Lessons From Record Breakers

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23009, 9 April 1938, Page 13 (Supplement)

Lessons From Record Breakers

nPHE value of the lessons learned by the motor industry from speed record attempts and motor racing, the benefits of which are ultimately passed ion to "the motor owner, was 'again "exemplified in i the*' recent attack on the world's land-speed record, which ; Capl;ain 6. T. Eyston raised to 311.42 miles pier hour with his Thunderbolt. ' / V • :

During his visit to Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, to tackle the record, Qaptain Eyston had two setbacks owing to clutch trouble which, before it was remedied, caused such a delay that he narrowly escaped having to abandon his attempt owing to the winter season breaking. It has now been disclosed that the clutch devised to transmit some 4600 horse power to the transmission of the seven-ton car was a combination of friction plates and positive dogs, engaged by a synchronising device. The clutch functioned perfectly during bench testii in England, but while making the initial record, attempts, centrifugal force was so great (due to increased speed owing to wheel spin) that the operating clutch plungers sheared. An "all friction" clutch was later substituted at Bonneville and proved equal to the terrific task of transmitting over 4000 horse power to the driving wheels. Actual practice again proved that bench try-outs do notalways provide the searching tests obtained from ultra-high-speed driving on track or road. Other facts associated with Eyston s epic drive that will interest motorists are the petrol and oil consumption of the Thunderbolt's two Rolls-Royce

CLUTCH TROUBLE AT UTAH

engines, during the high-speed runs. About eight gallons of special "doped" fuel was consumed m less than one minute, while the engine's pumps circulated oil to cool and lubricate the engines at the rate oiE eight gallons a minute: v/ " '

During the record runs, the. wheels of the car revolved 42 times a Becond. and centrifugal force increased the diameter of the Dunlop racing tyres b.v one and a-quarter inches. A feature of tha performance of the Thunderbolt, with its two pairs ,of steering wheels, was its remarkable steadiness at top speed. Evidence of this was provided when Eyston was making his southern run over the timed milo at 317 miles per hour. His goggles started flapping wildly and he had to take a hand off the steering wheel to fix them.