SHATTERED.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17917, 13 January 1930, Page 3

SHATTERED.

AUSTRALIAN RECORD.

“ WIZARD ” ■SMITH BREAKB IT. A PERFECT TRACK. AWANUI, Saturday. At Ninety-mile Beach Norman “Wizard” Smith in his “Anzac” covered a mile in 24 3-ss, attaining a speed of 146.341 miles per hour. This is an Australasian record. The dash was made at low tide shortly after 11 a.m., when the water left a smooth stretch of wet sandv. Local residents declared they had seen the beach much smoother in calm weather. “Wizard” Smith said that he did not think it as good as it had 'been two days before, although it was quite fit for his purpose. Danger lay in sharp edged pieces of shell which littered the course. When the “Anzac” was being towed from Ahipara to the site of the trial the tyres were deeply gashed by jagged shells and had to be changed this morning. Full of confidence in himself and his machine, “Wizard” Smith slated before the attempt that he was sure of attaining 150 m.p.h., and given favourable conditions would probably touch 180. Two courses were run to-day, the first southward and then the return run. The time taken was made on the first run, the second being slightly slower. A slight shower of rain fell near the finishing line, although it was not felt elsewhere, and the driver's goggles were so obscured that he had to slow dowiv “I am very pleased," was all "Wizard” Smith said when he stepped out of the “Anzac." Don Harkness expressed his disappointment that they had not clocked over 150 miles per hour. When they struck the rain shower, he stated that the indicator was just touching 160. "As a racing track the beach was perfect,” he declared. “We felt only a couple of bumps—nothing to worry about." So great was the speed that the tyres made only a faint line on the sand, and shells did not damage the tyres as much as had been expected. One deep gash, two inches long, was found in the left rear tyre, but there were no others.