ATTACK ON SPEED RECORD

Taranaki Daily News, 19 December 1930, Page 11

ATTACK ON SPEED RECORD

THE UNDERLYING OBJECT. '

CAPTAIN CAMPBELL’S PROGRAMME

According to an announcement in the Motor, Captain Malcolm Campbell intends to be in a position to go out and attack any. fresh record that may be set up, and is accordingly building a new ear with very special streamlining, which, in wind-tunnel experiments, has given results far better than he had even hoped for. That is not all, however. Captain Campbell believes that the opportunities for propaganda in respect of the British • motor industry have largely been missed in any previous record attempts.. The achievements have resulted in personal-triumphs for one or two men, and, on rare occasions, for a particular make • of car. There lias 'been much-talk of such a success, adding to the prestige of British automobile engineering, but little practical benefit has resulted.

Because he knows Daytona Beach, Florida, | Captain Campbell has decided that it shall- be the scene of. his next attempt on the world’s land speed record. Were he *to go to New Zealand, as has been suggested, he might be delayed by unforeseen circumstances. His intention, however, is to make up a party of leading figures in the British motor industry. ' They will take over to America examples of their and, prior to the record attempt, the “Blue Bird” —record-breaking car—will be publicly exhibited, surrounded by a group of representative British cars. Then,-immediately after the record attempt; these cars will again be exhibited at: Daytona, grouped round the “Blue Bird,” thus focusing the attention of U.S.A, motor magnates on the fine products of Great Britain. It is suggested that the experiment will be of no value unless the managing directors, at least, of the concerns manufacturing the cars shown, go over to America in person in order to discuss with American financiers the possibility of granting licenses for these cars to be built-in the-U.S.A. Cqptain Campbell does not intend to derive any personal gain from this intensive- propaganda--bn behalf-of the British car. He has conceived the idea purely from patriotic motives, and suggests that . certain accessory or component manufacturers, .as well as tfyose producing automobiles, may find it profitable to join the party. If this great “sales' push” or travelling motor show is successful- in the U.E.A,, and-Cap-tain Campbell has beaten the existing record, he is quite willing to' go to New Zealand or Canada, or anywhere else, to repeat or improve upon his. performance, - accompanied-still by ' this group of British cars’ and their representatives. ■■/ 1 '• .?./ ’ / ‘ It is his intention that, immediately after the record attempt - at Daytbna, the British cars; should be timed officially by the. A.A.A. over the measured mile, thus demonstrating that they are capable of speeds equal to, or in excess of, those of. American cars of very much larger horse power. .’ Several important figures in the motor industry have already given the scheme their : whole-hearted spppbrt.