CAR RECORD ATTEMPT

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28851, 23 March 1959, Page 13

CAR RECORD ATTEMPT

F. Shuter Reaches ; ’ 157.5 m.p.h.

Although the car would have probably achieved a slightly higher speed if there had been longer approaches to the timed section, the BCLT Maserati of the Christchurch racing driver, F Shuter, failed by more than 16 miles an hour to establish a New Zealand open speed record on the Tram road on Saturday. Averaging 157.5 miles an hour > on his two best runs, Shuter had I some consolation in taking the Class D (2000-3000 c.c.) national record formerly held by P. M. Hoare (2.9 Ferrari) at 146.4 miles an hour. Saturday’s attempt was a special one, and was held in conjunction I with time trials for motor-cycles conducted by the Pioneer Motor Club. It has also marked one of the few occasions on which the Maserati has been given its head, but it is quite evident it is not capable of the 200 miles an hour mark at present. This same car was timed at 203 miles an hour at Monza about 10 years ago, but the skill of preparation by the Maserati factory was probably responsible. Supercharged To a motor-racing enthusiast, the high-pitched scream of the Maserati’s supercharger was a . delight. The engine of the car was in excellent condition, and as the car sped through the timed section is was firing perfectly. Shuter said later that he had reached 6000 revolutions a minute, and the peak of the engine is 6200. It thus appears unlikely that the car as it stands could achieve much over 165 miles an hour. The present national open record is held by M. F. Stanton at 173.8 miles an hour. The Maserati is at present being sought by motor racing i museums* in England, Italy, and America, but Shuter is by no means certain that this car, as well as another incomplete BCLT , model in his possession, will go out of the country. The future of the two models will depend upon him coming to satisfactory financial arrangements with the intending purchasers.