SPEED RECORD PLANS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21100, 6 February 1932, Page 11

SPEED RECORD PLANS.

MOUNDS ON THE BEACH. POSSIBLE USE OF A GRADER. WINDSCREEN WIPER FOR CAR. "Unless there is a strong westerly wind at tile Nmety-\ri] e Beach within the next week, arid the irregularities which are marring the surface at the four and eightmile pegs disappear, Mr. Norman Smith stated yesterday he would try an experiment of assisting the sea to smooth the beach by using graders and a scoop to remove the biggest of the bumps. The party has dow been in New Zealand since early in December and since it went, to the Ninety-Mile Beach on January 2 the surface has not once been entirely satisfactory. It is usual for drivers contemplating attacks on the world's land speed records to have to wait a considerable time before the beach on which they are racing is fit for the attempt, but. a particularly annoying position arose several times while Mr. Smith was at the beach, the surface being almost, perfect, except for one or two isolated bad patches. Removing Scattered Bumps.

The driver explained yesterday that he had in mind no scheme for t.he artificial levelling of the beach, hnt was contemplating merely the removal of one or two mounds if it happened again that the track was perfect ■with the except ion cf a few scattered bumps. According to recent reports from Mr. J. H. Mostyn, Mr. Smith's business manager, the beach has been perfectly level near the water's edge, hut the sur- % ° face has been marred by mounds higher up on the dry sand where the racing car Enterprise "will be driven. Mr. Smith mentioned yesterday that he was endeavouring to have made locally a windscreen wiper which would operate satisfactorily and would also remain in place a.t very high speeds. He explained that after his experience in attacking the ten-mile reccrd, he would definitely not race on a wet beacb. but it might happen that 'he surface was perfect except for one or two wet patches, and in that event he would attack further records, provided he could obtain a satisfactory wiper to remove sand, spray or water from the screen. Manual Wiper Favoured. There were three popular styles of wiper obtainable, the electric, section and manual types. The suction type would probably not operate under the conditions and it was extremely likely that the electric models would also be useless for his purpose, as it would be very difficult to obtain one strong enough, but a hand-operated wiper would probably prove efficient. Six. Smith said he was hoping to obtain a manual wiper, which he could, if the necessity arose, operate with one hand, steering the car with the other. He was, however, very loath to run in the wet sand at all and the provision of a screen wiper would be merely a precaution. There would be no difficulty in controlling the car momentarily with one hand, while giving the wiper an occasional turn with the other, as he had frequently to steer with one hand during the 10mile run -while he changed or cleaned his goggles. In ttie circumstances, it is unlikely that Mr. Smith's party will return before Tuesday, although members would fly to the beach if an urgent message was received from Mr. Mostyn. Jt is expected, however. that the party will drive north early next week and the officials will Dot leave Auckland until summoned by Mr. ""Smith. liADIATOR OF CAB. DESIGNER'S STATEMENT. ORIGINAL TYPE DEFENDED. SYDNEY, Feb. 5. Mr. Don Harkness, replying to an Auckland message regarding comment by Mr. Mostyn on the radiator of Mr. Norman Smith's racing car, said the original radiators were designed to give efficient cooling at about 250 miles per hour. " I am confidentsaid Mr. Harkness, " that this system would have proved itself with water or. should the necessity have arisen, ethylene or glycol could have been substituted. " The chemical cooling system never went beyond the experimental stages as the cost of gas was out of the question with the limited money at our disposal Therefore. I designed the two radiators referred to."

" Since the Auckland Automobile Racing Club, Limited. refused to issue me a certificate of safety to drive the Enterprise with the Harkness radiators fitted, I had no option but to chance them." said Mr. Norman Smith yesterday. " The racing dub, representing the International Association of Recognised Automobile Clubs, withheld the certificate under rule 156 of the international body, so I was faced with the alternative of submitting a fresh design for the radiators, that would be acceptable to the club, or of returning- to Australia without ever using the car. " The Hnrkness system was condemned when the Enterprise was examined by the racing club," Mr. Smith continued. " Mr. Harkness failed to supply another design to be submitted to the club, so the onus was left on me to do so myself. I evolved two designs, both of which were approved, and finally settled on the present one. which is similar to that on Sir Malcolm Campbell's Bniebird. as the engine in the Enterprise is almost identicaj to that in the car of (he present bolder of the record."