SUPER-SPEED

Hokitika Guardian, 15 April 1929, Page 2

SUPER-SPEED

WORLD’S RECORD REGAINED

MAJOR SEGRAVE’S GREAT FEAT.

SAN FRANCISCO, March 14

In a flaming streak of super-speed, Major H. 0. D. Segrave, the famous British race track driver, set a new world’s speed record for motor-cars by sending his powerul Golden Arrow machine roaring over the hard wave-lapp-ed ocean speedway at Daytona Beach, Florida, at the tremendous speed of {231.3(5246 miles an hour. Driving his glistening twelve-cylinder machine at a dazzling pace, Major Segrave eclipsed by 23.81 miles an hour the former record of 207.55 set on the same track last year by Ray Keecli, of Philadelphia, in the 36-cylinder Triplex, owned by J. M. White. The new mark also surpassed by twentyeight miles an hour the record ot 203 which Major Segrave set at Daytona Beach in 1027 with his Sunbeam Special. On his first official run north Major Segrave literally burned up the course when ho negotiated the measured mile in 15.55 seconds, for the amazing speed of 231.51125 miles an hour. His second trial, made southward over the course, was clocked at 15.57 sccconds for a speed of 231.21387 miles an hour. His average elapsed time was 15.56 seconds and his average two-way speed was 231.36246 miles an hour. The two trials, which were timed and sanctioned by the American Automobile Association were without incident, and were staged under only fairly good weather conditions before thousands of spectators, who lined the sand dunes for miles parallel to the course.

RISIBILITY IMPERFECT.

Visibility was not perfect, however, and the beach course was a litflc rough in spots. A brisk east wind was blowing directly off the ocean, which tended to help Major Segrave keep his machine from running too far out oil the course while travelling at such a tremendous speed. Electing to make bis first official run north over the course, Major Segrave drove his powerful car southward over tne beach at a clip of 177 miles an hour to make certain it was working perfectly. Mechanics made a hasty, last-minute check ol the giant machine, tilled the cooling system with ice add pronounced it ready for the official trials. A moment later the telephone in the judges’ stand jangled and the voice of the track attendant at the starting point announced that the youthful driver was set for his fast and dangerous ride down the hard-packed sands, which the receding tide had levelled out smooth and hard. “O.TC. let him go!” said Odis Porter. official timekeeper, who had taken his position at the timing instruments, together with T. E. “Pop” Myers, head

judge, and Warren Baker, assistant timer. Val Harsnahe, secretary ol the Contest Board bf the Automobile Association was stationed in the pits at the edge of the course. When word was received thatJSegrave was ready to start his trials, the spectators were on their feet in an instant, tense with ex. citement and craning their necks to catch the first glimps of the powerful car as it burst into view.

it OAR OF GIANT ENGINE

Far down the course the road of the giant machine could he heard and the crowds stood motionless, fearing that at any minute the speeding racer might get out of control and plunge into the ocean or plough through the crowds that lined the course. With a mighty roar the car flashed by the grandstand at the start of the official mile gaining such tremendous speed that it seemed tiie machine fairly skimmed over the hard-packed sands.

Physically exhausted from the strain they had been under during Segrave’s epochal run, the spectators sank hack in their seats in the grandstand and marvelled at the daring driver. When his speed was announced, a> wild cheer, which lasted nearly a minute, rose from the stand.

After a short delay at the north end of the course, during which time Segrave changed all four wheels and tyres and replenished! the ice supply in his cooling system, the intrepid driver notified the officials he was ready to make his second run south over the course. The two runs were necessary that his average speed with and against the wind could he calculated.

After stopping for a few minutes at the south end of the course, Segrave drove his machine slowly hack up the beach and stopped in front of the grandstand. Immediately he was surrounded by hundreds of cheering spectators. Smiling broadly Segrave climbed out of Ins car, shook hands with many of his admirers, and observed he was glad to have been able to establish a record.

The first person to reach his side was his wife. She had sat in the grandstand during the trials, hut would not witness the race. She kept her hands over her face, fingered nervously with a handkerchief, and occasionally put a smelling salt vial to her nose.

HERO EMBRACED BY WTFE

When Segrave brought his machine to a stop before the grandstand, she rushed out on the course, embraced him and congratulated him. Then she posed with her proud husband, while Newsreel cameramen recorded the scene. “How do you feel. Major?” was the first question popped at him by the newspaper men. “Fine,” he replied, with a broad smile. “I’m not the least hit tired.” Major Segrave was not satisfied with the record ho set. and said he contemplated trying to sot it higher whatever the outcome of White’s attempt on the following day in his Triplex. TTe said ho felt certain the Golden

Arrow was capable of 240 miles ail hour, nearly nine miles an hour faster than the record lie had just set, and that lie probably would have made faster time had his mechanicians not “talked him out” of putting discs over the racer’s wheels. The mechanicians, he said, feared the effect of a sudden gust of side wind on the discs at high speed. 'fhe driver said he did not believe the ocean speedways at Daytona would do for sjieeds much higher than 240 miles an hour, because of poor visibility due to the mist of breakers and lack ol enough length for requisite running start.

Major Segrave described to newspaper men the thrills he experienced as he shot the Golden Arrow over the beach at over 231 miles an hour. “1 really expected something serious—you know 1 mean—a skid—a bump—that would have placed me in danger,” he said.

“At least eleven times during the run back and forth I ran into the water. 1 could feel the car slow up each time my wheels dipped into the surf. This car docs at. least 240 miles an hour and I would like to see it driven that fast. My excitement was at the highest pitch when 1 gripped the steering wheel to-day,” Segrave continued. “1 had to do what you newspaper men said I could, that is, break the present record by a comfortable margin.

“My biggest problem was to keep the car steered straight, 1 had about the same feeling as I had two years ago when I ran to the record of 203 mi less an hour, when the same tiling was true. CREDIT TO DESIGNER.

“The greatest credit of this race goes to Captain Irving who designed my car. I didn’t get into it until I got to this country. He was methodical in designing the car and its performance was a credit to him.”

Segrave said the reason he ran through so much water was because he found the sand harder nearer the surf than higher up on the beach. “At one time,” he said, “I attempted to run higher, but got into soft sand and this caused me to have considerable difficulty with steering until I got back near the water. “The perfect construction of my car is attested to by the fact that several times I struck bumps near the middle of the mile course, which caused my car to leave -..e ground and hurtle through the air thirty of forty-feet liefore I came down on the course. The steering apparatus worked perfectly and at no time was I in danger,” he said. Segrave entered his private machine and motored back to his hotel, where he placed a long-distance telephone call to his father in London, telling him of his achievement.