LAND SPEED RECORD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20236, 22 April 1929, Page 14

LAND SPEED RECORD.

MAJOR SEGRAVE'S FEAT.

WONDERS OF GOLDEN ARROW.

STORY OF CONSTRUCTION

DESIGNER'S GREAT TRIUMPH. [from our own coiiresfonoent.3 LONDON. March 14. Some interesting facts about the construction of "The Golden Arrow," in which Major H. 0. D. Segravo has just broken the world's speed record, appear in various London nowspapers. The Morning Post points out that tho American record was only one mile an hour in excess of tho British record, which represented a saving of only a fraction of a second in time over a, distance of ono mile, the length of tho actual speed course. When, therefore, the question of building a challenger came to bo discussed it was decided to build a car capable of travelling at 240 miles an hour —four miles a minute. It was with this ideal in view that '"Jho Golden Arrow" was designed. Sinco this would involve a singlo leap forward of no less than 33 miles an hour it was clear that an enormous amount of research and experimental work would bo necessary, as manifestly so great an advance could not bo attained merely by making minor improvements on any oxisting car. But research and experiment on a large scalo is exceedingly expensive, and only to lie undertaken cither by a firm with very largo resources and tho will to pour them into tho right channels, or by individuals actuated by motives of patriotism and sportsmanship. Such a man ready and willing to undertake such a task was found in Mr. 0. J. S. Piper, who is largely responsible for tho inception and bringing to fruition tho project to build "Tho Golden Arrow." An Engineer's Dream. Captain J. S. Irving, the designing ongincer, all his working life has been associated with experimental and research work, and has an oxperienco unsurpassed by any engineer in the world of design and construction of racing motor-cars. He found himself then in the happy position —the dream of every engineer—of having an entirely frco hand, unhampered by the knowledge that in the background was a body of shareholders for whoso benefit a profit must bo produced. The only restriction imposed upon him was that, always in the forefront of his mind ho was to keep as the fin.t and vital consideration, the safety of the driver. In designing a car to travel 240 miles an hour tho reduction of air resistance is all important. Tho car was accordingly built up round the body of the driver, whose body was the ono factor that could not bo altered in size. Major Segrave was accordingly placed in a dummy seat of tho smallest possible dimensions, and a silhouette carefully taken of his cross-sectional area. By building a cross-sectional model of that particular part of the car tho most convenient positions for tho brake and othe ; r controls were then selected. Around this dummy cockpit as a nucleus tho car was built up. One of the essentials in the design of the car was the transmission. Owing to tho fact that chains were a possible source of danger to tho driver it was decided that a shaft should be employed, but the question arose how best to reconcile this with keeping the car below, sinco running the cardan shaft below tho driver's seat would mean the waste of a valuable two of three inches in heightUnique Transmission System.

The solution was found in what is probably a unique system of transmission in motcr-car history. Two cardan shafts have been used, running along the side of the car, at the height of the driver's hips, so that he sits between them. Each back wheel is therefore driven separately instead of through a differential in the back axle. There is in fact, in a sense, no back axle, because this is split in tho middle, and the two wheels are entirely separate both in drive and support. An important fact in the success of the venture is tho steel used in the manufacture of tho various parts of the car and of the engine. Special Vickers-Arms; rong high tensile and shock-resisting steel was used. The method of forging was such that the grain of the steel would always lie in the direction that would best resist tho stresses that the parts would bo called upon to resist. Tremendous precautions were taken in (he works at Sheffield, from the melting of the steel to the searching tests made on tho finished product. These tests were calculated to show the slightest failure to obtain the finest mierostrucfuro obtainable. Any slight mechanical defect, quite invisible to the human eve, would have been discovered by examination with a powerful magnifying glass after the surface of the steel had been etched with acirl. Captain Irving's Thoroughness.

According to the Daily Mail, most of Captain Irving's work was done in a secret room in an office on the top floor of a building in Bond Street. Here, night after night, he worked into the early hours making and supervising drawings. More than 1000 plans passed through his hands. Drawings were even made for such small items as half-inch nuts, with notes on the possible strains they would havo to boar. Tl.eso nuts wero then cut solid out of tho metal. Tho smallest screw in the car was hundreds of limes stronger .than was really necessary. He put his car on paper. So perfect was his conception that not a nut or bolt had to be altered.

Major Segrave, according to tho same authority, said that on its return to England "Tho Golden Arrow" would probably be handed over to a museum. If it is not put on the track again its active life will have been, roughly, five minutes. Tho cost of building and taking it to tho United States is about £25,000, so that its running costs have amounted to about £SOOO a minute. Sir Charles Wakefield Delighted. Sir Charles Wakefield, who is tho principal backer of Major Segrave, when interviewed, was frankly delighted. "It is a curious th ; ng," ho said, "that just beforo Segravo started ho sent mo a cablegram in which ho said ho was then about to try his luck, and was more than confident of winning my cup." This is tho Wakefield Gold Cup, and is given to the holder of the world's land speed record, together with a pension of £IOOO a year so long as tho record is held.

"We all know Segrave as tho world's groat est racing pilot," said Sir Charles, "and I consider his performance is tho world's greatest achievement. Not only do we now hold tho world's speed record on land, but I have every confidence that ho will bo ablo to win for Britain the 'blue riband' of tho motor-boat racing world."