FIRST RIVET.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20037, 19 September 1930, Page 7

FIRST RIVET.

IN WONDER MOTOR CAR. TO BEAT SEGRAVE'S RECORD. The first rivet was driven recently in the massive chassis frame of a special, racing car which is being built to the designs of Mr D. J. Harkness to enable Mr Norman Smith to attack the world'B land speed record, one mile in 15,55 seconds, established by the late Sir Henry Segrave, states the "Sydney. Morning Herald." Mr J. A. Beasley, Assistant Minister for Markets and Transport, performed the • ceremony at the works of Harkness and Hillier, Ltd. The car will be the most powerful even seen in Australia, a special Napier Schneider Cup aeroplane engine of 170Q h.p. having been lent specially by the Imperial Government for installation in it. The two chassis frame members were in position on the bench at the works, and were of immense size, being about 15 inches in depth of channel . steol, and sufficiently long to construct a car with' overall length of 26 feet. It will be streamlined ou the pattern of the Golden Arrow, the car used by Sir Henry Scgiave. The steel for these immense girders was supplied by Victors, Ltd., through William Adams and Co., Ltd. Mr D. E. Hall presided, and announced that the new car would bo known as the F. H. Stowart Special, Mr Stewart having given assistance in making Ithe Construction possible. M,r Beasley expressed the pleasure at representing the Federal Government when a notable Australian motorist was making definite plans to attempt a feat which would attract world-wide attention. Then an electric drill was applie'd to one of the chassis members. There was a whirr as the metal was pierced, and in a few seconds a hole had been bored. Next, a "drift" was smartly tapped through; a rivet was inserted, and in a very short timo had been clamped in position by Mr Beasley.

There was a gathering representative of many different branches of motoring and allied trades present, as well as Mr R. T. Ball, Minister for Lands, representing the State Government; Mr J. T. Tully, M.P.; Mr L. J. Schmitt, representative of the New Zealand Government; Mr Wells, president of the Automotive Manufacturers' Association; and Mr F. H. Stewart. Mr Norman Smith, who will drive 1113 car, said that, having such a wonderful car and also such a wonderful course as' the Ninety-Mile Beach in the North Island of New Zealand, his part was Bimple; the most difficult part was first to induce the British Government to lend the secret Napier engine, and next to design and construct the car. Mr Harkness said they had the most wonderful engine ever constructed in the world. Although only about one and a half times the weight of the. 350 h.p. engino installed in the Anzac, the car which broke records at a speed of about 150 miles an hour in New Zealand some months ago, it developed 1700 h.p. Other details of the engine were strictly secret. The car, however, would have a speed of 300 miles an hour.