HERE AND THERE, September 1933
HERE AND THE F
Flag Signals in Car Races. Some to
Some misunderstanding appears to exist regarding the correct flags to be employed for signalling to competitors in motor car races and speed events. For the information of Clubs promoting such competitions, the R.A.C. states that the following are the official signals and must be used at all events of this character :—
Yellow Flag: Stop instantly.
Black Flag over competitor’s number : Car bearing that number to stop.
Chequered. Flag over competitor’s number : Car bearing that number has completed the course.
Light Blue Flag held horizontally : Keep close to left, another competitor wishes to pass.
Dark Blue Flag waved : Langer ahead. Green Flag : Race finished.
National Flag : Starting Flag.
Scottish Six Days’ Trial Appeal.
An appeal by Mr. F. R. G. Spikins against certain decisions of the Stewards of the Scottish Six Days’ Reliability Trial held in May last and organised by the Edinburgh and District Motor Club, was heard by the Stewards of the Royal Automobile Club. The heating of the Appeal was commenced on 25th July and was adjourned until 28th July for the attendance of representatives of the Edinburgh and District Motor Club, when it was concluded.
The Stewa ols disallowed the appeal regarding the alleged stopping of an engine by another competitor on an observed hill.
The Stewards allowed the appeal in regard to the cancellation of penalties for reversing on an observed hill by cars with engine capacity over 1,500 c.c. They directed that the penalties should be reinserted, and the allocation of awards reconsidered accordingly ; that the competition for the Scottish Challenge Trophy for cars of over 1,500 c.c. engine capacity be void ; that Mr. Spikins’ deposit of £5 be returned, and that Mr. Spikins be allowed five guineas costs to be paid by the Edinburgh and District Motor Club. The Stewards hearing the Appeal were as follows :
Mr. M. G. W. Burton, Lord CozensHardy, Rev. E. P. Greenhill, Mr. G. J. F. Knowles and Lord Weir of Eastwood.
One Result of Easy Changing.
It used to be said that the correct way to hold the gear lever was with the thumb and forefinger. Drivers of to-day, however, owing to synchro-mesh and other easy-change gearboxes, seem to be losing their finesse in the art of gear changing, and the sequel is often a broken gear lever ! Barimar, Ltd., of 14/18, Lamb’s Conduit Street, London, W.C.1, report that broken gear levers are being constantly brought to them to be welded, and that the indications almost invariably point
to excessive force having been used— usually in a forwards direction. It appears that some drivers, when changing gear, must throw most of their weight on to the lever, for many of the casualties are of very robust design.
Clear lever breakages are usually adjacent to the ball or gate so that a driver who suffers this misfortune has to get home on the gear which has just been, forced into engagement, unless he takes the top off the gearbox by the roadside and engages a suitable gear by operating the selector mechanism with a screw driver.
The Relay Race. We are
We are informed by Mr. A. D, Taylor, the ” ” driver of Mr. Eason Gibson’s team, that we made a mistake in our report Qf the Relay Race when we stated that he withdrew at 4.2 p.m. ” because he felt tired ! ” The actual facts were that through the retirement of the ” A” car after 2 laps, Mr. Taylor’s Riley had to cover 58 laps. Of these, 57 were reeled off without incident at an average of nearly 80 m.p.h. and then the car had to pull in for fuel. In these circumstances the ” C” car was sent away.
Incidentally, Mr. Taylor runs a wellequipped garage and tuning-station known as Carlton Motors, at Station Road, Belmont, Surrey, where special high-speed work is carried out with care and good results.