland, there are several hundred pages containing essential information for the motorist and motor cyclist.

These include the Highway Code, motor laws, hints on motorway driving, traffic signs, foreign touring, registration and licensing, car-by-train and steamer services, ferries, hills and their gradients, airports, motor racing circuits, lighting-up times, R.A.C. telephone boxes, National Trust properties and many more. The hotel guide includes for the first time a category embracing Country House Hotels. A special symbol indicates certain hotels, set in secluded surroundings, which have many of the characteristics of country houses.

The 64-page, 10-miles to the inch, Road Atlas, has been simplified to make navigation the easiest of operations. All ” A ‘ and ” B ” class roads and motorways are shown, and there is a two-page map of the London area with main entry and exit roads, postal districts -and an inter-town mileage table.

The 101 town plans have been completely revised, as has the detailed seven-page London atlas which shows one-way streets, parking facilities and theatres and cinemas with nearest garages.

In all, there are 890 pages in the 1961 R.A.C. Guide and Handbook, which is available front all R.A.C. Offices, priced 8s. 6d. (post free) to members. Non-Members can obtain the book for 12s. 6d.