NONE TOO FAVOURABLE

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

NONE TOO FAVOURABLE

CONDITIONS FOR ATTEMPT

British Ofliclal Wireless.

(Eeceived 13th March, 11 a.m.)

EUGBY, 12th March,

Tho conditions were none too favourable for Segrave's attempt. Visability was so poor that two powerful are lights were erected, one at each end of a measured mile, and mist continu•ally drifted across ' the course. Tho wind had also made the sand rather bumpy, and ; at one moment the car struck a pool of water which caused tho tail of the car to t twist. Segrave, in view of the poor light, scrapped the telescopic sights which had been fitted and steered by ordinary sights attached to the car bonnetj aiming his ear through these at the huge arc lights.

H(» took aJ:our-mile start before entering tho achial course, and the speed at which ho travelled was such that the ; .vast crowd of spectators on one side of the track appeared to him like a solid black wall. The sea left several gulfs in the sand which caused the car to jump right into the air, and involved it in a tremendous additional strain, while it was additionally buffeted by a cross wind. ■

In the first attempt he'covered a mile .in 15.55 seconds at a speed of over 231$ mile 3 peir' hour. His run back took 15.57 seconds, his speed being 231.25 miles per hour. The average of these two constitutes the record.

Segrave says his car is capable of oven higher speed, and he will make a further attempt should hi 3 fresh record be broken whilo he .is at Daytona.

The tires used had a very thinsmooth tread to reduce tho stresses, and were calculated to last for little longer than the probable duration of the test. While at Daytona, Segrave hopes also to establish a new water speed record in the 1000 horse power motor-boat, "Miss England," which in a trial,this week attained 85 miles per hour.