FAILURE TO LOWER WATER SPEED RECORD

Grey River Argus, 18 August 1949, Page 3

FAILURE TO LOWER WATER SPEED RECORD

(N.Z.P.A.—REUTER CABLE) (Rec. 10.40). LONDON, August 17. Qonald Campbell failed in a dawn attempt to-day on Coniston Water, in the Lake District, to break his late father’s world water speed record. Atfter two runs on the measured mile, the timekeeper’s office signalled that the record had been broken, and there was a jubilant scene at the water’s edge. But a re-check proved that the figures were wrong. Campbell has now abandoned further attempts on the record, because of a damaged gearbox. He said: “Increased thrust and powej which I used wrecked the gearbox, forcing the end cap off the drive shaft”. Campbell added: “It is all over, for the time being, but we will be back some time’’. The speed on the first run over the measured mil e was 138.46 miles an hour,* and on the return run 132.35 miles, an average speed of 135.34 miles.