Mr. G. Eyston’s Biggest Thrill in a Race Against Flames

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18279, 23 December 1933, Page 13

Mr. G. Eyston’s Biggest Thrill in a Race Against Flames

POMPAIIED to the supreme thrill of - travelling four pijles in a minofe along the beach at Baytoxta, an on the hour record ipr small cars at Monti'hery may seem small beer. But it has its moments, too, as witness Mr. George Eyston \s book of racing reminiscences, “Elat Out."

It was during the fierce battle between “baby" Austins and M.ti.s for speed supremacy! Eyston had passed the magic figures of 100 m.p.n. with the Midget; now nothing would satisfy him but doing 100 miles in the hour—a much more difficult feat.

“The hour was nearly up. I toft broken the 50 kilometres, 50 miles, ana 100 kilometres records on tKe way. Now I knew that less than five minutes separated me from success or failure. Just as I passed Uncle Ernest with his flag (E. A. D. Eldndge) I heard a clatter in the engine. At the same time I noticed a flicker of flame from the forward end- I jabbed the gear lever into neutral aud coasted, Hoping to complete the lap. “The flames grew rapidly, now shooting upwards and licking round the sides of the bonnet. In a few seconds they were through into the cockpit and all round the seat. In spite of the best intentions, it was obvious I could not now make the lap in the car, so the next best thing was to brake as hard as possible to reduce speed and jump for it.” * * * * Mounting Flames OOMEHOW or other, with the mount,ing flames an inducement to haste, lie managed to extricate himself from the driving seat, which, to save wind resistance, had been made to measure and was a tight fit. “I climbed back and got on to the deck of the tail, holding to the top of the steering wdieel with one hand. I thought I could just manage to stper it on, pnd perhaps after all, with pushing, finish the lap. But here were the flames curling all round the steering wheel, just where I was hanging on. There was nothing for it but to quit, and quickly, too.” The car was still travelling at GO m.p.h. He dare not jump on to the concrete track. Somehow or other he steered to tho side, where there was a strip of grass, and made the leap. *‘ I leapt forward ns hard as I could, and purposely fell on niv shoulder, as 1 had learned to fall off a, horse . . . I was a little dazed, but tho fact that my clothing was alight and my boots and socks burnt away soon brought me to my senses. Meanwhile the Midget rushed on and disappeared round tho corner. If truth be told, I was glad to see the last of it.” But tho hour record had been taken at 101 m.p.h. He had actually com- ■ pleted his last lap w T hcn the engine failed and the fire started. Eyston lias broken more motor records than any living man, but ho ffas never been in a worse predicament than that,

What is that which by losing an eyo has nothing left but a nose? Noise. Why is the house of a bald-headed man easy to break into? Because he haan/.t auy locks.