LAND SPEED RECORD

Evening Star, Issue 21093, 4 May 1932, Page 9

LAND SPEED RECORD

DON HARKNESS’S CHALLENGE " WIZARD " SMITH'S REPLY [Pee United Press Association.] \ WHANGAREI, May 4. “ Wizard ” Smith has made a reply to the challenge issued by Mr Harkness in a cable from Sydney offering to break the world’s laud speed record in the Enterprise. “ Personally, I am not looking for any cheap publicity or notoriety,” said Mr Smith. “ When the beach is in a suitable condition I will prove to the world I can break the record, and I don’t want any assistance from Harkness or anybody connected with him. It would not be fair to Stewart, who put up the bond for the engine which was loaned to me personally, to the Air Ministry, to the Napier Company, to New Zealand, nor to the Ninety-mile, to make any more attempts till the beach is in good condition next midsummer. _ In my opinion, the Muriwai Beach is not suitable for high speeds, but I believe that when the westerly winds blow here next summer, Ninety-mile Beach will again be a wonderful speedway. From what I saw in 1930 I am satisfied that during the winter months it is impossible for the beach to be 100 per cent. Daytona is only good for the matter of two or three mouths every year.”