SPEED RECORDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 233, 2 October 1928, Page 7

SPEED RECORDS.

IN AIR AND ON LAND.

British Pilot Reaches 300 M.P.H.

In Test Flight.

BRITAIN'S BIDS.

(Australian Press Assn.—United Service.)

(Received 11 a.m.) LONDON, October 1. Flight-Lieutenant D'Arcy Greig during the test flight in connection with the attempt to break the world's speed record exceeded 300 miles per hour, which is the highest speed ever attained in Britain. He covered the Galshot course four times at a height of 4000 feet and flew over Southampton, remaining in the air for 25 minutes.

Flight-Lieutenant David IK Arty A. Greig, has replaced the late FlightLieutenant Kinkead, who was killed in the last attempt at the record, is 28 years of age, and was born in Scotland. Prior to his appointment to the command of the new Royal Air Force High Speed Flying Section, a position which Kinkead would have been given had he survived, Greig was Examining Officer in Flying to the Fighting Area of Air Defences. During the Great War he engaged in munition making until he was old enough to join the Air Force. This he did, as a cadet, in 1918, receiving his commission in the same year. He served for three ; . months as a nightbomber in France, being attached to No. 83 Squadron. Meritorious service in Iraq in 1921 gained him the Distinguished Flying Cross. Some time ago his machine got out of control during spinning tests, and he had to descend by parachute from a height of 10,000 ft. His selection to attack the record on behalf of Britain came as a surprise, as he had not volunteered, but the selection was made on the recommendation of Air Vice-Marshal Sir Robert Broke-Popham, and was approved by Air Marshal Sir John Salmond. The present air speed record is held by Major di Bernardi, Italy, who, when flying in a seaplane at Venice on March 30 of this year, broke the previous record by attaining a speed of 318.8 miles per hour. Major di Bernardi covered the course eight times, and in one lap achieved the almost phenomenal speed of 348.38 miles per hour.

MOTOR SPEED RECORD.

Many Secrets In Segrave's New Car. STEERING ON A BULL'S EYE. (United Service.) LONDON, October 1. The Golden Arrow, in which Major Scgrave hopes to break the world's motor speed record at Daytona Beach, Florida, is practically complete. The gear box contains many secrets, especially the teeth gear wheels, and is carefully guarded. 1 The car is to be equipped with sights resembling those of rifles to assist in steering. The "Daily Mail" says stop-watches are inaccurate for the purpose of timing such great speeds. Consequently Major Segrave will drive over electrical timing strips at the beginning and the end of a one-mile course. These strips will be 26ft long and will be indicated by posts. After speeding over 4| miles the driver will see a gigantic target with a bull'seye erected on scaffolding above the posts. Through a telescope fixed to the car he will secure a centre-sight line on the bull'seye at the start and drive at it. He will pick up the second bull's-eye at the end of the course when he has hurled past the start. Major Segrave-says it is impossible to steer by ordinary objects. Timing posts and flags are merely blurs and the new method will be of enormous assistance.