SENSATIONS OF SPEED

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 59, 13 March 1929, Page 9

SENSATIONS OF SPEED

DRIVING BY RIFLE SIGHTS

CAH LIKE A PROJECTILE

United Press Association—By Electrlfl Tel*

eiaph—Copjrlcht United Service.

LONDON, 12th March.

Major Segrave, telephoning ■ over 4500 miles from Daytona, told the story to the "Daily Mail" in crisp tones, as follows:—"The conditions were bad. The wind ruffled the sands, and floating wisps of mist reduced tho visibility. I should not have gone, but I had waited for a fortnight, and the American competitor could not make his attempt until I had completed mine.

"Two large arc lights were erected, one at each end of the measured mile, to steer by. I scrapped my telescopic sights, and used ordinary rifle sights attached to tho bonnet of the car. The arcs showed up like a blurred glow from the mist. I aimed the sights at '6 o'clock' on the distant are, as on an imaginary gun target. Practically using the car like a rifle, I managed to keep a straight course on to the timing slips. "My impressions were brief, but exhilarating. I saw in front an arc light rushing up to meet me. There was an immense black wall on one flank. This was a solid mass of a hundred thousand people, among whom individuals were indistinguishable, watching the Golden Arrow. Flagposts rushing by on the other flank resembled a ■ straight line across a piece of typewriting paper. My worst experience was during the second run. The mile has also to be covered in the opposite direction, and the speed of both runs is averaged to establish the record. The offside radiator burst, and shot up a great cloud of steam and water. '. Fortunately it was near the end of the run, necessitating hanging on for only a fraction of a second."