Rallies and fuel use

Press, 16 July 1979, Page 16

Rallies and fuel use

Sir, — What a lot of rubbish motor rally supporters put forward in defence of their sport. Rugby players use petrol? And golfers? Even horses at the races are not permitted high octane additives. Oh, it is the supporters of these meetings, they cry. I am sorry, I should have realised that motor rallying has no supporters. — Yours, etc., K. G. FEAST, Darfield. July 13, 1979. Sir, — In reference to your correspondent who criticises the amount of fuel to be used in the forthcoming world championship Motogard rally by “show-

off” rally drivers, may I say that this rally has already been shortened by considerably more than 10 per cent. Recently many other motor-sport events have also been cancelled or drastically shortened. If every motorist, whether involved in sport or otherwise, were to save the percentage being saved by motor-sport then our oil imports might show a significant decline. Remember that motor-sport fuel consumption falls far behind that used in the pursuit of sports such as rugby and horse racing. I object to the implications of the term “show-off.” Rallying has no more “show-offs” than any other sport. Showing off is very unrewarding in the middle of nowhere in the early hours of the morning, — Yours, etc.,

T. MILLIKEN. July 11, 1979.