NINETY-MILE BEACH.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20039, 22 September 1930, Page 3

NINETY-MILE BEACH.

TRACK FOR MOTOR RECORDS. MR H. J. BUTCHER'S MISSION. (FKOM OCa 0W» CORRESPONBEKT.) LONDON, August 15. Since his arrival in England . about three weeks ago, Mr H. J. Butcher (re~ .jreseming the Auckland Automobile Association) has.been prosecuting with ■ hara'-terisUe vigour his propaganda on behali of. the claims of the. NinetyMile Beach in the far north of New Zealand as a speed track tor motor records. ■ ' Last Mond,a> evening -iie. was the Aiwi . guest at the mouthty diJinei ol : die-, ornish .itacimi. Drivers .Uub, : luis w>dv is composed..-.; of tue proumiant -speed ■ merchants" of Great Britain, and : a • number of -distinguished men were the hundred present. Ibe dinner was presided over .by Lord Howe who had .' Mr B u teller .on bis right and Captain Malcolm Campbell (the only surviving motorist to-drive a car at more than '2OO miles an hour) on his.left. : ' ' . Lord Howe,'when he introduced Mr Butcher remarked in very comphmcutary terms upon the way he had ..introduced the claims.-ol New Zealand -so far: as the excellence :,of the Ninacy-.i ilile Beach was-concerned ;Mr Butcher had:-come to England., he said,- with very: definite knowledge 'of his. sul.ject. iind. he was most,, energet.it in getting. lur.ther . net-essary .information . for-.| them. Ke was; also .struck, with the personal •. disinterestedness - of their miest. : <>nd ho felt, sure that. if. the ultimately proved .suitable, the people of Now Zealand -particularly 'the Automobile ' Association.:of -.Auckdo everything .that was possible to assist.a r<vord- ! ireik-inR pvent Mr Butcher; explained by. what tea mer-routes New Zealand-could be. renched,'; the ..special shipping facilities -and con -essions- that' would , be made available, and the warm, cooperation that, would be- offered, by the Automobile' Associations of-. New Zealand and by the people generally. He gave the fullest .-details regarding the : beach, which was actually 67 mj.les in length. ' .Of this distance, -37 miles 'ivas suitable .for high-speed driving. .'• A width of 55,0 ft ;of firm sand was available at low tide. The low spring tide had.a rise- of 10ft, and the neap tide a rise of ; 9ft The beach was free from watercourses Mr Norman' Smith (Australia) used the beach> Inst January in an attempt on the world's record . for 10 miles He that distant at a speed of'l4B'jii'p.h but no record foulrl.-bp "laimed>.a<s. the international regulations.were not fully observed. In. his'opinion the beach would be safe for; speeds up to 300 m.p.h. The Auckland Automobile . Association was prepared to purchase; the 1 , latest form. or. timing, apparatus (at a.cost of £400) if.there was a prospect-of British drivers taking their cars to New Zealand. ' "I feel sure that the next world's record by an Englishman will be made in New Zealand if'it is made anywhere," added Mr Butcher. Campbell had referred to the great distance as a drawback. Well,"when Mr Kaye Don was to make the-attempt at Daytpna last March it took a long'time, and it was'never done. Mr Don was at Daytona 2$ mont?hßj and then-he never did it. During the, time he was waiting at Daytona he could have gone-to -New Zealand and back, at. about a quarter of the cost. In the United States the pound is worth about a shilling; In New; Zealand a shilling .goes as far as a pound, will go in tb.e United, Stated" „

Captain Malcolm Campbell's Interest. After his' address Mr Butcher showed. the c'inematographv.film ;p.or,trdying. various sections of ;fche , beach, and this, effectively supplemented his remarks.; Colonel- Lindsay Lloyd proposed, avote of thanks to Mr Butcher, and saidthat it seemed that New/Zealand had got something exceptionally good—something British. Mr Butcher had told, them exactly what they .wanted to know, and so far as they could see from the film and photographs there was not a better track in the world. There were still some, details to be gone into and negotiations to be effected before they could come to any decision, but he hoped that Mr Butcher, with the assistance of the High* Commissioner for New Zealand, who had shown' great interest in the matter, would be able to persuade one of their record-breakers to go to New. Zealand.

Captain Malcolm Campbell seconded the vote of thanks. He" said that he was very much impressed with what he had learried regarding the beach. From what Mr Butcher bad said, particularly as to, the provision by the Auckland Association of a timekeeper and the necessary apparatus, and als; as to the availability locally ; of motor mechanics, it seemed that the cost would be yery much . less than he had formerly, imagined. This would be a great item him personally- to attempt to'beat the, world's record on that beach. He intended: to go further into the matter with Mr Butcher. A vote of thanks was carried with enthusiasm. ■

■Some of the Difficulties. Since the dinner I have had a conversation with Captain Cimpbejl,' who. enumerated some of the difficulties he to face if he should decide to attempt a record in New. Zealand. In' the .first place, he saidj it ; was' a long way to New Zealand, and a prelim inary inspection of the beach before taking out one's apparatus would be out of the question. One would have to take the bull by the horns and trust to the opinion of others. Beaches were much the same in all parts of the world, and changed at every tide. .Then, the conditions necessary for a speed of 250 miles an hour were very different from those necessary for a speed of 150 miles an hour. Another obstacle was that"the

beach was a long way up. country, and there were not the ordinary facilities one would find near a la!ge town. "It is- very sporting of the New Zealand people," added Captain Campbell, "to offer to supply the timing : apparatus. It would be "a fine thing-if' a record were established : in one of the Dominions, and I hope'something may come of the proposal."- • ... Mr Butcher greatly appreciates the reception he has had. He met-the officials of the R.A.C. as soon as he got here, and he has been '■ extremely well received by everybody.