MOUNTAIN RACING AGAIN?

MOUNTAIN RACING AGAIN? General Meeting submitted to the Racing Committee Proposal at Brooklands

THE general meeting of the Brooklands Automobile Racing Club, held on January 28th, was of more than usual interest, for though the suggestions put forward were fewer than usual, they were very much to the point. It may be mentioned that the Brooklands A.G.M. differs from most club meetings of the type, in that suggestions made by members are not necessarily binding upon the management, and in fact are as a rule not put to the vote. One might almost say that the B.A,R.C. is a totalitarian institution 1 The track is, however, a public company, and the interests of the shareholders have to be safeguarded.

The election of the House Committee is one thing in which the members have a say, and the same five who served last year—A. L. Phillips, F. A. Thatcher, C. A. Holbeach, Mrs. Lionel Martin, and Mrs. R. Eccles—were re-elected unanimously.

The first proposal created a stir of Interest, for it was put forward that mountain races be restored to the programmes, with a rider from the proposer that they were more interesting than Campbell circuit races. The restoration of mountain races appeared to meet with universal approval, though most of those present were in favour of the retention of all three types of racing, i.e. outer circuit, road circuit, and mountain. A suggestion was made that there should be a long-distance race round the mountain, but, as Sir Malcolm Campbell pointed out, this would be very heavy

on the cars, and most difficult for the spectators to follow.

A. Percy Bradley, who was in the chair, said that the reasons why mountain races had been dropped were, first, the number of heavy barriers that had to be moved about on changing from one circuit to another, and, secondly, the fact that since the opening of the Campbell circuit the public had not been able to be admitted to the edge of the old Finishing Straight, an excellent and almost essential view-point for mountain races.

However, a plan had been devised to run off the Campbell circuit races first, and then admit the public to the area bounding the old Finishing Straight. The proposal was to be submitted to the Racing Committee. Another excellent suggestion was put forward by R. R. Jackson, that Campbell circuit races should be started in the old Finishing Straight, and that the course should then run towards the Home Banking, and left along the Railway Straight, rejoining the Road Circuit proper. The reason for this suggestion was that the start would thus be much nearer to the Paddock, and would be much more convenient for competitors,

mechanics, and also marshals. This proposal also met with approval from the members, and was earmarked for the Racing Committee. Freddie Dixon proposed that each year there should be scratch races for cars in

the various international classes, and also suggested a revival of Selling Plate races. It was pointed out from the chair that Brooklauds was fortunate in always having a vast number of would-be competitors, and thus it was desirable for the maximum number to be accommodated in each event.

However, applause greeted a further suggestion by A. V. Ebblewhite that there should be two evening meetings for scratch races only, to be known as the Brooklands Championships, with classes for supercharged and misupercharged cars. ” Ebby ” also suggested a marking system to operate throughout the year for aggregate points right down to tenth position, saying that a similar system had proved popular at motor-cycle meetings, and kept the interest going for drivers. not placed in the first three.

A suggestion that there should be more standard sports-car races was met with. by the old query of “What is a standard sports-car ? ” ; but there appeared to be support for a proposal in favour of events for cars running on standard fuel..

Other proposals were that there should be a club Christmas card, which seemed. very popular, that better access be provided to the railings by the Test Hill, and that there should be a smooth strip of rubber or some similar substance on the parapet above the road circuit pits, to prevent damage to sleeves and ladies’ handbags.