March 1980 MOTOR SPORT Founded in the year nineteen twenty-four offices would be possible is something to be discussed. The point is that two-tier control of motoring sport is vital and should take place quickly. Note that there is no suggestion whatsoever that the RAC, which controls British motoring sport with the approval of the Government, should be overthrown; only that it must be restrained from exploiting, knowingly or inadvertently, those Clubs and their hundreds of members which can less-well than the Big Battalions afford to pay ever- increasing permit and licensing fees. That the situation, in a world of galloping inflation and rising petrol costs, has become desperate, is evident when you realise that the Motor Cycling Club, the oldest sporting Motor Club in this country, which continues to organise its classic long-distance trials dating back to 1908, had to pay more in Ministry-of-Transport Authorisation-Fees to run last year’s Land’s End Trial than the RAC did to hold the sponsored International RAC Rally — something to do with the MCC having more entrants who cover a bigger mileage. It is understandable that the Forestry Commission has to charge for the alleged wear-and-tear that the MATTERS OF MOMENT passage of fast-moving rally cars cause to its forest tracks and for spectator protection (ropes and whistles), ■ EXPLOITATION IS A DIRTY WORD! but it is not clear to us why a Government Department should charge the MCC for competitions which use “Man’s rich with little, were his judgement true; public roads, with every competitor paying his or her Nature is frugal, and her wants are few; These few normal road-licence duty. But it does, and that cost the wants answer’d, bring sincere delights; But fools create MCC more than £1.000 for the 1979 Land’s End Trial themselves new appetites. “ alone, apart from the cost to entrants of RAC licence No-one likes to be exploited. But that is what seems fees, etc. to be overtaking certain echelons of motoring sport at This is a sure way to kill-off many highly the present time. We have had that scare of an almost worthwhile Club events, which occupy many people, impossible increase in permit and competition-licence if not usefully, then constructively. Authority should fees and complicated fresh legislation announced by be glad of this, in an age of increasing hooliganism the RAC British Motor Sports Council. These have been and terrorism. Indeed, we feel so deeply that every postponed only because the smaller Motor Clubs made effort should be made to preserve the healthy sport of such a fuss about the arrogant way in which they had competition motoring and motorcycling, at Club level, been informed by the RAC of these changes, which that we would be inclined to take our grievances and would have done away altogether with some of the frustrations to Hector Munro, Under Secretary of State events so much enjoyed by amateur-status competitors. with special responsibility for Sport (himself a member The proposed regulation changes had already killed- of the Bentley Drivers’ Club and who has raced his off the Vintage Sports Car Club’s very popular 3nd Bentley. like the son of the Prime Minister, in Club formerly successful Measham Night Rally. From the races), if he were not so involved at present with the aspect of exploitation of the smaller Clubs by the RAC vexed question of whether or not the Moscow Olympic it seems that the time is ripe for radical changes within Games should or should not take place. the Competitions Committee over the manner in which Then there is another bit of exploitation of car- it controls events promoted by these smaller Clubs. owners in the Ministerial pipeline. We refer to ideas We like very much the idea suggested by A. F. Rivers- for abolishing four-month minimum car-licences and Fletcher that perhaps a two-tier arrangement of control substituting minimum six-months licensing, with should be instituted, so that while the rich organisations abolishment of refunds for unexpired portions of such may be persuaded to make the RAC richer, the smaller licences. There is no need to emphasise the effect that Clubs can have a more understanding top-man — such legislation would have on the less-affluent car- Neil Eason-Gibson has been suggested as a possible users or how this would affect adversely those who run candidate for the task — working-out their destinies, the older vehicles for just a few days, or week-ends, in with different rules and fees applying in their case. a year. The Daily Mail exposed this official planning on Mr. Rivers-Fletcher sees this as a badly-needed split the part of the Minister of Transport last year Bind the between that part of the RAC Motor Sports Council Morris Register and the Historic Commercial Vehicle that governs the top echelons of the “Sport” and that Club, among