THE BLUEBIRD

Evening Star, Issue 21974, 9 March 1935, Page 13

THE BLUEBIRD

CAMPBELL'S NEW RECORD ANOTHER ATTEMPT PROBABLE Pres* Association—By Telegraph—Copyright DAYTONA BEACH, March 7. Before Lady Campbell would allow Sir Malcolm to make tho run to-day sho drove over the course in an ordinary automobile at eight miles an hour, arid, satisfied that it was in good condition, gave her husband the signal to start. Tho Bluebird, which hacf been completely overhauled, started the southward run on the twelve-mile course of hard, white sand marked with black oil strips. It Hashed by the racing tower like a cyclonic dust storm and only a pall of dust raised by the flatbeaked Bluebird could be seen by the spectators, arid the thrum of the 2,500 h.p. motors heard. On completion of the course, Sir Malcolm was informed that he had made a record of 272.727 miles an hour, which was only seven one-hundredths of a second better than the previous record. On the return northward run he extended the machine to make a record of 281.030 miles, which, computed with the southward speed, makes a new record of 276.816 miles. The time for th© record mile was 12.81 sec. Although pleased with the second effort, Lady Campbell indicated that it was below the mark her husband hoped to set. and he would probably make another attempt.

BEACH VERY ROUSH TYRES TORN TO SHREDS. DAYTONA BEACH, March 7. “ It was a last-minute sortie and a last-minute decision to wait no longer for the sands to smooth to the perfection needed. I haven’t decided yet whether to stay and try to lift the record higher,” Sir Malcolm Campbell said as 50,000 people lining the course cheered him. The run was as dangerous as any he has ever made here. The smooth rubber surface of all six tyres was literally burned away. The casings hung in shreds like strips of torn burlap, and parts were within a couple of plys of the inner tubes. “ The run down was splendid,” said Sir Malcolm Campbell, “ but coming back was simply terrible. The beach through six miles at the south end was very rough. I had to get up speed there, so I simply trod the accelerator down to the floor and held on. I could feel the tyres going, but it was all right until just after 1 left the measured mile I hit a huge bump. The wheels wrenched over and I thought I was gone. It was torriffically close. Just as the left wheels got where they seemed to be touching soft sands they came back and everything was all right. I hurt both wrists pulling the car back.” Sir Malcolm broke four world speed records. In addition to the mile he averaged 276.160 miles for one kilometre, 268.474 Tor four kilometres, and 251.396 for five. DISSATISFIED WITH SHOWING DAYTONA BEACH, March 8. (Received March 9, ,at 10.30 a.m.) Dissatisfied with what he considered his poor showing Sir Malcolm Campbell has decided to remain until late in March in the hope of getting a flawless course. NEWSPAPER TRIBUTES (British Official Wireless.) Press Association —3y Telegraph—Copyright RUGBY, March 8. (Received March 9, at noon.) The newspapers pay warm tributes to Sir Malcolm Campbell’s daring and skill and refer to the • value to the British motor industry of the data his high speed achievements have produced.