Matters of Moment, October 1954

Control of the Sport
In an attempt to prevent next year the unfortunate clashes in the fixture list which have been seen this season. the R.A.C. proposes to act as follows :—

Grading of Race Meetings
The Competitions Committee of the R.A.C. has given special attention to the problem of the allocation of dates in the National Calendar to race meetings and speed events, and has decided that it is now necessary to produce a simple grading system for this type of event in order to assist in the formation of the Calendar.

After consideration of possible alternatives, it has been decided that this grade can only effectively be related to the total sum allocated for prize money and starting money in respect of a meeting. It is this sum which normally establishes the relative importance of meetings in the eyes of the ordinary spectator who is interested in the appearance of well-known drivers and cars. It has therefore been decided to grade meetings for 1955 on the following basis: —

In assessing the amount of money available, the value of trophies will not be taken into account. Every interested club will be given the opportunity of selecting one priority event in each grade for each venue in which the club is interested, after which, additional events in each grade will be allocated on the basis of mutual agreement between promoting clubs or, failing agreement, at the discretion of the R.A.C. No club will be allowed to promote more than three events in Grade 1 and three events in Grade 2. In allocating dates, Grade 1 race meetings will first be considered, then Grade 1 Formula III race meetings, then hill-climbs and sprints and so on through succeeding grades. A separate grading of Formula III meetings will apply only to meetings that are exclusively for Formula III cars. The R.A.C. reserves right to downgrade a meeting it if is not satisfied in regard to spectator amenities.

To prevent clashing of events, a limitation will be placed upon the geographical proximity of meetings in accordance with their gradings as shown in the table below. These limitations can be waived, however, upon agreement of the promoting club having prior claim to the date

International Calendar 1955
The Commission Sportive Internationale have accepted in principle the proposal submitted by the R.A.C. concerning the International Calendar. Details of the new arrangement of this Calendar will be ratified at a meeting in Paris of the C.S.I. to be held on October 6th, 1954. A drastic reduction in the number of events inscribed upon the International Calendar will follow, and its order to get the scheme into operation it has already been agreed that there will not be more than seven British race meetings ranking as International in 1955; France and Italy will be allowed fifteen each and no other country will have more than five. After 1955 there will be no numerical limit on the number of International events to be run, but an event can only be inscribed in the Calendar provided it has previously been a truly International meeting. In order to provide a standard by which to judge the status of a meeting the grading if drivers is to be introduced.

Drivers will be graded A, B and C. Class A will be confined to those who have gained a leading place in a Grand Epreuve, probably up to sixth place. Class B will be drivers who have finished in a lower position in a Grand Epreuve than Class A. or who have been placed in some other suitably important race such as Le Mans. It is the details of actual qualification which the C.S.I. will decide in October. Class C will be anybody else. Class A drivers will be allowed to take part only in events in their own country and foreign events in the International Calendar. Class B and C drivers may run in any event, whether in their own country or abroad. In order to qualify for inclusion in the International Calendar a race must have attracted at least three foreign Class A drivers. The reason for having Class B is to cater for the fluctuation in the Calendar. If a race fails to attract three foreign Class A drivers it will be dropped from the following year’s Calendar and its place ran be taken by another race which has attracted a certain number or foreign Class B drivers.

Reports of Recent Events . •

I.R.M.C. WAKEFIELD TROPHY RACE (Aug. 28th)

M.A.C. SHELSLEY WALSH SPEED HILL-CLIMB •(Aug. 29th)

SHEFFIELD & HALLAMSHIRE RALLY OF THE DAMS (Aug. 28th/29th)

750 M.C. NATIONAL SIX-HOUR RELAY RACE (Aug. 28th

lot : Singer D.C. team ..,

2nd : Austin-Healey team … 3rd : St. Moritz Tobogganing Club (Jaguars)

62.9 m.p.h. 69.2 71.3

LIEGE-ROME-LIEGE RALLY (Aug. 18th-23rd)

LONDON M.C. LONDON RALLY (Sept. 3rd14th)

W.J.C. CHARTERHALL RACE MEETING (Sept. 4th)

B.R. & S.C.C. HALF-LITRE RACE MEETING, BRANDS HATCH (Sept. 5th)

B.D.C. FIRLE SPEED HILL-CLIMB (Sept. 5th)

S.S.C.C. BO’NESS SPEED HILL-CLIMB (Sept. 11th)