Digest of Contents.
Page 3
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The scheme of arrangement of the 200 pages of the report deserves something more than passing mention. No less than three indices are included : one to the general contents of the report as a whole ; one to the names of the entrants ; and one to the separate contents of the official programme for the trials proper. The introduction (page 5) tersely explains why the Club found it impossible to hold the projected trials of 1935 and two, and explains that, so far as the recent trials are concerned, a special committee, composed of representatives of the R.A.C., the Commercial Motor Users' Association, and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, successfully arranged the technical details and other matters. It recites the fact that do vehicles were entered by 29 firms and companies. We then come to lists of the various committees which were concerned with the trials, these to the extent of three pages, being inevitably repeated, later, in consequence of the inclusion of the official programme as a whole, to which addition to the report proper we make later reference. Two pages are occupied in setting out the awards and their recipients, and we have, in the desire to conserve space, indicated these upon the table of particulars, given on the next page, except as regards the awards to drivers, which are not so indicated.
The "Judges' Report."
Page is opens with the section headed "Judges' Report," and we have to express regret that the contents of the 46 paragraphs thereunder are not thrown into relief by the insertion of sub-headings. Though the form in which the matter is presented cannot strictly be held to detract from the value of the actual text, members of the daily Press who may be called upon to review the contents without any great excess of time at their disposal would have appreciated such assistance from whoever edited this vital chapter. It will be noted that our own digest and synopsis has been " relieved " in this manner, and that we there give the Judges' conclusions verbatim, together with a few comments and comparisons of our own (page doo).
Particulars of Wheels.
The most suggestive and valuable feature has been introduced here, for the first time, so far as we are able to recollect, in the matter of the particulars and illustrations of a number of the wheels which were attached to the competing vehicles. The weight, over-all diameter, width of tread, make of tire, method of driving, and other details, are accompanied by clear and informative drawings.
Routes.
Two pages of concisely-arranged route maps, as supplied by an Official, prior to the trials, to a certain publishing house, are next reproduced, and we think these might well have found a place in the official programme which was issued by the Club in September, because they are obviously necessary to render complete the lists of names therein.
Descriptive and Statistical.
We next come (page 24) to the main body of the report. T it plan of construction has been to allot a couple of pages to each vehicle or tractor, the left-hand page bearing an illustration and certain extracts from the official programme, and the right-hand page a certificate from the Judges as to : total number of running days; total distance run ; nature ofIlfuel used; quantity of fuel used; miles per gallon ; quantity of lubricants used; weight of load carried ; and time occupied by all stoppages other than those caused by traffic, or which were compulsory. This takes us to page 543, and, after the binding-in of a coloured page, the volume Is completed by the inclusion of the 53-page official programme to which several references have already been made. This programme gives, inter alia : the Judges' rota; the regulations for drivers; specifications of the vehicles and tractors; a list of drivers; instructions to competitors ; a composite map of the routes; a rasurne of the daily route for each class; the speed limits for the several classes ; a list of the intermediate exhibitions; a list of observers ; instructions to observers; and a blank log-sheet.