SPEED ATTEMPTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 27, 2 February 1932, Page 8

SPEED ATTEMPTS.

BEACH STILL UNFIT,

WAITING FOR SPRING TIDES

NEAR END OF FEBRUARY

The condition of tho Ninety-Mile Beach at present makes it unfit for Mr. Norman Smith to race the Stewart Enterprise, according to advice received to-day from Mr. J. 11. Mostyn, business manager. He said that while the surface was smooth near the water's edge, it was too wet for the car to be rim. It is not expected that an attempt will be made until about February 25 or 2(i, but the party in Auckland is prepared to leave at a minute's notice on receipt of advice from Mr. Mostyn. The reason for the date, February 25, being mentioned, is that high spring tides occur then. The next spring tided are on February 8 and 9, but they are not so high as those on February 24, 25, and 20. Spring tides are those tides which, twice a lunar month, rise and fall farthest from the mean level. Spring tides, which vary considerably, are greatest when the presence of the moon in perigee coincides with the new or full moon. The piling up of the water which constitutes a spring tide is caused by the moon and the sun acting in direct conjunction or opposition. Change of Radiator. In discussing the- change made last mouth in the radiator of the car, Mr, Mostyn said any criticism must have been .answered by the breaking of the ■world's 10-mile land speed record, when the car averaged just over 104 miles an hour over tho two runs. The designer of the car, Mr. Don Harkncss, thought that because the body was behind tho radiator proposed by Mr. Smith, the air would not pass through tho honey-combing fast enough to cool the water, but in point of fact, Mr. Mostyn eaid, after the second run on Tuesday the water was just a trifle too cool for perfect engine efficiency. When first the Napier Schneider Trophy engine arrived from England in Australia, Mr. Harkness said that he would cool the engine with chemicals, but after six months of experimenting ho abandoned the idea and decided to adopt water cooling. He built two radiators, which he suggested should be fitted to the front of the car, between the cSassis members and the front wheels, protruding partly in front of the wheels. These radiators were not used, however, in the beach tests of the machine. Alteration Opposed. Before the car left Sydney, Mr. Smith told Mr. Harkness that the radiators were dangerous, and so insecurely mounted that they would drop off at a high speed. Mr. Mostyn eaid that Wing-Commander L. J. Wackett, officer in charge of the Federal Government aircraft experimental and research establishment at Randwick and the Cockatoo Island dockyard aircraft factory, had stated that at 300 miles ar. hour the radiators would absorb 500 of the available horse-power, and th.it the load on the mounting bolts would be 7001b each. Mr. Harkness was much opposed to any alteration in his radiator plans, Mr. Mostyn said, and he insisted that his design should he used if he were to retain any connection with the venture. However, Mr. Smith decided not to race with the Harkness radiators affixed, and evolved two alternative designs. The one chosen was built by Mr. W. Monteith, of Auckland, but formerly of Sydney.