Your Future Trails Car

The new R.A.C. regulations governing rally and trials cars come into force on September 1st, and are as follows:

Vehicles eligible. – Any type of four-wheeled motor car which is of sound construction and mechanical condition and which:
(a) complies with all legal requirements of this country with special attention to brakes, lighting system, warning device, driving mirror, silencer, speed indicator, springs, wings and windscreen; and
(b) complies with the following regulations: –
1. Body. – All cars must be fitted with bodywork capable of carrying at least one passenger in addition to the driver. The bodywork must be of adequate strength and of workmanlike construction, and must be normal and suitable for touring purposes.
2. Seating. – The driver and at least one passenger shall occupy fixed seats within the body and the rear-most portion of these seats shall not be behind a line passing through the centre of both rear hubs. The rearmost portion of any additional seat(s) shall not be more than 15 inches behind the aforesaid line.
No part of any seat cushion (i.e., that part on which the occupier actually sits) shall be less than 6 inches below the top edge of the body-sides or doors, measured at an adjacent point with the seat unoccupied.
3. Fireproof bulkhead. – There must be some form of protection between the engine and the driver’s and passengers’ seats suitable and sufficient in case of fire for preventing the passage of flame in that part of the car occupied by the driver and passengers.
4. Bonnet. – The engine of the car must be totally covered by a bonnet or casing having a top and sides of metal.
5. Flooring. – Within the driver’s and passenger’s compartments, there must be a complete floor of adequate strength rigidly supported.
6. Transmission. – The transmission system must be beneath the floor of the car or secured in casings or covers of solid material.
7. Wings. – Wings must be constructed of solid material, and if of metal construction, must have wired, beaded or rolled edges.
8. Windscreen. – An effective windscreen or two separate aerotype screens shall be fitted.
9. Overhang. – The “overhang” permitted at the front of the car shall not exceed 20 per cent. and at the rear shall not exceed 30 per cent, of the overall length of the car. The expression “overhang” means at the front of the car, that portion of the vehicle and its equipment which extends forward of a line passing through the centre of the front hubs; similarly at the rear, it denotes the portion which, extends rearwards of a line through the rear hubs. In each case overhang will be measured horizontally from the respective line through the centre of the hubs to the foremost or rearmost part of the vehicle or its equipment.
10. No temporary part or parts may be incorporated in the construction of the vehicle.
11. General equipment:
(a) A differential gear shall be in full and free operation between the driving wheels, except on those vehicles running in the condition of their maker’s original specification, where such devices were not fitted by the manufacturer. Any device which interferes with the completely free differential action of the rear axle is barred.

(b) Four-wheel drive cars will be permitted to use rear-wheel drive only. The front-wheel drive mechanism must be rendered incapable of operation, and competitors must satisfy the scrutineer that this has been satisfactorily achieved.

(c) Duplication of driving wheels, chains or other non-skid attachments are barred.

(d) Tyres must conform to the R.A.C. Competition tyre regulations for events on public roads.