NEW BLUEBIRD

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 91, 11 January 1935, Page 9

NEW BLUEBIRD

Attempt on Record Next Month at Daytona GREAT SPEED PROPHESIED (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, January 9. Tlie new Bluebird motor-car, incorporating many new features, in which Sir Malcolm Campbell will attempt to lower his own world’s speed record at Daytona next month, was on view' at Brooklauds racing track to-day. This new car, weighing 4} tons, is being shipped to America in the Berengaria on January 16 and Sir Malcolm Campbell is following in the Aquitania a week later. Sir Malcolm hopes to make his attempt on the record on February 19, as a full moon occurs on that date and the beach and weather conditions should then be at their best. A considerable advance on the present record of 272.108 miles per hour, set up by Sir Malcolm Campbell at Daytona on February 22, 1933, is anticipated. Engineers associated with the construction of the car prophesy 300 miles per hour. The Bluebird, in its new shape, resembles a monster whale with gaping mouth, a couple of blunt fins forward of the cockpit, and a finned tail, states a London cablegram. The slit head admits cooling Air to the radiator and there is a lever in the cockpit to close the slit. This, when it is open, lessens the speed by 15 miles an hour, but Sir Malcolm is doubtful if he will have a hand to spare from the steering wheel to close, the gaping mouth when travelling flat out.

The engine is the old 12-cylinder Rolls-Royce, but the car has a new streamlined body and braking system. If there is unlimited room at Daytona 300 miles an hour is possible, but tlie problem is how to get up speed to cover the measured mile and pull up within the nine miles available. Tlie car consumes 2.9 gallons of fuel a minute. Sir Malcolm said that the existing record means travelling 134 yards a second. Thus half a second lost through wheel-bounce would destroy any chance of a record.