Cobb’s Attempt On Eyston’s Record

Northern Advocate, 30 August 1938, Page 7

Cobb’s Attempt On Eyston’s Record

(Received 10 a.m.) NEW YORK, Auyust 29. The British racing motorist, Mr.,John Cobb, who is at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, will make an attempt today in his 2500 h.p. Railton car upon the record of 345.49 m.p.h. established 1 on Saturday by Captain G. E. T. Eyston. The latter will make another attempt if Mr. Cobb is successful. Mr. Cobb’s car has been described as the strangest piece of machinery ever constructed for human speed. This car—‘designed by Mr. Reid Railton, and named after him—weighs less than' half as much as the seven-ton Thunderbolt with which Captain Eyston set up the present record. It suggests the appearance of a whale, or some sightless monster of prehistoric ages. It has a detachable skin of aluminium, with no break in its smooth contours except the covered cockpit, just above its nose, and four low humps covering the tops of the four wheels. There is no radiator and no fin. The wheels are completely enclosed.

On each side of the chassis is a 12cylinder 1250 h.p. Napier aero engine. On the right are petrol and oil tanks; on the left is a tank holding 75 gallons of iced water for cooling. Each engine has its own clutch, throttle gearbox and transmission brake. But a secret device enbales the driver to control them by means of a single throttle pedal, gear lever and fpotbrake.