SPEED RECORD

Hokitika Guardian, 12 January 1935, Page 5

SPEED RECORD

ANOTHER ATTEMPT

BY SIR MALCOLM CAMPBELL. (Per British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, January 11. The new Blue Bird motor-car, incorporating many new features, hi which Sir Malcolm Campbell will attempt to lower his own world’s speed record at Daytona Beaqh next month, was on view at Brooklands racing track to-day. The new ear, which weighs four and three-quarter tons, will he shipped to America bv the Berengaria on January Hi, and Sir Malcolm Campbell is following by the Aquitania a week later. Sir Malcolm hopes to make an attempt on the record on .February 1.9, as a lull moon occurs on that hate and the beach should be at its best.

A considerable .advance on the present record of 272.108 miles an hour, set up by Sir Malcolm at Daytona on February 22, 1933, is anticipated. Engineers associated with the construction of the car prophesy 300 milc s an hour. 1

The new Bine Bird resembles a monster whale, with gaping mouth, 'and a couple of blunt fins forward of the cockpit, and a finned tail. The slit head admits cooling air to the radiator and there is a lever into cockpit to close, the slit. This when open, lessens the speed by 15 miles an hour, but Sir Malcolm i s doubtful if be will have a hand to spare from steering to close the gaping mouth when travelling flat out. The engine is the old 12-cylinder Ilolls-Koyce aero-engine employed in the last Blue Bird ear, but the car has a new streamlined body and braking syste i. If there were unlimited room, at Daytona 390 miles an hour would certainly be possible, blit the problem is how to get up speed., cover a measured mile and pull up within tin nine inile s available. The car consumes 2.9 gallons or fuel ,a minute. Sir Malcolm Campbell said the existing record means 134 yards a second. Thus half a second lost through ' wheel bounce would destroy lii's chance of establishing a new record.