Fuel consumption formulae

Sir,

I was delighted to read in your June issue of the growing interest in a possible fuel consumption Grand Prix formula, and especially of Keith Duckworth’s advocacy of this. Such a formula could not only yield valuable benefits for ordinary motorists, but would also allow a wide variety of engine types to compete on equal terms, thus adding appreciably to the interest aroused.

As regards the use of fuel-flow restrictor valves, however, I am less happy since an obvious response would be to fit a reservoir, downstream of the valve, which would be topped up at part load. Moreover, legislating against such devices could be tricky if conventional float chambers were not to be banned in the process. For this reason I feel that a limited fuel tankage might be preferable, possibly in conjunction with a restricted rate of refuelling.

IJG Berry, Enfield, Middlesex