others, have issued warnings. But there which controls the smaller sporting competitions. He may be worse to come, even if the “no refunds” scheme went so far as to suggest forming a new department is abandoned. Because the rumour of a savings-stamp moving with the latter objects, and moving this away scheme to help us pay for our car licences suggests from expensive Belgrave Square. Whether a change of a sharp rise in their cost! Then there is an idea being 62 MOTTOR SPORT, MARCH 1980 considered for taxing vehicles on a possession basis, enquiry, needed for historical research, might have instead of on usage. This would mean, presumably, that been treated kindly. Not so! Some faceless bureaucrat every existing vehicle, including all those out-of-use on has only to put a tick to a DVLC printed-form to private land, would have to pay some sort til tax. The withhold such information, for one of seven different plan may seem preposterous; but do not overlook the reasons — this was done in our case, not by computer, fact that, since all the old-style Log-Books were called the simple little tick having been made by Civil Servant in and owners of the older cars conned into believing Mrs. W. Bevan. So, while wanting more revenue from that, unless they registered details of their vehicles with motorists on the one hand, with changes stacked against the DVLC at Swansea they might forfeit their right to the historic vehicle movement, the DVLC refuses a original Registration Numbers, there now exists the legitimate request for simple and harmless assistance means of tracing all vehicles and implement such a tax with historical research, either because its filing system on their owners. has become bogged-down by those “flexible” multiple- To do so would be quite inexcusable. How would computers or because of disinterest and indifference... the bureaucrats who say they cannot impose Capital Further exploitation is seen in the muddle into which Gains Tax on the profit from sales of historic cars because Vintage and Historic motor racing has got itself, with it is quite impossible to differentiate between heirlooms fake historic racing-cars being built and definitions like sold for profit and cars used as mechanically-propelled “Original” “Replica” “Reproduction” “Replicar” means of essential transport, decide which vehicles, “Imitation” “Authentic” and “Fake” being bandied if any, should be exempted from a “possessions” tax? about while confusion reigns. Finally, the present- Demanding licences on old wrecks parked on public day lowering of former high standards constitutes roads is one thing. Taxing every out-of-service vehicle yet another, if milder, form of exploitation. To give quite another. If museum-exhibits were exempted while but one instance, we drew attention in January to a tax was charged on every individual vehicle in private statement in The Times saving that Nuvolari did nearly collections, or those which enthusiasts were rebuilding, 150 m.p.h. on Brooklands in 1921 in a V8 Hispano- jealousy would be bound to result. Whichever way you Suiza-engined Gordini car. Two people we know who look at it, this is another charge and imposition on the genuinely wanted that great newspaper’s further views ownership and operation of historic motor vehicles, on this matter wrote to the Editor but their letters were which give the public so much enjoyment. Those who unanswered. So W.B. wrote himself. Belatedly he has thought up this diabolical scheme would be advised received the following condescending reply: “We have to remember that the Englishman’s home is still very shown your letter to the Obituary Editor who tells us much his castle and keep their money-snatching hands that the Obituary . was written some years ago by a off unused cars, whether parked beside a maisonette or motor-racing correspondent who contributed regularly in the barns and outbuildings of great estates. to the obituary columns but with whom he has long lost Never forget, in respect of the foregoing, the touch It may well be that the writer of the note in MOTOR hundreds of millions of pounds the DVLC at Swansea SPORT is in the right.” And first class postage has been has cost the country. It has been admitted to have suddenly increased before the second Conservative been a colossal mistake. Its long delays, muddles and Budget, to 12p — almost the old half-crown a letter! — ridiculous misrep-resentations in the revised vehicle- although not all 1st class mail arrives the day after it has logging SYSTEM, are legion. As long ago as 1971 the been posted? A case of fallen standards? Vehicles (Excise) Act made provision for date-to-date It is a great pity that, as the quotation that heads short-term car-licensing, using the flexibility of those this Editorial reminds us, life has had to become so so-costly DVLC computers.