CRASH ON SPEEDWAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19217, 5 January 1926, Page 10

CRASH ON SPEEDWAY.

CAR OVER EMBANKMENT. TWO OOCXJPANTS KILLED. MOTOR COMPLETELY WRECKED. A profound sensation was caused by tho tragic smash at. tho Maroubra Speedway, when a car crashed over tho northern embankment killing the driver, Leo J. Salmon, and Albert Vaughan, says a Sydney paper. Tho car landed on its nose, somersaulted three times, and was completely wrecked, the engine being torn from the chassis and fluag 25yds. away. It was a shock to motorists in general, and especially to racing drivers who admired Salmon and Vaughan for their splendid driving and their racing enthusiasm. Salmon was preparing for the races on January 2, and from 2.30 until tho smash came ho was circling the speedway at intervals. Once or twico ho went round with EL R. Clarke, driver of another car, and laughingly challenged him to a race. However, after a few laps Clarko pulled off and left Salmon alone on the track. "Salmon was moving beautifully," said Clarke, "and I think tho car was running better than ever before. I had my eyes on him all the time, and on every occasion he passed me a hand was waved by Vaughan, wliile Salmon smiled cheerfully. "It was in the third lap after I had withdrawn that the smash occurred. The car was doing anything from 75 to 80 miles an hour, when, without tho slightest warning, it shot up tho northern bank near tho sea and took a headlong dive." Mr. Clarko went on to say that the car hurdled the 10-foot grass embankment on top of tho concrete, shot down into tho gully beneath —a drop of 25ft.—and landed on its nose. Marks on the earth showed that the car somersaulted three times, while tho engine was torn out and flung 25yds. away. Vaughan, who was flung beuide the engine, was killed instantly, while Salmon was lying unconscious among tho wreckage. He died three hours later in hospital. Mr. Salmon was a skilful racing driver, and Mr. Vaughan, who held several motor records between Sydney and Melbourne and Sydney and Newcastle, was recognised as one of the most accomplished drivers in Sydney, It was just by chance thai Mr. Vaughan happened to bo in the car. It was only a few minutes before the tragic smash that he took the place of Mr. Edward East, Mr. Salmon's mechanic, who had been in tihe car all the afternoon while his chief w;us drivingIt was to have a "spin" and see how the car was running that he took tho mechanic's seat. The pair had not intended to travel far.