SPEED KINGS

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 October 1928, Page 10

SPEED KINGS

VALUE OF SERVICES.

I do not know whether it is necessary to defend speed itself, writes Sir Charles C. Wakefield, in “John O London’s Weekly.” Like many other attributes of modern life, it is to be judged by attendant circumstances. Although the Home Secretaiy in a recent speech was more than tolerant in his attitude towards speed in motoring, I imagine that his official action in the case of embryo Campbells and Segraves who might attempt to dash along, Piccadilly at untold miles per hour would still be severe—and rightly so. Nevertheless, Sir Williaw Joynson-Hicks was eihfihatic in his appreciation of the services of highspeed motoring as a form of practical research. That aspect of racing motoring 'however, i will deal with m ?. moment. Let me first of all try and meet a type of criticism that is not by any means uncommon. There are some who would seem to. decry all attempts to test the possibilities of mechanic-ally-achieved speed whether on land or sea or in the air. They say that such adventures should be forbidden- although who is to forbid them it is rather difficult to see. It is only too evident that life may be lost in these gallant endeavours, and it would be foolish to shirk the fact that gi ave risks are run. Both in motoring and aviation there has been a rapid development in the matter of speed, and speeds that were thought to be impossible a year or two ago are now actually achieved. The number of fatalities involved, however, is not so great as to suggest that these attempts have been either reckless or impracticable. Fatal accidents in motor racing have occurred, but in racing the accidents have been mainly the result of collisions or of endeavours to avoid collision rather than the * effect of speed as such. In individual speed efforts the chief factors of risk found in racing are eliminated. The point at issue is really one of deep-rooted principle. If we are to say that this OT that risk shall not be taken by persons who are willing and anxious to put themselves to the test, what becomes of the spirit of adventure? If no one is to try to do anything that is not safe and strictly according to precedent, what becomes of the idea of progress? The question cannot be confined to high speed in motoring and it Is surely historically true .that many of the great achievements whidh have opened up new worlds and revealed new truths would have been impossible in a world rigidly bound by the -principle of “safety first.” This would "be a poorer and a narrower sphere if’the great heroes of exploration and scientific experiments had been prevented from venturing into the unknown. It is necessary to,, be just to the memory of such brave men as Mr. Parry Thomas and Lieutenant Kinkead, and, more recently still, Mr. Frank Lockhart, who are indubitably to be classed as heroes in the grand manner, whose memories will rightly be honoured in our national Halls of Fame.

Those who know something of the men who have secured these remarkable triumphs over time bud space can smiles at the idea there is anything of mere Rupert-like recklessness about them of their achievements. They take risks, maybe, but no chances. They know from long experience and careful study what special dangers attach to these phenomenal speeds, and they have no intention of being taken by surprise. In the design and manufacture of their machines a reasonable margin of safety is always kept well in view, and

‘every factor as regards the materials employed, the tract to be used in the attempt, gradients, consistency direction, and force of wind and so on, is tliorottgiriy considered.

The victory that the world’s speed kings win are the results of extraordinary care and thoroughness in preparation, calculations to the last . degree of exactitude, and the development of a marvellous technique of driving. Recklessness is generally the result of ignorance, and is displayed’ by the tyre motorist (often quite unconsciously), never by the crack, racing driver in pursuit of records. The garage of Captain Malcolm Campbell’s house in Surrey is indicative of the man. It is a remarkably well-equipped workshop, and even to the non-expert eye it is crystal-clear that he is a keen and tireless experimenter, and that every aspect of the technical planning and equipment of his highspeed cars has been the subject of much thought and constant practical research. In building his famous Blue Bird car he had the cooperation of experts in the selection of every single part of the machine. In the course of each of his successive, speed records he has devised and employed new ideas so that it might be- said that each achievement was made possible because Captain Campbell profited by lessons learned as a result of the previous attempt. The late Mr. J. G. Parry Thomas was also a practical motor-engineer, and his name as a designer of genius became famous through the original an dhighly efficient car which' bore his name. It is not too much to say that such men as these “race” not at all. They are scientists. They try out on track and road the results of theories and ideas gleaned from ceaseless workshop experiments. The final value of their work is reflected in the Steady improvement of normal engine design. We are fortunately able to ratify our judgment of these brave and skilful men in the case of Major H. 0., Segrave, whose book, “The Lure of Speed” recently published is an au- ' thoritative summary of the aims and

ideals of the speed kings of motoring. He states that “Great Britain stands supreme in the production of the light, economical form of touring car rated at from 8 to 12 horse-power,” and adds that “this position has been obtained solely because of the long series of racing events which have been promoted for light cars.” By virtue of racing” he adds again, “designers have learned how to get all the power they require from an engine of this size (“the typcial 11.9 h.p. engine”) without in any way sacrificing the quality of reliability.” Here are some of the practical results of years of speed tests—the simultaneous reduction of weight and increase of power (obviously the very foundation of modern motoring); the wonderful power of acceleration in the engine of to-day; aluminium pistons; improvements in steel-production, as evidenced in the longer lives of valves to-day; fourwheel brakes; and, finally, the supercharger, Which Major Segrave prophesies will inevitably be adapted to ordinary car design. These are some Of the practical improvements which we owe almost entirely ’to racing experience, and for fuller information on these and other points I can only refer the reader to Major Segrave’s extraordinarily in--foresting ’hook. Incidentally, wc gain 1

■from it an enormous respect for the character of -the writer and of his - many brilliant predecessors and compeers. The story of his long apprenticeship in the pursuit of speed is a sufficient answer to any who imagine that the speed kings of motoring are merely petrol jockeys. His wonderful records have been the fruits of arduous labours and have only been made possible by unusual determination and persistence. As I write, it is clear that we are not yet at the end of the long series of achievements in the domain of speed. It is reported that the records of Mapor Segrave and Captain Campbell have been capped by an American driver,, and the world learns that both the English champions intend to enter the lists again in order to win back the record for Great Britain. What the ultimate limit of speed on land may he no one can say, but the attainment of that unknown miles per hour is a very practical and logical ideal towards which every kind of ‘motoring ability will continue to press for some considerable time to come. These further efforts will doubtless yield other practical results of value to the motor engineer, which will in due course affect the design of the ordidnary touring car of to-morrow. It is therefore only just to pay a final tribute to all the speed pioneers of the past and to our present-day champions, through whose endeavours the path of the private motorist has been made both smooth and safe.