MOTOR-CYCLING

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28051, 20 August 1956, Page 6

MOTOR-CYCLING

BURNS AND WRIGHT AT SALT FLATS

ATTEMPT AT RECORD WITHIN THREE DAYS The two New Zealand motor-cyclists, Bob Burns and Russell Wright, will make attempts on the wot Id solo and side-car motor-cycle speed records within the next three days, according to Mr G. W. O iver, former chairman of the Burns-Wright appeal committee. Mr Oliver received a cable from Burns and Wright last week saying tney were staying at Wendovei, near the Utah salt flats, and wailing for permission to make their attempts.

To establish a new world so o record. Wright will have to better the 215 miles an hour whi h the German N.S.U. factory team established a few weeks ago, but Burns has more than a good chance of bettering the present world side-car record of 178 miles an hour. Burns was confident before he left New Zealand that the Vincent-H.R.D. would reach 190 miles an hour with the side-car.

After the German N.S.U team had made its attempts, Burns and Wright learned that air currents blowing through mountain passes and out across the salt flats crossed the measure course in three places and upset machines travelling at high speeds. These winds caused William Herz to crash at 195 miles an hour some weeks ago. He was not hurt. The streamlining of the Vincent may prove effective in neutralising the effect of these crosswinds, for Herz was using a “deckchai'.'” machine, in which the rider lies flat.