While looking at the "Guinness Book of Car Facts and Feats",
I found some interesting information in the "racing" section.
Apparently the 1930 Belgian GP was the only GP
held that year that complied with the existing Grand Prix rules.
All other 1930 GP's were "Formula Libre" races.
Can anyone list the major 1930 GP races? I have a vague recollection that the 1930 French GP
was held at Pau, and Tim Birkin entered a stripped Bentley, which nearly won the race.
Can someone also tell me what the time limits were for
GP's in the 1931 and 1932 seasons, eg was there a minimum
and maximum time limit?
Early 1930 European GP regulations
Started by
Graham Clayton
, Apr 26 2001 02:36
3 replies to this topic
#3
fines
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- Joined: September 00
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Posted 26 April 2001 - 20:37
Only four races were run to International GP rules during 1928 to 1930: European/Italian GP 1928, ACF and Spanish GP 1929 and European/Belgian GP 1930. Other important races that year: Tripoli GP, Monaco GP, Bordino Prize, Targa Florio, Royal Prize of Rome, Lyons GP, Marne GP, Coppa Ciano, Coppa Acerbo, Monza GP, ACF GP and Spanish GP. In 1931 there were three races to GP rules (I, ACF and B), and again in 1932 (I, ACF and D, although the German GP was flagged a wee bit early 
).
).
#4
David McKinney
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- 14,156 posts
- Joined: November 00
Member
Posted 27 April 2001 - 07:38
The foregoing might help GC's understanding:
Until 1927, Grand Prix regulations were formulated according to engine capacity, and the same system was revised in 1938 (and has been used ever since). The formula in force from 1934 to 1937 was to a maximum weight limit (750kg), but each of the six years before that used a different formula. This results in the 1928/33 period being regarded as something of a ‘Dark Ages’ of Grand Prix racing. As Fines has already pointed out, very few complied to the GP formula in these years, organisers turning instead to formule libre or sportscar formats.
But some of the libre races attracted quality fields the equal of - and sometimes better than - those appearing in the “official” Grands Prix, and for this reason should be given some consideration in the context of GP history. Defining which of these races should be included and which regarded merely as national events is not easy: personally, I have always included in the “second rank” for this period those events contested by more than one official team, or by one such team in a country other than its own.
1928
The GP formula this year required merely that participating cars should weigh between 550 and 750kg (depending on engine size) and that qualifying races be at least 600km (373 miles) long.
Only the European GP at Monza complied with these rules, but I also take account of the libre Targa Florio, Rome GP and San Sebastian GP. I reject the French and Spanish GPs of this year, both being sportscar events, and a number of races which should be regarded as merely national contests in France, Italy etc.
1929
The weight limit was increased to 900kg, and a requirement added that cars should use a specified limited amount of commercially available fuel.
The French GP was run to these regs, but in fact attracted no better entry than any of the other big races in that country in 1929, and cannot be regarded as anything but a national event. That left the Spanish GP at San Sebastian as the only international race complying with the regulations.
The most important libre races this year were the Targa Florio and the GPs of Monaco, Rome, Monza and Tunis. In addition an international German Grand Prix was also held, but that was a sportscar event.
1930
The only positive step that motor racing's administrators took towards improving the situation for 1930 was to change the fuel mix, so that competitors could now add 30% benzol, but the total quantity they could use was still limited.
The Belgian and Spanish GPs were the only races complying with all the regulations, but a number of major libre races again took place: the Monaco GP, the Targa Florio and the GPs of Rome, Monza and Brno. The French GP was once again no more significant than other national races in that country.
1931
Administrators now gave up all attempts to regulate car specification, merely stipulating that there should be a minimum duration for the major events. And to ensure that Grands Prix retained a position of importance in relation to lesser events, that minimum was set at ten hours. The GPs of Italy, France and Belgium all complied, but once again many second-level races drew entries of equal quality, notably the GPs of Tunis, Monaco, Germany, Monza and Brno.
