Fuel protest nothing new

Looking through back issues of Motor Sport recently, I found an Editorial I had written in February 1979 which, in light of the recent fuel crisis, still seems topical:

“Since the change of Government we have seen petrol prices rise to alarming heights in quick succession, with absolutely no concession in the form of reduced petrol tax. There are some 18 million driving licence holders in this country. Remembering what a handful of irate farmers did to hold up Continental transport lorries in a Welsh dock area last year, without bloodshed or persecution, because they did not like foreign beef coming into this country, think what motorists could achieve if they were properly united.”

A protest meeting was arranged in Hyde Park, but the protesters and their vehicles were directed to different places, so it was not very effective. But I do know of one Austin 7 driver, protest sticker in the back window, who staged a go-slow by having ‘breakdowns’ in busy Regent Street on his way home.

When a policeman protested as stationary traffic built up behind, the driver explained he would soon get going, but stopped again a few yards further on. When the same policeman arrived, the A7 again restarted and the little car went on, at a crawl.