TERRIFIC SPEED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21254, 7 February 1931, Page 11

TERRIFIC SPEED

THE LAND RECORD BROKEN. CAPTAIN CAMPBELL’S FEAT. (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) NEW YORK, February 5. At Daytona Beach Captain Malcolm Campbell set a new world’s speed record with 245.73 miles per hour. The first run north to south was clocked at 14.6 seconds over the measured mile for a speed of 240.575 miles per hour. The second run, south to north, occupied 14.7 seconds, representing a speed of 244.897 miles per hour. The average was 14.65 seconds, or 245.73 correct miles per hour. Taking a flying start of five and a-half miles, Captain Campbell flashed past the grand stand with a mighty roar, and disappeared in a haze to the south; then without waiting to change tyres eleven to inspect the motor dashed back to the starting post. Despite the fact that the beach was not in perfect condition Captain Campbell made faster speed than the officials expected. Before the start they warned him to try to better the record by only a slight margin, ns the condition of the beach to make a high record attempt was too dangerous. The late Sir Henry Segrave’s record speed was 231.36246 miles per hour. THOUSANDS OF SPECTATORS. NEW YORK, February 5. Captain Campbell averaged on both trials slightly in excess of four miles per minute. Immediately after returning to the starting post he climbed out of the car, stopped for a few minutes to shake hands with the spectators, then jumped into a midget racing car and prepared to attempt a new record for cars with a displacement of less than 45 cubic inches. Wild cheers rose from the thousands of spectators when the record announcement was made. ATTEMPT WITH MIDGET CAR. NEW YORK, February 5. . Captain Campbell drove his midget four-cylinder car twice over the course but failed to break the record, averaging a two-way speed of 81.09, or six miles per hour slower than the record of 87 miles per hour. MRS CAMPBELL INTERVIEWED. LONDON, February 6. (Received Feb. 6, at 11 p.m.) Mrs Campbell, who was interviewed, said she was tremendously relieved to hear that her husband had achieved the record safely, and she hoped he would not think it necessary to try again. Waiting was rather a strain these days, but she knew he had set his heart on keeping this record for England. Captain Campbell’s mother said: “If he goes out to do a thing, my son does it, and nothing will stop him. I never doubted the result.”