WATER SPEED RECORD

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 August 1939, Page 7

WATER SPEED RECORD

SIR M. CAMPBELL’S SUCCESS OVER 141 MILES PER HOUR [by CABLE —PRESS ASSN; —COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, August 19. Sir Malcolm Campbell established a world' water speed record of 141.74 miles an hour in Bluebird IT. on Lake Coniston, Lancashire. Hundreds of holidaymakers lined the lake at dawn. Conditions were perfect, and there was no incident throughout the attempt. Sir Malcolm Campbell said that the Bluebird’s performance was a credit to its designer and British engineering.

“There is a devil of a lot more speed in her yet. We are only on the fringe of her capacity. I hope to try again after modifications to the hull.”

Sir Malcolm revealed that he was half-choked by fumes from the exhaust. On the return run he had to stand’ up several times with his- head out of the cockpit struggling for air. This reduced his speed by several miles an hour. He finished scarlet in the face and gasping for breath. The Bluebird’s engines are 12 years old.

The designer, Commander Peter du Cane, said that the lessons from the Bluebird should be of the greatest value in the future design of flyingboat hulls.

The average speed for the first run over the measured mile was 140 miles an hour and that for the' return run 142 miles an hour.

IMPORTANT DISCOVERIES. ■ (Received August 21, 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, August 20. « Sir Malcolm Campbell has revealed : that his world record of 141.74 miles per hour, which he established yester- » day on Lake Coniston, has resulted in most-important discoveries, vitally affectin'g. the design of high-speed naval craft. “There is no need to improve the new speed,” he said. “I have dropped on discoveries far more important than merely installing a new engine, • and slightly raising the record. Obvi- , ously, I am not going to hand them to ; either Italy or Germany.”

ATTEMPT ON LAND RECORD. BONNEVILLE (Utah), August 19 Mr John Cobb will make an attempt ,•?. to break the world land speed record J at dawn on Tuesday. He stated that ho believed his car was capable of 400 >• miles ail hour, although he was not X. trying-to set such a high; figure. After a trial run on Friday he said: - “The car performed satisfactorily. I "" did not extend it. I feel confident that I have the speed to break the record.”

Mi- Cobb attained a speed in the trial of 352.94 miles an hour, exceeding his own record, but falling short of Captain G. E. T. Eyston’s world record of 357.5 miles an hour set in September, 1938.