MOTOR-CAR SPEED RECORD.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20415, 9 December 1931, Page 11

MOTOR-CAR SPEED RECORD.

NORMAN SMITH'S HOPES. CONFIDENT OF SUCCESS, j (raass amociatiok tblxqbui.) AUCKLAND, December 8. "The chances of my breaking the land speed record with the Fred. H. Stewart Enterprise at the Ninety-Mil# Beach are about a million to one, as I consider the car is the best designed and built machine that has ever attempted to break the Tecord," said Norman ("Wizard") Smith, the noted Australian racing motorist, on his arrival from Sydney by the Ulimaroa. <( I am absolutely confident I "will succeed," he added, "and I am basing my opinion on the tremendous horsepower developed by tho 12-cylinder Napier racing aeroplane engine; the fact that my car has 34 per cent, less head resistance than Bluebird H., with which Sir Malcolm Campbell gained the present record, and the general efficiency of the design of the car." The racing car, designed and built by Mr Don J. Harkness, of Sydney, was so streamlined that the terrific wind caused by its movement along the beach would tend to keep it firmly on. the track, Smith said. In the event of accident the car was swung so low that it would actually run on its wheelß upside down. He had not seen the Daytona beach whero Sir Henry Segrave and Sir Malcolm Campbell tad made their successful runs, but authorities who had seen both the Daytona and tha Ninety Mile Beach considered the Dominion track to be better. Moreover, although the engine of his car was of the same type as that in the Bluebird Broad Arrow motor developed by Napier and Sons, Ltd., of England, for the Schneider Trophy race in 1929, the plant in the Stewart Enterprise embodied several fresh modifications making for greater efficiency. Attempt Next Month. The attempt on the record, which will take place during f January, when the tide and weather conditions permit, would be the first all-British attack on the record for many years. In preliminary bench tests carried out before the car left Sydney, it behaved perfectly, Mr Smith said. The machine, vaguely reminiscent Of Sir Henry 8e- ; grave's Golden Arrow, was stowed on the fore deck of the Ulimaroa. Mr Smith is accompanied by Messrs Harkness, C. L. "Westcott, representing Lord Wakefield, N. Nelson Aleock, one of the chemists of the staff of C. C. Wakefield and Co., Ltd., and others. ' - It is announced that the Marine De- ' partment has decided that ao motorcars will b6 allowed on the Ninety-Mite Beach during the attempt except those driven "by officials. • / Mr Smith said he would,probably attack the 10-mile and 10-kilometres records first, then the five-mile and fivekilometre, and finally the one mile coveted land speed record.

NORMAN SMITH'S RIVALS. THE BLUEBIRD MAY COME TO DOMINION. (CSITEB PSKSS AMOCIATIOir—BT BLIOTtie (Received. December Sth, 8.40 p.m.) LONDON, December 7. In view of expectations that Norman "Wizard" Smith will beat the record, Sir Malcolm Campbell's Bluebird is being prepared for a fresh attempt at Daytona or New Zealand. Kaye Don's Silver Bullet is likely to be equipped with new engines capabli of p maximum speed of 300 miles' an hour. It is reported that an American is experimenting with a car fitted with Liberty aero engines.