WIZARD SMITH’S CAR.

Thames Star, Volume LXV, Issue 18333, 3 November 1931, Page 1

WIZARD SMITH’S CAR.

AMAZING SPEED TEST,

90 m.p.h. IN LOW GEAR,

In a secret test of the Enterprise car in Sydney, “Wizard” Smith, the speed motorist, exceeded ninety miles an hour in low gear. This indicates a possible speed of 310 m.p.h.' when he makes an attempt upon the world record in New Zealand between December 6 and 10. Built in Sydney at a cost of £42,000, the Enterprise will be shipped from Sydney before November 10. The exact date for the record will depend on weather conditions. If possible, a day will be chosen with a wind of less than five miles an hour, as the record has to bo a mean for two one-mile runs in opposite directions. In the test at which he exceeded 90 m.p.h. in low gear, the £SOOO '‘Hush Hush” 12-cylinder Napier aero engine, lent for the attempt by the British Air Ministry, recorded only 2800 -revolutions a minute. ’Calculating on the High gear ratio and the fact that the engine develops maximum power (1750 h.p.) at 4200 revolutions, a maximum speed of 310 m.p.h. shouhb bo possible. The car has less wind resistance and turbulence suction than any previous record car. ’■Smith is confident of the record of 300 m.p.h., but the short life of the special tyres under such speed, and the twenty-five-liour life limit of the engine, may limit the record to about 280 m.p.h.