SPEED STAR KILLED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 114, 17 May 1938, Page 16

SPEED STAR KILLED.

CHAMPION MOTOR CYCLIST. ERIC FERNIHOUGH'S DEATH. During the last two years there has been a triangular international contest between the fastest motor cyclists of Great Britain, Germany and Italy for the honour of holding the world's fastest motor cycle record. In turn, Eric Fernihough (Kngland), H. He'nne (Germany) and P. Tarulli (Italy) have established new and amazing figures.

A short time back Fernihough had pushed the record up to 169.78 m.p.h. on a perfect stretch of road near Budapest, riding a Brough 1000 c.c. machine. That record was subsequently won for Germany by Henne. who. in an encased streamlined machine, raised the speed to 173.07 m.p.h. on the road near Frankfort-on-Main.

Fernihough then decided to enclose the rear of his maclrine in a light body and make a further efl'ort to regain the record. Priod to taking his reconditioned machine across to the Continent, Fernihough gave a public demonstration at a Brooklands race meeting of the speed capabilities of the super-charged Brough. Without its streamlined body he officially covered a kilometre (109*3 yards) from a flying start at 143.39 m.p.h.—a wonderful performance on a banked track.

Unfortunately, the Britisher's attempt to win back the record has had a tragic ending, for it is cabled from Budapest that Fcrnihougli was killed while travelling at 170 m.p.li. on the Gyon road in Hungary.