TO ATTEMPT NEW RECORD

Southland Times, Issue 23308, 18 September 1937, Page 19

TO ATTEMPT NEW RECORD

6000 HORSE POWER CAR SPEED MONSTER AT UTAH’S SALT BEDS In a car which will develop 6000 horse-power, Captain G. E. T. Eyston will shortly challenge the world’s land speed record of 301.12 miles an hour established by Sir Malcolm Campbell in the Blue Bird. Captain Eyston left England some days ago for Bonneville Salt Lake, Utah, with his monster car, which has been constructed in England, and is thought to be capable of 400 miles an hour. Only a few details of Eyston’s car have been disclosed so far. These indicate that it will have two front axles and wheels, twin driving wheels, and two engines, each capable of developing 3000 horse-power. The streamlined body will have an overall length of 36ft.

It is surmised that Eyston’s engines will weigh more than 18 cwt. each, and that the total weight of the machine will be about six tons. Campbell’s Blue Bird weighed 4£ tons, including half a ton of lead used to ensure traction. The body of the new car will be 7£ft longer than that driven by Campbell. While Eyston has increased the weight by 33 1-3 per cent., however, he has more than doubled the power, which gives him confidence of success.

The braking system has not yet been disclosed, and details of it are awaited with interest. Two tracks are available at Bonneville, one 11 and the other 13 miles in length. Neither of these can be extended because of a railway embankment at one end and a soft sand bog at the other. Eyston, therefore, will have to stop in the same length as Campbell did, and the Blue Bird was only 250 yards from the bog when it was brought to a standstill. A super braking system will, therefore, be needed to stop Eyston’s sixton car if it exceeds 300 miles an hour. It may be, of course, that Eyston reckons that with his increased power he will be able to shorten the distance for acceleration, leaving him more room in which to pull up after the measured mile has been covered. Captain Eyston is one of the most noted speed drivers in Britain. He has established many records in different parts of the world, and his supporters will not be surprised if he adds to his successes by increasing the world’s figures for a measured mile.

Surrey has the largest percentage of cars to population in Britain with 68 per 1000. London only has 32. The Belgian Government is to remove the import taxes which have been putting up the prices of certain types of coal, and to increase the coal import quotas. The special tariffs arranged for coal exports will also be modified.