CAR SOMERSAULTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 99, Issue 16545, 14 July 1925, Page 9

CAR SOMERSAULTS.

112 MILES AN HOUR CRASH.

MAJOR COE'S ACCOUNT.

Major C. G. Coe and his mechanic were flung from a car travelling at more, than 100 miles an hour in the race for the Golden A r ase at Brooklands, Weybridge, yesterdayThe accident was seen by thousands of holiday-makers. The car, after ricochetting twice off a fence, revolved round five times like a iop, and then turned a. somersault.

Major Coe escaped with a. few cuts and braises, but. bis mechanic was more severely injured and was taken to hospital. The. timekeeper of the course told a reporter:

In my long experience of racing I have never seen a more wonderful escape, not. only to the occupants of a car, but to others on the tra-ck. Half a dozen cars were travelling at tremendous speeds close in the wake, nf Major coe. Fortunately his car stopped at the top of the track, leaving a free passage for the. othrs. "Treos Flying Past."

Major Coe. vividly described the accident: The accident happened on the fastest section of the track. Estimated by my revolution counter I was travelling at IJ3 miles per hour and I accelerated to pass another car. i My off-side wheels were about two feet from the. banking. Suddenly I started to skid and hos-an to correct this, and then found I was going , erahwise towards the other car- I [ straightened up. and this caused.the ; back wheels to hit the fence. Things then happened, very quickly. 1 had a : vision of trees flying nast, and prayed 1 that, I. would not strike them. As the ; car spun round on its axis 1 was | thrown out. I then remember fra.velling through space, taking part of [ the dash-board with me, and falling j on to the track. A few minutes later i the doctor arrived, and 1 heard him j put my shoulder back with a click, j Except for some aches I feci none the ! worse.

In the same race Major J. G. B. Thomas ran high on the banking to overtake other cars, and his car carried away a tree which was protruding over the top-