HUGE EXHIBIT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23545, 4 January 1940, Page 8

HUGE EXHIBIT

RACING CAE ARRIVES EYSTON'S "THUNDERBOLT" LANDED AT AUCKLAND r The most formidable piece of machinery ever constructed for speed on land, Captain George E. T. Eyston's recordbreaking seven-ton racing car "Thunderbolt," has been shipped to Auckland on its way to be displayed at the New Zealand Centennial Exhibition. Packed in London in a largo case, with removable parts in another case, the "Thunderbolt" arrived in a British steamer from New York on Tuesday, and was carried by the Harbour Board s floating crane Mahua from the ship at King's Wharf to the western side of Central Wharf where it was landed yesterday afternoon. Powered with two 1500 horse-power 12 cylinder Napier Rolls aero engines, the huge car, which will form part of the exhibit in the British Government pavilion covering the development of all forms of transport, was designed in 1937, and, driven by Captain Eyston on Bonnoville Salt Flats, Utah, United States, three times broke the world's record. Captain Eyston, who twice broke his own record, raised the world's record from 311.4 to 357.5 miles an hour, the latest figure being established in September, 1938. The record has since been raised by another Englishman, Mr. John Cobb, who, driving a Reid-Railton car of only three tons, set up the present record of 368 miles an hour. • The "Thunderbolt" will be railed to Wellington and assembled for exhibition.