World Speed Attempts

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 187, 6 May 1931, Page 11

World Speed Attempts

Sir,—lt is a matter for considerable regret that "Wizard” Smith, the motorist, has been asked by the Auckland Automobile Association to delay his visit to New Zealand until next January because Auckland’s Ninety Mile Beach is not in suitable condition. Men such_ as Sir Malcolm Campbell and Mr. Kaye Don (both of whom have New Zealand in their thoughts of record-breaking), also Mr. Smith,, cannot .afford to delay overlong, and the Auckland message may have the effect of causing a change of plans. This would be unfortunate because, remarkable though it may seem to those who have heard only the blowing of northern trumpets (now a little clogged with sand), there is another New Zealand beach fully equal if not superior to the Ninety Mile. I refer to Southland s ' Oreti ‘beach. There, visibility is better than in the north, the broad stretches are completely unbroken, and, in my experience of both localities, the proportion • of good surface days is higher than at the Ninety Mile. In the interests of New Zealand publicity abroad, immediate •teps should he taken to supply the famous racing drivers of* the world faith a full, and not merely , a parochial review, eri the Dominion’B natural speed facilities.—l am, etc., SOUTHERNER. WoUiagton, April 80,