103 M.P.H.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 85, 17 April 1913, Page 3

103 M.P.H.

AMBITION REALISED AT LAST. The ambition of all motor racing I enthusiasts has been realised. A human being, for the first time in I the world’s history, has travelled 100 miles within 60 minutes. This in itself is sufficiently remarkable, I but it becomes doubly so when it is remembered that the engine of the car on which the amazing new record S was set up Was by far the smallest : ever entered for the attempt.

The 25 h.p. four-cylinder Talbot had, so recently as February Bth, covered well over 0? miles in the hour, failure to secure the coveted 100 being due on that occasion to the burst of a tyre when almost 90 miles had been reeled off. The capability of the Talbot to stay the distance at the .speed being fairly established, the chief interest in the successful record-breaking attempt centered on the question of the tyres and their ability to withstand the enormous strain that must necessarily be imposed upon them by a long-distance run of such a nature. The story of the trial is quickly told. After a few preliminary circuits of the Brooklands track, Mr Percy .Lambert declared himself satisfied that the car was in proper fettle, and the official start was made. The first lap was covered at somewhat slower speed than had been the case a week before, but in the second circuit the car got into its stride, and from that moment onwards there was never a doubt but that, barring accidents, the longed for record would be secured. The fastest lap was covered in'lmin. 33.65ec., and the slowest in Imin. 38sec., the majority occupying between Imin. 34sec. and Imin. 36sec.

The atmospheric conditions were by no means favourable. There was a fairly heavy mist, and the air was so damp as to be anything but ideal for carburation. Despite this, the car showed itself capable of'lapping at over 106 m.p.h., a speed that is nothing short of astounding when the size of the engine, which was of standard dimensions a® to bore and stroke 101.5 min. by 140 mins., is taken into account.

The following are some of the principal speeds and times officially recorded:—so miles, from a standing start, were covered m 29min. 2.s ! )sec; 100 miles occupied 57min. 49.385ec ; in one hour 103 miles 1470 yds. were covered, the average speed working out at 103.84 m.'p.h. The world’s records for 50 miles, 100 miles, and 1 hour was handsomely beaten. This wonderful feat is to the motor world such a quest as the poles have been to explorers. Vedrines, on an aeroplane, flew 104. i miles in the hour with a “flying” start and in a straight line; but, as a matter of fact, Mr Lambeit covered probably over 105 miles m the same time, because the distance over thW'tfacJk is measured‘7oft. from the edve, and for the most part of his journey, he was at least 80ft. outside and the extra radius would certainly measure about one mile and a quai'ter. For the first time in the world s history, 100 miles have been traversed im the hour on this earth by a human- being. A week ago the same car and driver just missed the prize by Imin. 37sec., a mishap to one ot his tyres causing 3£min. delay, but on February 15 the fates were kinder.