1932
For this year the minimum race duration was reduced from ten hours to five, but there were still only two official qualifiers, the Italian and French races. Among the shorter races, the GPs of Tunis, Monaco, Rome, Germany, Brno, Monza and Marseilles can be considered almost as important, as can the Targa Florio, the Avusrennen, the Eifelrennen and the Coppa Acerbo at Pescara.
1933
This year the AIACR required only that Grands Prix be held over a minimum distance of 500km (310.6 miles). The French, Belgian, Italian and Spanish races can thus be considered the grandes épreuves of 1933, but - as ever - numerous other races drew first-class fields. In this category in 1933 were the Tunis, Monaco and Tripoli GPs, the Avusrennen and the Eifelrennen, the GPs of Penya Rhin, Rheims, Nice, Marseilles, Monza and Brno, and the Coppa Acerbo
Until 1927, Grand Prix regulations were formulated according to engine capacity, and the same system was revised in 1938 (and has been used ever since). The formula in force from 1934 to 1937 was to a maximum weight limit (750kg), but each of the six years before that used a different formula. This results in the 1928/33 period being regarded as something of a ‘Dark Ages’ of Grand Prix racing. As Fines has already pointed out, very few complied to the GP formula in these years, organisers turning instead to formule libre or sportscar formats.
But some of the libre races attracted quality fields the equal of - and sometimes better than - those appearing in the “official” Grands Prix, and for this reason should be given some consideration in the context of GP history. Defining which of these races should be included and which regarded merely as national events is not easy: personally, I have always included in the “second rank” for this period those events contested by more than one official team, or by one such team in a country other than its own.
1928
The GP formula this year required merely that participating cars should weigh between 550 and 750kg (depending on engine size) and that qualifying races be at least 600km (373 miles) long.
Only the European GP at Monza complied with these rules, but I also take account of the libre Targa Florio, Rome GP and San Sebastian GP. I reject the French and Spanish GPs of this year, both being sportscar events, and a number of races which should be regarded as merely national contests in France, Italy etc.
1929
The weight limit was increased to 900kg, and a requirement added that cars should use a specified limited amount of commercially available fuel.
The French GP was run to these regs, but in fact attracted no better entry than any of the other big races in that country in 1929, and cannot be regarded as anything but a national event. That left the Spanish GP at San Sebastian as the only international race complying with the regulations.
The most important libre races this year were the Targa Florio and the GPs of Monaco, Rome, Monza and Tunis. In addition an international German Grand Prix was also held, but that was a sportscar event.
1930
The only positive step that motor racing's administrators took towards improving the situation for 1930 was to change the fuel mix, so that competitors could now add 30% benzol, but the total quantity they could use was still limited.
The Belgian and Spanish GPs were the only races complying with all the regulations, but a number of major libre races again took place: the Monaco GP, the Targa Florio and the GPs of Rome, Monza and Brno. The French GP was once again no more significant than other national races in that country.
1931
Administrators now gave up all attempts to regulate car specification, merely stipulating that there should be a minimum duration for the major events. And to ensure that Grands Prix retained a position of importance in relation to lesser events, that minimum was set at ten hours. The GPs of Italy, France and Belgium all complied, but once again many second-level races drew entries of equal quality, notably the GPs of Tunis, Monaco, Germany, Monza and Brno.
1932
For this year the minimum race duration was reduced from ten hours to five, but there were still only two official qualifiers, the Italian and French races. Among the shorter races, the GPs of Tunis, Monaco, Rome, Germany, Brno, Monza and Marseilles can be considered almost as important, as can the Targa Florio, the Avusrennen, the Eifelrennen and the Coppa Acerbo at Pescara.
1933
This year the AIACR required only that Grands Prix be held over a minimum distance of 500km (310.6 miles). The French, Belgian, Italian and Spanish races can thus be considered the grandes épreuves of 1933, but - as ever - numerous other races drew first-class fields. In this category in 1933 were the Tunis, Monaco and Tripoli GPs, the Avusrennen and the Eifelrennen, the GPs of Penya Rhin, Rheims, Nice, Marseilles, Monza and Brno, and the Coppa Acerbo
