SCHNEIDE CUP RACE

Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1927, Page 3

SCHNEIDE CUP RACE

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, Sept. 20. Official times for tho Schneider Cup are:— Webster, 2080 and 28-100 seconds, or 281.49 miles hourly. Worsley 28G0 and 75-100 seconds, or 273. G miles hourly. THE DACE DESCRIBED. (Received this day at 1.5 p.m.'

LONDON, Sept. 26

Hurtling through the air at the highest speed man ever attained, Webster gained for Britain tho greatest air trophy in the World amidst unforgettable scenes. It is only fourteen yenrs since Franco first won the prize with an average speed of fortyfour miles an hour. To-day a tiny super-marine Napier machine designed by Chief-Engineer R. ,T. Mitchell with ,floats one-third the size of the body and petrol stored in tho starboard float shot through the air, at considerably over three hundred miles an hour in straight stretches, though tho average naturally was less. Tho uibrning was calm and clear and the sea like glass. Excitement was intense when the blood red Macchis, royal blue super-Marines and bronze gloster-Napier taxied to the starting point. The betting was G to 0 on England, Webster being individually the favourite. The cheering was thunderous when first Kinnead, with a. great roar and in a cloud of spray rose and shot like a bullet into the distance followed by five others. The air was full of tho roaring of engines and red and blue flashes. It was soon evident that the British turning tactics were far superior. Webster, in particular, controlled his machine with uncanny genius during the terrific ordeal, banking till it was perpendicular, and then swinging round in a sharp yet graceful .sweep.

The crowd did not imagine that such dare-devilry was possible and yelled with excitement. Tho Italians, on the other hand, lost much time in special mounting turns, shooting rocket like upwards and descending in enormous swoops. 'Ferrarini was compelled to descend owing to engine trouble before he had completed a single lap. Then Bernardi, who himself had planned the course, was forced to come down fitter doing one Jap. The next down was Kinnead whoso 291 miles for the third lap was the highest average for the whole race.

A GREAT THRILL. LONDON, Sept. 20.' There were still Webster, Worsley and Gunzetti wheeling around like the hands of a clock. The greatest thrill of all came when on the longest side of the triangle Webster dashed off in pursuit of Gunzetti and for one breathless moment the machines were level, and in the next the blue was a quarter of a mile abend, proving that the British engines were immeasurably faster. A little later Gunzetti was most unlucky having to come down after doing six laps, but the triumph of the British skill and machinery was complete. Webster bad a tremendous reception when tho race was over and the Italians could not have been more delighted if they had won themselves.

A COMING FLY. NEW YORK, Sept. 2G. A Seattle message states Smith, TJlm and Anderson will start next month for Australia in a triple motored Fokker used by Captain Wilkins in his polar expedition. Anderson, now in Honolulu, says he expects to take, off from San Francisco if the weather is favourable, otherwise from Seattle. Tt is understood the flight will cover 0500 miles from United States to Australia via Honolulu, New Britain and New Guinea. TO SEE THE WAR AT AH S. LONDON, Sept. 26. Caldwin’s first remark in arrival from France was—“ All 1 want to do is to see the Wamtahs. I have heard they are extraordinarily good.’’ AIRMAN MISSING. BASRA, Sept. 20. There is mo news of the airman Kocnnecke who left Angora on 24th September and was expected here the same day.