MYSTERY CAR.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 16 November 1929, Page 14

MYSTERY CAR.

WIZARD" SMITH TO ATACK RECORD.

AUSTRALIAN SKI 1.1. <X TRIAL

Ambition has ever been the luoricatmg <n I'nc* annals of fiction tuvu history are liiloci with instances of ambition firing men to attempt- big tilings and when the ambition was backed by capability, the big things were con- , eluded successfully. At has -remained for an Australian, Norman ‘‘Wizard” Smith, motoring editor of the “Sunday Times" and “Referee," to 'recall that savor of ambitious adventure in his latest exploit, m attempt on the world’s ten miles speed record, and later on Sir Renrv oogra-ve's record of 231.36 m.p.h. Adr months “Wizard" has been bniruiiiCT in Sydney a, mystery car capable- or speeds up to 170 mjp.h. He plans first- of all to set up a new Australasian record for one mile -art Gerringong Beach, and' then to take his car to New Zealand, whore he will further raise his one mile record and then -attack the ten miles record. !* The oar wild be ready for trials on Gerringong by November. The “Wizard" thinks that on the local] beach he can put up a. record of tr-om 120 m.p.h. to 150 m.p.h., the speed depending on the weather conditions on the day of the attempt. Gerringong is quite suitable for comparatively moderate speeds, out before be will be able to give the car its head lie will have to gain the better conditions (prevailing on bigger and straiighter beaches in the Dominion. EMINENT ENGINEER. His oa-r which is being designed and built by Don Ha.rkness ,of Five Dock, is now nearing comihetion. Harkness, whom Smith says is the best automotive engineer in the country, built the first aeroplane engine to be wholly constructed! in Australia., and estab- * ’tailed the first Australasian mile record over 100 m.p.h. at Gerringong. Ho-has combined -a Rolls-Royce motor of 350 h.p. nominal, with a Caidriliae chassis, the successful linking of which re'"lired many special parts—all of them designed and built -in Harkness’ own engineering shops. The -existing ten miles record 1 is held bv a Voisin car at 133.5-1 m.p.h.. and ••".s established at Montlhery, France '“'’ten this is s-mfeiv behind, him. Smith • 111 -return to Sydney, and build, with tfmimesis a larger and more powerful machine for the attack on Segrnve-’s rc.cor 1. TDEAL- TRACE. “Wizard” believes the Ninety Mil© Reach at Auckland, New Zealand, -the ideal spot for any record attempt, and ■i-id 'i-s that- he can .‘peed for ten l cw leif.li the greatest- safety. V It is one of the finest beaches in the woibd. -and as a racing track is unsurpassed. It is better than the Yer- • ne-uk pan. in South Africa, where Malcolm Campbell failed in his attempt on Segra-ve-’s record. Smith, is of the opinion that Campbell was hanli'capnedl by the low air pressure due to the pan's height- above sea. level, and, in -selecting the beach, says that it is the best racing surface obtainable,

being far smoother than anything made l>v human agency. MORE THAN MERE SPEED. These attempts bv Smith will h© more than mere speed perform an wxs . y will demonstrate that. Australian engineering skill ranks with the world’s best: that with an engine adapted to immediate needs by an Australian-de-signed body, on an Australasian bench, and with an Australian at the wheel, we can challenge the universe. ft i-s a gamble in every sense and the odd-! are tremendous. High courage, exceptional skill—the daring of Smith, the knowledge of Harkness —wilt be combined, and the whole woitd will watch the result.