LESS SPEED, MORE SAFETY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 639, 16 April 1929, Page 7

LESS SPEED, MORE SAFETY

LIMITED FUEL IN 1929 RACES At the annual meeting of the International Sporting Commission held recently, representatives from Britain, France, Germany, U.S.A., Italy, Spain, Sweden, Belgium, Switzerland and Austria fixed the rules for 1929 car-racing results. They all agreed that cars were getting too fast for the safety of their drivers, and so it was resolved that the best way to reduce speed, and at the same time help technical development. was to limit the amount of fuel. Consequently the leading international events for 1929 will be held on a limited fuel basis. The limit which was agreed to was 30 pounds of petrol and oil (the petrol having a density of 720 at 15deg. Cent.) per 100 kilometres distance of the race. Also the car should weigh 17cwt. 301 b. empty, with one spare wheel, and it should have a two-seater body with a width of 39in. at a height of loin, and no streamlining. Also a mechanic need not be carried in the international races. According to the debate, cars built under these rules should be capable of a speed of SO to 90 m.p.h.. according to the course over which the race is run. So far the 1.500 c.c. car race at Indianapolis (U.S.A.) will be run under the old rules of last year, in which no fuel consumption basis came into consideration. The committee also officially accepted the new distances of 200 kilometres and 200 miles to be added to the permitted distances for which world's records could be established.