AUTO RECORD

Hokitika Guardian, 13 March 1929, Page 5

AUTO RECORD

SKGRA V E’S N ARB ATI VK. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). LONDON. Ala roll 12. Major Sograve, telephoning over . -1,000 miles, from Daytona, told his story to the “Daily .Mail” in crisp tones, as ‘follows: “Conditions were bad. Winds ruffled the sands and floating whisps of mist reduced visibility. 1 should not have gone, lint I had waited for a fortnight and the American competitor could not make his attempt until I had completed mine. ' Two large arc lights were erected, one at each end of the measured mile, to steer by. 1 scrapped the telescopic sights, and used ordinary rifle sights attached to the bonnet of the car. The are showed up like a blurred glow from the mist. I aimed the sights at six o’clock on the distant are as on an imaginary target, 'practically •„j ..nr Ibe r ■ | " .1 ! • .in"' 1 to keep a straight course on to the timing slips. .My impressions were brief, lint exhilarating. I saw in front the arc light rising up to. meet me There was an immense black wall on my Hank.. This v.as a solid mass of one hundred thousand people, among whom inidividmils were indistingui.-m----ahl,' watching the “Golden .Arrow”, jhe ilagposts, rushing by one on the other llank, resembled a straight line across a piece of typewriting paper. My worst experience was during the second run. The mile has also to l»c covered in the oppoite direction, and the speed of both runs is averaged, to establish the record. The offide radiator burst and shot up a great cloud of steam and water. Fortunately it i was near the end of the run, necessitating my hanging on for only the fraction of a second.” NEW YORK, March 12. Major Soagravo is reported to-night to have stated that he would attempt to reach a speed of 24J miles per lioiu if a minute inspection of the “Golden Arrow” shows that the attempt ifeasihle. Captain Irving, the designer of the car. said that he believed the car would roaeli a speed of 300 miles per hour. SEAL!HAVE AND HIS WIFE. LONDON, March U. Within a few piinutes of attaining his record, Major Scagrave spoke over the trans-Atlantic telephone to the Daily Express, saving: “I’ve done it. thank God. If the Amrican heats me. I will certainly make another attempt. The water circulation tap broke. I was blinded by steam for a while. I had to make use of the ice box I had specially placed in the nose of the car to argument the cooling system.” Mrs Seagravc also spoke saying: “Yes” 1 saw him do it. It was certainly a great thrill. I was very much upset. Ido not mind admitting that 1 was frightened. He toid me that he may go again. When he does I’ll be there.” AMERICAN TO TRY. , NEW YORK, A!arch 12. J. M. White, the triple holder of the former record, will attempt to . heat Songravc’s new record to-morrow , White said that there is more speed in his ear than anyone will ever be able to get out of it, while the result depends wholly on the law ol gravity. SIR Cl lAS. WAKEFIELD. OVERJOYED AT THE RECORD. LONDON, Alareli 11. ( Sir Charles Wakefield, (donor of the Moth plane to the Aero Club N.Z.) who is an ardent supporter of .Major Seng rave, delightedly disclosed that Major Seagravc before attempting the record, tele- , graphed saving that he was confident | of winning the Wakefield Gold Cup . for the land speed record carrying with it a pension of one thousand ( pounds yearly, while the record is retained. ( Sir Charles Wakefield said: “Sc- , grave’s is the world’s greatest achievement. He is perhaps the most courageous Englishman of liis decade ( I believe lie will win the motorboat racing blue riband with my “Miss England.” Then Britain will Bold all three records which count, for we are already supreme in the air. This is the proudest day of my life, lor which I have worked years long.”