From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Page from 'The Autocar' magazine featuring articles and reader correspondence on various motoring topics.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 160\5\ scan0224 | |
| Date | 3rd January 1941 | |
| 22 The Autocar January 3rd, 1941 The Sport BY VIZOR ★ Who Knows? ★ Future Interest A NEW year starts. What it will bring each and all of us is in the great unknown far more than usual, of course. One can only hope for the best and that everything "the sport" stands for will be visibly nearer to being able to start up again by the end than it is at the beginning of 1941. Still more the personal side, that those whose interests have lain in this direction in the past will be able to share once again in race and trial and rally. And that there will be many new adherents. That, I think, is certain, as also that competitions will restart, when the happy day comes to us, with added impetus. Not only will everyone who once took part be anxious to get going again in the particular branch he or she most liked, but far more than the natural year-by-year addition to the sporting ranks is likely to be seen. Enthusiasm is always infectious. Never, since the last war, have there been the same opportunities as at present for people to get together and talk, and an obvious result of Service conditions is for the "converted" to be keener than ever upon the events of the past, passing on their enthusiasm to others. * * * The point arose the other day whether drastic alterations would be needed to reinstate, for instance, Brooklands racing in all its pre-war strength. Personally, I think they will not be. The biggest question will probably be money, but there have always been ways and means of acquiring and keeping racing cars running, or cars sufficiently useful to do trials in. In those, "ordinary" cars have shone, and it is the atmosphere of the whole thing, not the performance and award that can be obtained, which makes trials and rallies worth while, though, of course, real performance makes them still more amusing. * * * There will be plenty of well-preserved machines available, which have been carefully looked after while their owners were otherwise occupied. One is reminded by sometimes seeing, in unexpected places, a laid-up racing car, as applied to an E.R.A. I caught sight of the other day in the showroom window of a place I had thought of before as just a modern filling station. The track, as one example, will get going full bore, I think, as soon as circumstances permit. Trials are even easier, for a specialised kind of machine is not essential, and the fiercer type will more often than not have been laid by during the war and thus will come out of cold storage in little worse condition than it was in that fateful month, August, 1939. Riley M.C. News THERE is a certain amount of news via the various Riley club centres, and this club's private journal continues. The secretary, A.{Mr Adams} Farrar, is endeavouring to arrange a committee meeting, though doubtful whether more than a quorum will be able to attend. He reports that one member has paid his subscription for 1942 as well as 1941, but as regards this important matter generally would still like to see some 1940 subscriptions that tarry longer than they should. As to the North-Eastern centre secretary's suggestion for a Harrogate week-end gathering, there seems to be a certain lack of support, though the idea would be practicable, he says, if enough people are interested. The North-West centre of the club is going to hold a committee meeting, a number of members having promised to attend, though it has been decided to be impossible to arrange anything in the shape of events during the winter months. "Events" would mean social affairs in any case, of course. At the committee meeting it is hoped to, have a discussion on events to be organised "after the war," besides learning of the present activities of many members. "TALKING OF SPORTS CARS" The Two "Ms" Morgan and Midget Provide an Interesting Comparison TEN horse-power is usually thought of in terms of economy and family transport. And excellent are the modern 10 h.p. saloons, providing a surprising performance. Because a Ten is so much the popular car, and the capacity of engine usually employed is capable of giving quite remarkable results in spite of carrying a large closed body, one is apt to think more on the lines of direct comparison between the two types, open and closed, than in other cases. Actually, of course, they are in sharp contrast, hence the continued existence of the two distinct versions. The 10 h.p. sports car is undoubtedly able to give the right effect and amusing motoring sufficiently removed from the ordinary. These reflections have arisen from a recent opportunity to re-sample two 10 h.p. sports models that at once come to mind, the Morgan 4-4 and the T M.G. Midget. Within a week I had a run of similar length in both, though the comparison that inevitably arose was not deliberately planned. You do not expect sports cars of this rating to have the fierce acceleration and high maximum of, say, a 2-litre, but in point of fact they can do things that someone who has always owned bigger machines might not expect of them. There is naturally not the same rigidity of "feel," the "battleship" touch, that a Lagonda Rapide, for instance, possesses. On the other hand, a fairly modern sports car of the category in mind feels "solid" enough, and has the... The 1937 Morgan two-seater which "V" recently tried. It will be seen that the general external condition was very good. A 25 January 3rd, 1941 23 There is something about the scene that immediately makes you think "pre-war"—with several cars in view at once, including those parked in the special bay provided. The fine modern road is between Belmont and Preston. CORRESPONDENCE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE THOSE OF OUR CORRESPONDENTS, WITH WHICH "THE AUTOCAR" DOES NOT NECESSARILY AGREE. LETTERS INTENDED FOR PUBLICATION SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE EDITOR, "THE AUTOCAR," DORSET HOUSE, STAMFORD STREET, LONDON, S.E.1 A PLEA FOR ENGLAND Better Roads Are Not Needed Sufficiently to Warrant Spoiling the Countryside [49911.]