SEGRAVE’S AMBITION.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17687, 16 April 1929, Page 7

SEGRAVE’S AMBITION.

BRITAIN MUST LEAD. NO PETfpNAL INTEREST. WONDERFUL BRITISH MECHANICS. (Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 14. , The announcement ■ that the King has approved a knighthood being conferred upon Major Henry Segrave has given great satisfaction to the motorist’s mother, who was one of the first to greet him and his wife when they landed at Southampton yesterday. Major Segrave broadcast a short message which was relayed from his hotel. He mentioned that his car, the Golden Arrow, was in as good condition after its record-breaking feat as it was before. He paid a warm tribute to its designer, Captain Irving, and to the wonderful team of British mechanics who had accompanied him to America. He said he had no personal interest in which particular motorist held the world’s record, whether it were Captain Malcolm Campbell, himself or somebody else. His sole desire was to see the record held by Britain. His ambition that Britain should secure the flying, motor-boat, and motor-car speed records had now been achieved. He believed his land speed record would stand for some time.

As regards the motor-boat race Major Segrave said the maximum speed attained by his boat, Miss England, was 88 miles an hour. That was very fast on the water and all the more creditable to the designer when it was considered that the engine was of 900 horse-power against the American boat's twin engines of 2300 horsepower.

Captain D. H. Hacking, : secretary to the Board'of Trade and the Department of Overseas Trade, in his speech of welcome to Major Segrave mentioned that in the British pavilion al the Milan Exhibition the model lent by Major Segrave of the Golden Arrow would be alongside a model of the Mauretania, which holds the speed record for liners, and a model of the seaplane which won the Schneider Cup in 1927. These were indications of British prowess- on the sea and land and in the air.