F.I.A. News/British Motor-Racing Relief Fund/M.C.C. Lynmouth Relief Fund

Great Britain becomes the first country officially to establish a speed record for gas turbine-engined cars. At their meeting in Paris early this month, the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile decided to establish classes for turbine-engined cars and to recognise the performance of the Rover car, which was timed at a mean speed of 151.965 m.p.h. over the flying kilometre in Belgium in June last, as the first performance officially recognised in this category.

Other decisions taken by the F.I.A. concerned International Racing Formulae and it was ruled that all Grand Prix races after January 1st, 1954, must be for cars of a cylinder capacity up to 2,500 c.c. without supercharger and 750 c.c. with supercharger, providing at least three manufacturers make cars to this formula, which then becomes Formula 1.

Formula III for 500-c.c. unsupercharged cars, in which class British cars are at present supreme, will continue at least until the end of 1954.

The R.A.C. British Grand Prix continues to be one of ten events counting towards the World’s Racing Drivers’ Championship.

The R.A.C. Rally of Great Britain will be one of ten events counting towards the European Touring Championship of Drivers, which will be awarded for the first time in 1953.

In conjunction with the Touring Championship, a definition of standard touring cars was agreed to, as were also definitions of sports cars on sale to the public and special prototype models—of which full details will be published after December 15th next.

The F.I.A. also approved the Calendar of International events for 1953, on which Great Britain has twenty-five events inscribed.

British Motor-Racing Relief Fund

The B.R.D.C. announces the formation of the British Motor-Racing Relief Fund, designed to assist British racing drivers and mechanics, disabled or incapacitated as a result of motor-racing accidents, and their dependants in the event of their death.

The trustees of the fund are the Duke of Richmond and Gordon, the Earl Howe, P.C., C.B.E., V.R.D., Mr. Wilfrid Andrews, Dr. J. D. Benjafield and Lt.-Col. A. T. Goldie Gardner, O.B.E., M.C., and they have appointed the following to act with them on a Committee of Management: H. J. Morgan, Secretary, B.A.R.C.; K. A. Gregory, Secretary, Half-Litre Car Club; Barclay Inglis, of the Eight Clubs, and D. J. Scannell, Secretary, British Racing Drivers’ Club, who, for the time being, will also act as honorary treasurer of the fund.

Pending the establishment of the Trust on a sound financial basis, routine administration will be carried on from the B.R.D.C. offices at 4, Park Lane, London, W.1, from which address copies of the Trust Deed may be obtained. Copies of a Deed of Covenant are also available, the use of which ensures that contributions, if made for seven years, are free of income tax.

M.C.C. Lynmouth Relief Fund

In view of their long association with the district, the M.C.C. organised a Relief Fund as soon as news of the Lynmouth disaster was announced. As a result of this appeal they have been able to forward to the Lynton and Lynmouth U.D.C. a total amount of £528 7s. 1d. Included in this was a generous donation by Temple Press Ltd. of 50 guineas and an amount of £50 from the Retford and District Motor Club. The Committee wish to express their very great appreciation of the support which was given to the fund by members and their friends.