DARE DEVIL' THOMAS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 112, 14 May 1927, Page 20

DARE DEVIL' THOMAS

BECOBD IN RECOBD-MAKING.

The world of automobile engineering has suffered a great loss by the untimely death of Parry Thomas, who was in his 44th year, states.the motoring.correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" Though better Known to thb general public as "Dare-Devil" Thomas, the racing motorist, his fame in tho industry was greater as a designer and engineer. In the years before tho war, Mr. Thomas had already made his mark in tho engineering world by adapting to the commercial: motor chassis the Thomas electrical transmission, which he had originally designed for coalmining ■ machinery. For Thomas was a W«j)shrnan and his first engineering experience was gathered at pit-heads. The Thomas electrical transmission for motor vehicles was made at tho Lcyland Works in Lancashire, and ho joined that firm as their chief engineer in 191(5. There ho designed tho Leyland oight-cylindcr car that ho mado famous at his first appearance on the Brooklands motor track at the Easter meeting, 1922.

Sinco that date ho created more new speed records than any othor motorist, and was tho first driver to put up tho pace for tho^dißtance of a milo (with a Hying start) at over 170 miles an hour. At the timo of his death ho held, in addition to sixtoen class records, tho following world's records:— The kilometre and mile, with a standing start, at 86.90 m.p.h., and 98.87 miles an hour, made on 26th May, 1926. 500 kilomette record, at a speed %i 111.24 m.p.h., and the 500 miles record, at 110.04 m.p.h., on 7th October, 1926. The one-hour record, with 121.74 miles, on 21st October, 1926. The kilometre and mile, witb a flying start, at 171 and 170.6 miles per hour respectively, until recently beaten by Captain M. Campbell. . It was to regain Ins two lost records that ho took his racing car to Pendine Sands, where his untimely death took place. ■ Mr. Thomas won upwards of 15Q gold and silver trophies at the various Brooklands motor races. Parry Thomas was the' greatest track racing, motorist who ever lived; there can bo no doubt about'tho justification

of the superlative. Parry Thomas was supreme; Ho lapped Brooklands faster than any other man has lapped it. His judgment was not only superb, it was uncanny. On- many occasions he has started scratch .in a lightning handicap, giving starts to cars capablo )f exceeding 100'iniles an hour; and won through whon it did not seem humanly possible to do so. Timo and again ho was 'pocketed" by cars spread out over the track which seemed to block his way but went through, seeing an opening where only his extraordinary judgment could sob one.

His careor was singularly devoid of accidents because of his unerring judgment. On one occasion he burst a tiro and swooped down from the banking in a terrific skid. But he righted his car and. brought it safely to" rest. He acquired an amazing art of recovcrv, so that when a tire-burst ho could keep us car travelling in all but a straight line, and this at speeds of two mile? a minute. During an attempt on record at Pendino Sands last year ho beat tho world's record for a flying mile in most extraordinary fashion. His pressure pump broke, and he, had to employ one hand for, retaining the pressure. With the other he drove his car at over 160 miles an hour—until the record was his. a hat achievement stands as one of the greatest exploits. ■