SPEED RECORD

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 68, 21 March 1931, Page 15

SPEED RECORD

A MAN ■"'OF "DECISION

ATTEMPTS ARE COSTLY

Many will recall that at the time of Captain Campbell leaving England to attack the speed record on the beach at Daytonaj it was announced that there were difficulties which might provent him front carrying out his arrangements. At the same time it was an-' nouncedthatiri-the event of these difficulties proving insurmountable Captain Campbell "would come on to New Zealand and make his attempt here. --The-matter-is referred to by "The Motor" in the following notice published on 20th January''(N.B.—The difficulties were smoothed ".out and the' attempt successfully carried through. The trouble originated in a difference of opinion between the American Automobile Association and the Daytona authorities in. re.gard to the amount of tho expense's to be met at Daytona.): — Captain Malcolm' Campbell, the British motorist,; who is attempting to beat the land speed, record at present standing to the credit of Sir Henry Segrave, received a great shock as he was about to sail on the liner Homeric from Southampton on Wednesday morning. When talking with our representative in his stateroom the blow came in the form of a cablegram, and as Captain Malcolm read the message his jaw dropped. When asked what was the mat-

ter he passed over the "flimsy," adding "What do you think of that?". • It read:—"Daytona rofuses to adr vance over 4000 dollars, expecting you to put up remainder, and has not asked for sanction. Believe this entirely inadequate. 'Advised your American manager ■ repeatedly against your sailing under such conditions, unless your backers prepared .underwrite remaining expenses." (Signed) American Automobile Association1. , Captain Campbell' pondered a moment and the'ti sat down and wrote the fol : lowing reply, which was typically British, and demonstrated his never-say-dio spirit:—"Sailing to-day with car and mechanics. If any. difficulties U.S.A. shall proceed New Zealand." (Signed) Campbell. "I think that it is too bad that the authorities should Jlave.lCft sending a message .of this .description until tho last moment, for, with my 3J-ton car packed away on board, it is impossible for me to do anything else but go -through with, the voyage.. If the car had been accessible.!! should certainly have cancelled my passage, but, with the intimation coming late, that is now out of the question. '{.This is the first official message I have received from the. American Automol/io Association," he continued^ "but I assumed all was well when I received 'a message on 7th" January from a member of the racing committee to the effect that they would give me a iearty welcome. The position is now a very worrying one, but I am determined to go through with my attempt on the record, even if it costs me a fortune,' There is one "thi^g in life which I have never done, and that is to go back on a decision. If, when I get to the States, matters have not been smoothed..out,.:!.. shall leave for New Zealand, whore I shall make a bid on the Ninety-mile Beach. If I am compelled to do that it will- naturally add "very greatly to my expenses, for the. cost of taking 'Blueßird to Daytona has called for an outlay of £680, regardless of-the-other-heavy outlays I have been called--upon-to- moot. "As far as I can see at the moment my attempt on the record is going to cost me anything up "to £8000 out of my 'own pockety and, candidly, tliat is really not good enough." There,, were- numerous admirers to wish■Jiiiii ■ good luck. - Besides Mrs. Campbell and the motorist's two children, Donald and Jean, Earl Howe and Colonel Colin Defries came down to Southampton to wish him .God-speed.