3 JUNE 1938, Page 38

MOTORING

The Shrinking World I am not at all sure that I welcome the latest announcement from the R.A.C. to the effect that, encouraged by the popu- larity of the Monte Carlo and R.A.C. rallies, the International Association of Recognised Automobile Clubs is organising rallies which will cover every drivable road on the face of the earth—or very nearly. The first and shortest is to Calcutta and Bombay ; the second, via Calcutta, to Indo- China, whence rallyers may either return to Europe by sea or go on to the Dutch East Indies ; and the third round the world, including Japan and the United States.

It all sounds and will doubtless prove to be extremely adventurous, exactly the sort of thing escapists like myself have dreamt of ever since the Lincoln Highway was finished, motoring became general up and down the Grand Trunk Road and those hardy pioneers struggled through from Cairo to the Cape. But there is a world of difference between doing these things by oneself and doing them in a personally conducted mob.