SPEED THRILLS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 29 September 1927, Page 5

SPEED THRILLS

WEBSTER’S EXPERIENCE WINNING THE SCHNIEDER CUP. EXTRA LAP TO MAKE SURE. (British Official Wireless.) I. ' (Received 29, 11.15 a.m.) Rugby, Sept. 28. “So terrific was the speed that to turn round the pylons 1 had to select landmarks some way before them as a signal to me to be ready to turn. 1 was so concentrated on the flight that 1 did not see any of the signal flags which were hoisted at the Excelsior Hotel during the race to tell us what was happening. “I calculated 1 should complete the course in about 50 minutes and when 1 had done the seventh lap 1 looked at my watch and, as I saw I had been up only about threequarters of an hour, I feared 1 had made a mistake and decided to do another lap to make sure.

“lhe cockpit was like a furnace and 1 was mighty glad to get out of it when the flight was over. 1 was absolutely deaf although 1 had not noticed the noise while in the air.” Lieutenant Webster added that although the race involved great nervous tension the actual speed did not affect him physically and he felt in as good condition at the end of the race as at the beginning.

UNITED STATES WILL NOT COM PETE NEXT YEAR.

Wellington, September 29. The following Navy Press Service news items w.% received on Tuesday bv a wireless amateur: —

Washington il.C.,’. — “The United States Navy will not ask for appropriations to carry on for an American entry in the Schneider Cun race of next year as a result of the Enahsh victory to-dav,” said the Secretarv of the Nov” Mr Curtis D Wilbnr. It is pointed nut that the British did nnt r ace last rear, hut cormon tr.-fed all their efforts during the past two years for this race today.