—One of the most interesting points, to me, in Mr. George Beresford's article entitled "Let It Be Good," in your December 13th issue, was his plea for the preservation of England, a plea which I most heartily endorse. I am one of those to whom the English country is very dear indeed, but I am not in the least ashamed to admit it. There is no doubt that road development has already done much damage in this way, and there is equally no doubt that further development will be necessary, probably very great. But do let us avoid sacrificing for it any more of the fast-dwindling rural beauty which we still have. Even if the distance from "A to B" is thereby increased a mile or two, or if John Smith in his Everyman car has to slow down a little here and there, does it really matter? After all, it is only a question of speed; safety can even now be achieved by careful and considerate driving, though sometimes at the expense of speed. A few minutes, or even hours, in the life of John Smith are of small account in the history of England, but the beauty of our land is of real and lasting value to us all, and if we once give it up we cannot get it back. A.{Mr Adams} F.{Mr Friese} SCROGGS. Uxbridge. THE EVERYMAN CAR Already in Existence, says a Well-satisfied Ford Ten Owner [49912.]—With reference to your recent articles on the Everyman car and motoring for the masses, why have new, untried designs? The required car has been on the market since 1935. I know of many examples which have run 40,000 miles and over, trouble free. My own, at a mileage of 33,000, has cost but 15s. for repairs, and is far less trouble to maintain than a push cycle. The model is the 10 h.p. Ford, British built. S. C. HALL. Chalfont St.{Capt. P. R. Strong} Giles, Bucks. POTENTIAL DANGER Coils of Barbed Wire on the Front of Army Vehicles [49913.]—May I bring to the notice of those responsible the danger of carrying coils of barbed wire on the front of military vehicles? This, in my opinion, is a very great danger, and, although everyone realises we are now at war, it was not so very long ago that an order was made prohibiting the use of protruding and dangerous mascots on the front of vehicles. The serious damage which might result from this barbed wire was brought to my notice recently when I saw a bicycle mangled under the front of one of these vehicles. Besides this we have all seen military vehicles on various occasions travelling at high speeds and also with weak lights. Being carried on the front, this barbed wire, which naturally becomes very rusty, can cause very grave injuries. If these vehicles were in direct contact with the enemy it would probably not matter, but I do feel that whilst they are in this country some protection should be afforded to the general public. It should not need a very brainy individual to devise some means of carrying these coils of wire, for instance, underneath the lorry. L. S. WOOD, M.I.M.T. Steyning, Sussex. FREE LIFTS Not Only Desirable When There are Transport Difficulties [49914.]—If Mr. Robert Polendine's letter [49885] represents the views of his Society, then I am glad I do not belong to it. Because a few well-to-do business men abuse the free lifts idea, he would leave typists and others to wait in the wet or the cold (at this time of the year it is usually one or the other). Personally, although not enjoying extra petrol under the official scheme, I have usually given three or four lifts on my business journeys every day and saved no end of waiting time to all kinds of people. Very few of these did not prove to have deserved a lift, and I think that this should be a regular practice at all times. It does not take long to stop and say "Lift to X any use?" The kind of man who goes by in an empty car is usually the one who bleeds the middle of our main roads through dawdling along where they are de-restricted. Motorists have suffered much through the hostile attitude of the public expressed through Parliament, but the selfish, thoughtless attitude of many has not helped to remove the injustices from which we still suffer and which I should have thought Mr. Polendine's organisation existed to help remove. To give lifts only when other transport has broken down is just damnable selfishness. C. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} TAYLOR. Send, Woking. "THE CAR THAT HAS NEVER BEEN MADE" A Thoroughbred Wanted at Moderate Price and Cost to Run [49915.]—Your article under the above heading (December 6th issue) stirs within me dead hopes and blighted fancies. Your most able contributor is an eligible person and his essay revives my rankest courage. But, sir, he steps too lightly. The old diliphante was a vehicular conveyance for one. It had as its object a quick journey, for no friend, however lovely or intimate, could possibly expect a lift. In London, and elsewhere, we see 20 to 30 h.p. hauling one person at criminal expense. If such a car, occupying 18ft. by 8ft. of road, stops outside, say, the Mansion House, for five minutes, what rent or ground is due? C. V.{VIENNA} Vivian. | ||