WORLD’S SPEED RECORD

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 October 1928, Page 5

WORLD’S SPEED RECORD

SEGRAVE’S NEW CAR. (Australian Press Association.) (By Cable —Press Assn.—Copyright.) LONDON, October 1. The “Daily Express” states that the motorist, Segrave, is taking a motorcar to Dayton, U.S.A., in January, in an attempt to beat the world’s speed record. The car will be hybrid, cigarshaped, twenty-eight feet long, 1 and will be fitted with a 1000 horse power Napier engine. It will be> goldencoloured, and will be called lhe Golden Arrow.” , Segrave declares that it will be as safe as his last car, even if going at 240 miles an hour, which speeed he hopes to attain. Segrave is also building a motorboat for a speed record with an engine similar to that of the “Golden Allow.” The boat will have a double hull of mahogany, with room for a passenger. The speed aimed at is 95 miles an hour. The “Golden Arrow” is practically complete. The gearbox, containing many secrets, especially as to the teeth of the gear wheels, is carefully guarded. The car is being equipped with sights, resembling rifles, to assist in the steering.

The “Daily Mail” points out that a stop watch is inaccurate for Such great speeds. Accordingly, Segrave will drive over electrical timing strips at the beginning and end of the last mile of the course. These will be 26 feet long, and will be indicated by posts. Segrave, after speeding over 45 miles, will see a gigantic target bulls-eye, erected on a scaffolding, above posts, through a telescope fixed to the car. He gets a centresight in line with the bull and drives at it and picks up the finishing bullseye. When hurtled past the start Segrave says it is impossible to steer by ordinary objects. Timing posts and flags are merely blurs. The new method will be of enormous assistance.