IN SERIOUS DANGER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 81, 4 March 1935, Page 7

IN SERIOUS DANGER.

SIR MALCOLM CAMPBELL. MISHAP TO CAR. DAYTONA, March 2. Sir Malcolm Campbell, in a try-out, reached 233.63 miles an hour on the southward run and 208.212 on the northward one. The beach was lumpy in spots. Sir Malcolm declared : “The test was the worst I’ve ever experienced,” revealing that lie had been close to a serious accident when the heat from the exhaust heated the cowling on the motor to such an extent that flames were diverted into the cockpit with him and he was almost gassed into unconsciousness. He will probably attack the record on Sunday or Monday. Experts believe that he had 300 miles an hour at his mercy when the cowling broke loose with the car speeding at 233 miles an hour little more than a mile from the middle of the course. The Blue Bird was thundering beautifully when the heat from the exhaust pipes melted the blue enamelled motor covering. The wind whipped it loose and exhaust flames poured into the cockpit. The heat was so great that Sir Malcolm said his first thought was, “My God, I’m on fire.” Tlie car swerved and. he fought- for control. It crossed the black oil streak laid down the course for his guidance and the tyres threw oil-soak-ed sand into his face.

“It was the "Closest squeak I have ever had,” he said. “I hope I’m never so cl<?se again. I must have been doing 250 miles an hour and the Blue Bird was picking up marvellously. The fumes were so bad I could scarcely breathe.” He cut,the motors down and went through the measured mile on the south run. always his fastest, at 188.186 miles an hour. He turned the car at the south end, mechanics bolting ba.ck tho heat-twisted cowl. “I never had a chance for any kind of speed, but the crowd expected a show and I thought I should do my part,” he said. He started back doing 208.212 miles an hour in the measured mile. The Blue Bird was soaring aga.iil when the left side cowling, now white hot, collapsed, and he was in the same desperate situation again. He cut out the. motors as the fumes poured in. The best average on any one mile was 205.363. The car rode well, he said, but the beach was so rough that he would have been thrown out if he had not been strapped in. “I’myleaf and acne all over, but the Blue Bird will be readv to-morrow. The motor was perfect to day,” he added.