The 100th birthday celebrations of the "penny black" coincided with the raising of the inland letter rate from Jad. to 246d, the recent luncheon of we ili Cenwury mowiss io com-memoran WE sun anniversary or one os me most mporant events m me history of the "norse-less" carriage iwas similarly out of keeping with [current tends. The event was the 1000 miles trial to demonstrate ihe. long-distance reliability of cars. Its 40th anniversary was celebrated at a time when long-distance journeys ior most motorists are impossible because of petrol rationing.
The historic trial lasted eleven days; the legal speed limit was 12 miles an hour. Yet it was this run which put motoring "on the map." Some of the 50 who finished the round-England course (6 started) anended the London luncheon and recalled their pioneer adventures. One of the survivors was Lieut-Comdr.
Graham-White. When his car's steering apparatus was damaged in a crash he kept the car straight for mile after mile of the rase by standing on the step, jamming his other foot against the right wheel-hub.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.