ATTEMPT ON RECORD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 201, 26 August 1930, Page 17

ATTEMPT ON RECORD.

"WIZARD" SMITH'S PLANS. NEW "WONDEK" CAB. ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS. NOT DISCLOSED. Mr. Norman Smith, who is to make an attempt in New Zealand next January on the late Sir Heniy Segrave's world's speed record of 231.36 m.p.h., established at Daytona Beach, U.S.A., states that good progress is being made with the construction of the special chassis being built to house the 2000 h.p. Rolls-Royce aeroplane engine, built as a standby for the Schneider trophy. This engine, of which no detailed specifications have been disclosed by the makers, except that its bore and stroke is said to be Gin x 6in, and that the power output is one horse-power per 12 ounces of metal, is being loaned by the British Government for Smith's attempt to better the speed attained by Segrave's Golden Arrow. It is the Intention to streamline the Australian creation on a somewhat similar line to the Golden Arrow, which was recently on view at automobile shows

throughout the Commonwealth, the coh- . tendon being that Segrave's car achieved its object and held its course at 231 miles an hour, whereas, although it has been reported that Kaye Don's Silver Bullet only offered 56 per cent of the head resistance of the Golden Arrow, Don's ear never had an opportunity of displaying its steadiness under actual recordbreaking conditions, owing to the rough surface of the Daytona Beach. In discussing the speed capabilities of the natural speedway at the 00-mile beach, near Kaitaia, New Zealand, Norman Smith is most enthusiastic, and expresses the opinion that it is unrivalled for- the purpose. The surface after the tide has receded is so hard that a heavy car, at high, speed, hardly feathers the sand. The best stretch of beach is a 16-mile section with a 200 yds wide track, between, the high and low tide marks at the narrowest point. The surface of the beach is almost flat, the fall to the water being less than 1 per cent, an important factor when a 2J ton car has to be kept on a straight course at exceedingly high speed. The visibility is so good that on a clear day one can see for 3.5 miles along the beach. As this beach is situated not far from North Cape, some 300 miles north of Auckland, and about SO miles from the nearest railhead, the racing car—which will be an Empire product—will have to be taken on a motor truck to the beach. The New Zealand Government is rendering every assistance toward ensuring the success of the ambitious undertaking and is already making arrangements for obtaining the necessary electric timing apparatus.