LAND SPEED RECORD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21263, 17 August 1932, Page 12

LAND SPEED RECORD

ADVANTAGES OF DAYTONA PRESENT HOLDER'S OPINIONS NEW ZEALAND TOO FAR DISTANT The distance between England and New Zealand, the expense of the trip, and the uncertainty of finding suitable conditions, are mentioned by Sir Malcolm Campbell, holder of the land speed record, as objections against making his next attempt on the Ninety-Mile Beach, North Auckland. In a letter to Mr. H. J. Butcher, chairman of the Auckland Automobile Racing Club, Sir Malcolm said lie would rather visit New Zealand to make his next attempt than any other place in the world. Ho had, however, received copies of New Zealand papers giving details of Mr. Norman Smith's attempts, and some of the articles had stated that conditions were appalling. He felt sorry the attempts had been abortive, however, as it must have been a great disappointment, not only to the Auckland Automobile Racing Club, but also to the sportsmen of New Zealand. It was, however, not a good advertisement for Ninety-Mile Beach, which, under favourable conditions, had wonderful possibilities. ( Tho fast reason why ho wished to break the record in New Zealand was that it would bo far better for the attempt to be mado on British soil, Sir Malcolm added. Moreover, tho Dominion was so entirely British, and tho people such wonderful sportsmen. " Tho Daytona Beacli is only about 10 miles long, slightly longer if one likes to lake a chance," hi stated. " Conditions can be good, and equally they can bo very bad, according to the velocity snd direction of the wind, and the same must apply in New Zealand. As a rule, the course at Daytona is moderately dry, although I have gained records when there havo been some very wet patches, but I do not think, after reading tho reports, that Daytona is anything like as wet as Nincty-Milo Beach. I can fully appreciate, therefore, tho difficulties which Smith had to contend with when driving over really wet sand, as this obscures visibility and makes driving very dangerous." •

Another point in favour of Daytona was that it was possible for him to get to America and back in a month, having gained the record, provided he was lucky with tho conditions. A visit to New Zealand would mean he would be away from home more than twice as long, and, as time was money, and he always paid his own expenses, the consideration was important. Under the circumstances, ho considered it preferable to deal with "tho devil he knew rather than tho devil he did not," although, his sympathy and wish would be to come to New Zealand. Reference to gullies running down tho course was mado in one New Zealand paper Sir Malcolm read, and he said nothing would induco him to take a gully at a speed of 200 miles an hour or more, because cither something in the car would break or it would get completely out of control.

To-day, drivers were battling more against timo than against miles an hour, he added. It was easy to lose a fraction of a second over an uneven beach, and that mado all the difference between success and failure. A straight course was also essential.