Rally - The Goold Old Days?

Met a lovely elder statesman at the recent Glamis Show. He was set up next to my wee book-tique to sell pre and post war automotive memorabilia, mostly small stuff like badges, medals, mascots and other smaller items but as he was unable to find accommodation locally, he set off to drive home on the Saturday evening and drive back on the Sunday morning – and he lived in Greenlaw, that’s near Duns to save you reaching for Google! Quite a trek.

Anyway, he asked if I would keep an eye on his stall (naturally he took his stuff with him) and I said of course I would.  There was no need really as it seems there is a ‘code of honour’ amongst the stall holders at these classic shows and they keep an eye on each other’s pitches without being too obvious about it.

Upon his return in the morning he thanked me quite graciously (but needlessly, it was hardly a chore) and later on in the day he handed me a 1959 RAC Motor Sport Yearbook to thank me for my ‘efforts’ and saying the Yearbook would be of more interest to me than to his clientele. And it was, but he wouldn’t accept anything for it.

Over the past few days I have been dipping in and out of it and it is absolutely fascinating. First of all there were two different types of motoring/car clubs at that time – those which were recognised by the RAC to promote competitions and those which were recognised, but not allowed to organise competitions. Secondly there were 9 associations of car cubs representing various English regions and 1 Welsh Association, but no Scottish Association of car clubs, and no Northern Irish Association either!

The rules and regulations appear to concentrate on motor racing and speed events implying that rallying was less well regulated although the Yearbook did publish a calendar for the 1959 RAC Rally Championship of Great Britain which stated there should be a maximum of 14 events and a minimum of 5 and if the number of events promoted/organised fell below 5, there would be no championship that year!

The Schedule of Fees also makes interesting reading. A Restricted Competition Licence was 15 shillings (75p in modern money!) and 1 pound 10 shillings (£1.50p) for a full Competition Licence. The Permit Fee for a National Rally was £21, the same as an International Permit, and that was for a maximum entry of 240 cars and crews! No mention of Forestry Commission charges because that didn’t happen until 1961.

There is also a long list of RAC Officials and their contact details but a quick look suggests there were only three Group 1 Scrutineers based in Scotland, J Garden in Aberdeen, J McCubbin from Giffnock and D H Stephen from Lasswade, plus Group 2 Scrutineers I D Bennie in Glasgow and A D Reid from Edinburgh and no Assistant Scrutineers. Considering the number of Trials, Hillclimbs, Sprints, Race Meetings and Rallies in those days that would have kept them pretty busy! Oddly enough I knew two of them - doesn’t half make one feel old!

By the way, the fee for an RAC Steward at an event was either £3 10 shillings or £5 depending on the event but an additional £2 2 shillings per day if more than a one day event.

There are many other nuggets and insights contained in this 272 page booklet which cost the princely sum of two shillings and sixpence, that’s twelve and a half pence to you and me!

https://fife-motor-sports-agency.square.site/