SPEED MOTORS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 148, 12 June 1930, Page 5

SPEED MOTORS

300 MILES AN HOUR. “WIZARD” SMITH’S AMBITION. Auokland, June 11. The stupendous speed of 300 miles an hour Is aimed at by the Australian motorist, Norman ("Wlrard”) Smith when he attacks Sir Henry Segrave’s one mile world's land speed record of 233 m.p.h. at the Ninety Mile Beach, Kaitala, early next year. For the proposed attempt the British Government has loaned a secret engine which was shipped from England recently. Don Harkness, who accompanied “Wizard” Smith on his 10-mile world’s record attempt at Kaitaia early this year, will be responsible for installing the engine in a special chassis. The conditions under which the British Government has loaned the engine, which was one of ten constructed for the Schneider Cup air race, require that only Don Harkness and his partner may know the interior dimensions and details.

The engine is supercharged, and will develop 2000 horse-power at top speed, 4000 revolutions, which with gearing that will be installed, will drive the car at 300 miles per hour. The engine is twice as powerful as that installed in the Golden Arrow, in which Sir Henry Segravo established the record of 233 miles per hour last year. When this information was referred to the secretary of the Auckland Automobile Association (Mr. G. W. Hutchison), he said it had been in possession of the association for some time, although it was held to be confidential. Negotiations concerning the attempt, however, had proceeded between the association and the Government.

“We are also in touch with the International Association of Automobile Clubs, and the Royal Automobile Club to ensure that the attempt on the record will be strictly in accordance with the international rulps,” said Mr. Hutchison, “and special electric timing apparatus will be imported to time the event.”