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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Royal Automobile Club
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(RAC, London SW1) A *club founded in 1897 with a more practical purpose than most – 'for the protection, encouragement and development of automobilism'. The *Red Flag Act had been repealed in the previous year and there was an exhilarating new speed limit of 12mph (19kph). The club was so successful that by 1911 its present massive premises had been built on Pall Mall, complete with a large and elegant swimming pool in the basement. An offshoot of the club's activities is the motoring organization, also called the RAC but now a separate enterprise, which is second in size only to the Automobile Association in its recovery arrangements for stranded motorists; it has developed from services first offered in 1908 to associate members of the club.
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