SCARBOROUGH'S SOCIAL PRESTAGE

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SCARBOROUGH’S SOCIAL PRESTIGE

As most followers of the Sport are aware, the Scarborough and District M.C. have a proposal afloat to establish a very ambit otis 9-fr mile road-course just outside Scarborough—a sort of British Niirburg Ring, in fact, though there will be time enough to publish full details when work begins, as we sincerely hope it The Scarborough Town Council recently held a special meeting to dis cuss the matter. Opposition was put -forward on the grounds that the track would cost over E,250,000, that the wrong class of people would be attracted to Scarborough (that in spite of the B.A..R.C. motto !) and that ratepayers did not approve of the scheme. Mr. J. T. Cowton moved that only mere day visitors would be attracted, although we imagine at least 5,000 people would go up from London and the South on the preceding day if really good racing were in prospect, nor would many face a 200 to 300 mile drive through the night after a day as spectators. Mr. Craner has shown that the Merthles-Benz and Auto-Union teams will Visit this country and Scarborough should be able to attract them, given adequate backing by the town’s holidaypublicity board, or whatever body exists to attract visitors to the resort, and the promise of a fast course. Mr .Cowton also objected to the Council placing itself in the hands of the R.A.C. and A.C.U. and feared the cost of £250,000. Dr. N. Walsh, seconding, said he did not think the people wanted the course built, and Mr. E. Smith declared it ” a gamble.” Brooklands used to be one of the few tracks to pay its way now Donington road course looks like doing equally well, so Mr. Cowton and his followers may regret losing an opportunity for Scarborough if they win the day. However, Mr. J. Kilburn, chairman of the Property Committee, was prepared to take a poll of the town on the scheme. Mr. H. Storry said the R.A.C. and did not originate the scheme, which was proposed by the Scarborough and District M.C., who were anxious to extend the town’s holiday season. The Mayor had been to Donington for the T.T. to study conditions and had found race-goers good class people who would be welcome visitors to Scarborough. He felt the scheme had been confused with horseracing. The Council was told there were 60,000 spectators and 25,000 cars at Donington for the T.T. (the official figure was 20,000 spectators—Ed.). The amendment that no further action be taken was lost by five votes to seventeen and the Council recommended that the Property Committee be empowered to proceed with negotiations with the motor-racing authoritieF. So there must be some sensible people in Scarborough. To the opposition we humbly suggest that if only 15,000 people attend each big meeting and are day visitors only, they would be likely to spend £7,500 in the town as a very

conservative estimate. So the course should pay for itself within five seasons, which cannot be said of every municipal aerodrome. We are so glad we are not to be classed with horse-race goers and we urge the Scarborough and District M.C. to stick to its guns, which may go off with a report heard right down South one of these spring days.