Rally-rumination resumption

Some Further Thoughts on the “Daily Express” Event

The Editorial in last month’s Motor Sport on rallies has produced the following correspondence. It would seem that we were somewhat hasty in assuming that competitors in modern oars find a 1,000-mile run on British main roads at a 25-m.p.h. average boring. On the other hand, car manufacturers can hardly persuade themselves that such a competition represents much of a test of a present-day car, while the Bugatti O.C. seems to share our opinion so far as the boredom factor is concerned, for in its recent Welsh Rally it sought to obviate tediously-low average speeds and delays at checks.

Clubs already eater for owners who seek to preserve their cars, with treasure hunts, map-reading point-to-points and Concours d’Elegance, etc. If an entrant is prepared to pay a bigger entry fee, leave his hearth and office for several days, and burn many gallons of heavily-taxed petrol in a rally, we should have thought he or she would have wanted a motoring contest rather than an event in which they could compete equally well, given the time and the inclination, on bicycles or roller skates. However, our job is not to poke fun but to reflect the opinions of the motor sport public. So we publish below the views of four representative correspondents on this subject, but feel entitled to express our views on the points raised, which we do below these letters :—

Sir,

In the December issue is shown a photograph of a taxi taking part in the Daily Express Rally, and the question is put “what is the general feeling about taxis in events of this kind ? ” The answer is—why not ? The presence of taxis emphasises the stupidity and ease of such events, especially where two drivers are allowed.

I am, Yours, etc.,

Ludlow. C. A. L. MEREDITH.