SPEED

Hokitika Guardian, 19 April 1929, Page 3

SPEED

PRINCE- PRAISES HIS SKILL

(British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, April 16

Sir Henry Segrave, at a dinner in In's honour, which was attended by the Prince of Wales, held at the Royal Automobile Club last night, described rhe sensation experienced in a, racing car travelling at a high speed. He said that one of the first things felt was the unleashing of a tremendous mechanical force, and then a peculiar feeling that the car was getting somewhat out of human control.

Sir Henry mentioned discussing this with the American competitor, Lice Bible, shortly before the latter made the atempt during which he lost his lile. Bible said his machine seemed to get out of control when lie took bis toot off the accelerator, and Major Segrave warned him that it would do so if he did so suddenly, as the reversal of stresses in the car would be tremendous. Bible thanked him for this tip, and said that lie would reduce his speed more gradually.

Sir Henry Segrave said that he thought the tragic death of Br ie happened through the latter’s foot slipping off the accelerator, thus causing too rapid deceleration. Sir Henry Segrave attributed his own success to the British genius for engineering. ■ The Prince of Wales paid a glowing tribute to Sir Henry Segrave. Nobodylie said, knew the risks better than Segrave, except possibly Mrs Segrave. He took this chance, and he did a thing that no human being lmd ever done before, thanks to his own nerve and to his own skill.

The Prince also praised the British designer, and the mechanics who built tlie Golden Arrow, a car which lie described as the British motor manufacturers’ challenge to the world. Man lin’d always been trying to go fast and Nature had always keen trying to stop him. One hundred years ago a man thought he was going quite well at 20 miles an hour. Now Sir Henry Segrave was travelling at 231 miles-an hour. He was driving so fast that even the modern cinematograph man could not catch him.