PLANS TO TRY AGAIN

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31221, 19 November 1966, Page 17

PLANS TO TRY AGAIN

(N.Z.P.A. -Reuter —Coppripht) BONNEVILLE SALT FLATS (Utah). The former world land-speed record holder, A. Arfons, who escaped serious injury in a 580m.p.h. crash on Thursday, plans another assault on the record.

He said he had a new engine that could power his car, the “Green Monster,” which clocked 589.597 m.p.h. before it skidded and rolled for

about a mile down the track on the Bonneville salt lake flats. Doctors said Arfons’s escape was amazing. He suffered only minor injuries and a possible broken cheek bone. “I didn’t think it possible to survive at such speeds,” said Arfons. He did not say when he would make his next attempt, but “I want the record back in my name.” ] Arfons was trying to break - the land speed record for a , jet-powered car of 600.601 i m.p.h., set by C. Breedlove a ! year ago. Safety devices in the cock-

| pit and quick action by his rescue crew saved the 40-year-old Akron driver. Arfons, who had encountered a series of set-backs during earlier runs, was confident as he climbed into the cockpit of the racer. Seconds later the car was a ball of twisted metal.

A Salt Lake City pilot, Mr R. Allen, who was near the timers’ shack, said he saw a ball of flame erupt from the jet engine. Then he saw a parachute deploy before the car swerved to the right and began rolling. The parachute was ripped from the car.