EDITORIAL NOTES. Wake Up England !
ANOTHER racing season is drawing to its doleful close. In the last International Race, counting for the world’s championship, England has made one of her most feeble exhibitions.
Here in our own country, on our own course, not only . do we fail to secure a place, but fail to finish at all. The R.A.C. Grand Prix from the point of view of British motor sport was a grand fiasco.
All this year cries of dismay have risen from the man in the street about the state of all British sport. And now must be added the cry” What is wrong with British cars ? “
That something radical is wrong is obvious, and we are forced to recognise the melancholy fact that British factories are not keen on racing ; and the few who make a show are not able alone to combat the energy and brilliance which the continental firms bring to motorracing.
The recent Grand Prix is but a startling example of the general state of motor racing in this country.
Far be it from us to depreciate the triumph of the Delage in their victory, but we feel that England should at least be capable of a team finish, whereas, not a single English car finished the course !
Why is it left to one factory and a private owner to represent this country in an international race of the importance of the recent Grand Prix.
We have the drivers, we have the brains, we have the money. Surely we can run a team of cars adequately representative of the industry in this country.
To say that the result of the Grand Prix has disgusted English sportsmen is to put it mildly. At the conclusion of the race we heard but one sentiment expressed on every side—” What is wrong with England ? “
Why do not our big factories lay out an adequate expenditure for racing work ? They have the money to do it, but they completely lack the will.
If our big marques really think that they can rest on their laurels they are greatly mistaken. There can be no standing still, we either progress or fall back.
Apart from the intrinsic value of racing which has been a subject on which enough has already been said, something must be done for the honour of England. This journal has ever had the well being of motor sport at heart, and for months past has pointed out the steady decline in our racing activities, and the way we are drifting.
The time has come for a definite attempt to stop the rot, and to place the industry back on the pedestal from which it is slipping fast.
