MOTOR THRILLS

Hokitika Guardian, 18 May 1926, Page 3

MOTOR THRILLS

SKIDDING AT 100 .MILES , AN HOUR. LONDON. April 0. The plira.so "within an inch of death” was vividly illustrated yesterday on Brooklands race track, Weybridge, when Alt' J- D. Barclay dining a Vauxhall car in the seventh race had a skid, which left tens of thousands of spectators breathless. To be strictly accurate, he was within to fraction of an inch of death, for his front - wheels travelled hnif-w'ay over live edge of the top ol the banking. When Mr Barclay came to the banking at the end of what is known as the Railway Station, he found that three cars held a slight lead. 1 ho} were all travelling at more than 109 miles per hour. Finding that he was being unintentionally crowded out, Mr Barclay attempted to pass his rivals by climbing still higher on the hank. As he did so the car skidded and its swung round. The rare track is shaped like a saucer. Air Barclay’s car was now heading to go clean over the rim. hut just as evervone thought it had gone o\cr the top a shower of concrete, dust as the edge of the rim crumbled lent this impression—the car straightened up. THRILL UPON THRILL. ft next skidded again. Its tail came round, and, tail loremost, it charged .slantwise down the track. A cai following missed it hv inches on its off side. Near the foot of the track it skidded again, this time miraculously ending up with its bonnet foremost and continuing to race in a normal manner. During this skid a car missed it on the near side by indies. The whole exhibition was like a motoring nightmare. When Afr Bartley arrived at the finishing point lie was examined, miller protest, by one of tbe official doctors. “T am quite all right,” be said. The doctor felt bis pulse. It was quite normal. All tlie racing experts who saw tho skidding agreed that it was the most remarkable ever seen on a ra'e track without disastrous consequences. Air Barclay said that lie did not know bow it all happened. “I climbed tbe banking to get a clear coure,” be said, “and then tilings began to happen. AVliat I did I do not know. It was all so sudden,” Most people considered that Air Barclay did a marvellous hit of driving. Although his friends tried to persuade him not to, he insisted on taking the wheel again in the last race.