Pit Stops

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30277, 1 November 1963, Page 11

Pit Stops

The first event in this season’s calendar of interdub rallies for the Lupp Cup will be held on Sunday. It is the M.G. Car Chub’S rally, which will start at 10 a.m. from Worsley’s road and last a little more than seven hours. It will include map reading on map SB3, one inch to the mile series, and tuliptype instructions. There will be lunch at one of the bays on the peninsula and refreshments will be provided at the end of the event. Competitors must bring competition licences and other documents, A sealed watch system of timing will be used. The distance will be under 200 miles, and the organisers say there will be no rough roads, but some steep climbs. The emphasis will be on staying on course. There will be a trophy for the winner. ¥ * *

The Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, which met recently at Watkins Glen, agreed to recommend to the C.S.I. that the next formula one be for 3-litre oars. Engine constructors

have said they would not object to building 3-litre engines, which would be less expensive than 2-litre units. ¥ ¥ ¥

The Marlborough Car Club, organisers of the Renwick road race meeting, report the entry this year may be the largest yet. Close competition and full fields are predicted. Competitors entered for the main event include A. Buchanan (Masterton) with a Brabham Ford 1.6 litre; J. Palmer with the Hyslop 2.5 litre Cooper Climax; A. Shelly with the 2.5 litre Lotus he raced last year; and M. Stanton with the Stanton Corvette, now modified to come into the sports-racing category.

Cars powered by rotarypiston engines, which includes the Wankel design, will be admitted to motor competitions in the next season. A special formula for defining tlie capacity and class into which such engines will fall has been evolved. ¥ ¥ ¥

The Australian Ampol long distance rally is to be held again next year. It will cover a 6000-mile route and will be held from June 14 to June 28. Prize money will be more than £lO,OOO. This event is one which would, in New Zealand, be classed as a trial or reliability trial rather than a rally. ¥ ¥ ¥

For many years there has been considerable confusion in New Zealand about the terms “trial” and “rally.” Decisions of the Association of New Zealand Car Clubs that the terms are synonymous have further confused the issue. A trial should be regarded as either a reliability trial, that is an event in which the reliability and toughness of the vehicle is tested and is the prime factor, or an event of the mud-plug variety for special cars. A rally is an event where the emphasis is on accurate navigation and time-keeping.

This confusion of terms has not been helped by the number of rallies which have been run over terrain and in conditions more suited to a reliability trial, and an unfortunately large number of such events could be quoted. Most competitors will agree that routes which pass through deep water and over river-bed-like terrain have no place under the term “rally.” If the event is a trial let it be plainly defined as such; if it is a rally, let excessively rough terrain and deep water be avoided. ¥ ¥ ¥

Rough terrain included on a rally route proves only one thing: that some competitors have less concern for their vehicles than others. It places at a distinct advantage the competitor who is willing to "thrash” his vehicle. Fortunately such competitors, are few, but others should not have to find themselves in the position where they must risk breaking their car to figure anywhere in the results; Such events, disguised as rallies, do the sport no good. They also reflect badly on the reputation of the organising club. ¥ ¥ ¥

Overseas reports say Pat Moss, now Mrs Carleson, will leave the Ford rally team to join Saab. It is also reported that Stirling Moss may drive a Rover 3-litre with J. Sprinzel in the R.A.C. rally, but as yet this is not certain.