"MOTORING SPORT"

“MOTORING SPORT”

By STUCK and BURGALLER Three years ago ” Das Autobuch,” a collection of motoring articles and reminiscences edited by the two German drivers, was first issued in Berlin, and was widely acclaimed in the country of its origin, and by those English enthusiasts who managed to secure

copies in this country. ” Motoring Sport ” is a translation of the German work and, in addition, has been brought up to date by sundry references to the latest German racing cars.

The translators have not attempted to change the rather haphazard make-up of the book, which is perhaps just as well, as one never knows when starting a chapter whether an amusing incident or a remark which gives a real insight into the German views on motoring sports and those who take part in them will not be found in some subject which threatened to be a mass of statistics. In its English version we have at last obtained enlightenment into the mysteries of ” Gelandesport ” (cross-country motoring), and other uniquely German forms of motoring. Behind it all, however, there is a feeling that it is of value principally to train the youth of Germany to be of use to their country, a semimilitary background which happily is absent so far, at least, from English reliability trials and speed trials! Another chapter which would hardly be expected in an English book on Motor

Sport is one dealing with tanks and tractors of the various powers. A plea to allow Germany to expand in this direction was pretty adequately answered by the parade in Berlin last month on the occasion of Herr Hitler’s birthday.

Turning to non-militant subjects, there are plenty of headings to interest the English followers of the sport. The Two German Racing Cars, Problems of Motor Sport (how the sport can be developed to the greatest advantage), The Best in the World (a list of former champions), Unknown Heroes (racing mechanics), Lady Drivers and How a Woman almost Won the Targa Florio, the Automobile Club of Germany and its Work, give some idea of the wide range of subjects which are dealt with. Paula Stuck wrote on such varied matters as the 2,000 km. Trial, the Superstition and the Handwriting of Drivers, the Scuderia Ferrari and Racing Jottings. Burgaller’s chapter on handling and preparing a car for trials and racing offers sound words of advice to the young enthusiast whether German or English. and his remarks on practising and getting into training are based on practical experience. Hans Stuck, as may he supposed, writes authoritatively on cornering (no one will forget his successes on the old Austro-Daimler and again to-day on the Auto-Union). South America in a Racing Car recalls the

curious conditions under which motorracing was and probably still is carried on in Brazil. The Craziest Drive in his Life, does not belie the title, the author averaging 38 m.p.h. from Martigny over the Great St. Bernard Pass to Turin to save a child’s life.

Last, and a little surprisingly, there is a chapter devoted to the successes of the English E.R.A. car. It strikes one as a little odd to find this in a translation from the German, even an English translation, but the connecting link is provided by Raymond Mays’ success in winning the 1,500 c.c. Eifel Race in 1935. A great many of the excellent photographs which featured in ” Das Autobuch ” have been used in the English version, including the striking cover illustration showing Stuck on the AustroDaimler in an exciting skid ! There is a happy though undefinable air of naiveté and enthusiasm about the German book which has been successfully caught by

its translators, making ” Motoring Sport ” of equal value as an original work or as a glossary for the ready understanding of the German version.

” Motoring Sport ” is published by G. T. Foulis and Co., Ltd., of 7, Milford Lane, Strand, W.C.2, and at seven shillings and sixpence offers high value and interest to the collector of motoring works.