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).
Regulations and an acceptance letter for the 1924 R.A.C. Small Car Trials.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 4\5\ 05-page262 | |
| Date | 8th February 1924 | |
| 256 THE AUTOCAR, February 8th, 1924. "THE AUTOCAR" AND THE R.A.C. TRIALS. Committee of the Club Accepts our Offer of Cups and Souvenirs for the Best Performances in the Three Lowest Priced Categories in Six Days Small Car Trials. The outstanding event in British automobilism this year is likely to be the Six Days Trials for Small Cars up to 1,600 c.c., to be organised by the R.A.C. during May. As was announced in last week's issue of "The Autocar," this journal, in order to emphasise its consistent encouragement of economical motoring, is offering three cups to be awarded to the entrants of the cars making the best performances in the three lowest priced classes, namely, for cars up to £130, £170 and £205. In addition, the driver of each car gaining one of these cups will be presented with a memento of his winning drive. We publish below, in full, the regulations governing these trials. The particular points to be tested will be: (1) Hill-climbing, (2) Reliability, (3) Attention required, (4) Consumption of fuel, oil and water, (5) Speed and rate of pick-up. REGULATIONS FOR THE R.A.C. SMALL CAR TRIALS, 1924 (MONDAY TO SATURDAY INCLUSIVE 12TH TO 17TH MAY). Held under the Open Competition Rules of the Royal Automobile Club and Regulations Supplementary to the Competition Rules. 1. Under Club Rules. — The Trials shall be held under the Open Competition Rules of the Royal Automobile Club, for the time being in force, and the following Regulations are supplementary to such Rules. 2. Distance. — The total distance of the Trials shall be about 1,000 miles. The Trials shall occupy six days. 3. Cars Eligible. — The Trials shall be confined to four-wheeled cars, having engines with a cylinder capacity not exceeding 1,600 cubic centimetres. For the purpose of these Trials cylinder capacity shall be calculated according to the formula D²S√N/20,540 where D is the mean of two diameters, at right angles, in the working part of the cylinder, and S is the stroke, both being in centimetres. Further, for the purpose of these Trials 1 inch shall be taken as equivalent to 2.53994 cm. All cars shall conform to the requirements of British Law, and shall be fitted with a reverse. Each car shall conform to the requirements set out in Regulation 5. 4. Stock Cars. — Both the entrant and manufacturer shall be required to make a Statutory Declaration that the complete car entered for and taking part in the Trials, is in every way similar (except for the unintentional differences arising out of manufacturing practice), to the car described in an attached, priced catalogue, and to at least six other cars already sold and delivered in Great Britain (not knowingly for export) in the ordinary way of business, prior to February 1st, 1924, and further, that the car has not been specially manufactured for the purpose of these Trials, as regards design, material or methods, and has not been altered or adapted in any way. Both the entrant and manufacturer shall be required to enter into a guaranteed Bond for the sum of £250, which sum shall become forfeit if the above-mentioned declarations be found false in any way. In the event of such forfeiture the £250 will be paid to the Trustees of the Motor and Cycle Trades Benevolent Fund and the car shall be disqualified. Where it appears that a breach of this Regulation is of a trivial nature, and cannot affect the performance of the car in the Trials, the Judges may, at their discretion, remit a part or the whole of the penalties incurred. (The Club notes on trust that the last sentence of the above Regulation will not be allowed to weaken in any way the determination of the Club to permit only stock cars to take part in the Trials.) 5. Price. — The selling price of each complete stock car entered shall be that in Great Britain at midnight on 3rd January, 1924, and shall be declared on the entry form, and the entrant, by entering, shall agree to accept a reasonable number of orders for delivery within a reasonable period, for cars similar in all respects to the car entered, at a price not greater than that stated on the entry form. The price shall include a properly painted and upholstered body of any type, as ordinarily sold to the public, seating one or more passengers in addition to the driver, and properly equipped (inter alia, with hood, wind-screen and mudguards). It shall also include one spare wheel (or rim) and tyre, side-lamps, tail-lamp, horn, jack, tyre pump (if the tyres be pneumatic) and the usual kit of tools. If any other accessories (e.g., speedometer) be included in the price this will be stated in the detailed specification published by THE CLUB. [Embedded Letter] Royal Automobile Club, London, S.W. 1 Your ref A/JM{Mr Morley}/EM/J3 31st January 1924. G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} The Editor, "The Autocar", Dorset House, Tudor St.{Capt. P. R. Strong}, E.C. 4. Dear Sir, SMALL CAR TRIALS. 1924 In further reply to your letter of the 24th inst., in which you make the very generous offer of a Cup to be presented to the winner in each of the first three Classes, the Committee has instructed me to express its thanks for your essentially generous and Public Spirited offer, of which the Club gladly avails itself. The Committee also asks me to tell you that the Club is most pleased to be able to accept your thoughtful offer of a memento to be presented to each of the drivers of the three cars winning the Cups you offer. Yours faithfully, J.P. Orde, Secretary, [End of Embedded Letter] Facsimile of letter received by "The Autocar," from the Secretary of the R.A.C. signifying acceptance of the cups and mementos offered by this journal. | ||