SIR H. SEAGRAVES NEW TRIUMPH

Hokitika Guardian, 24 July 1929, Page 7

SIR H. SEAGRAVES NEW TRIUMPH

50,000 GERMANS CHEER MISS

ENGLAND.

BERLIN, June 2. Sir Henry Scgra-ve to-day won another remarkable triumph for British motor engineering. Driving Sir Charles Wakefield’s 1,000-h.p. motor-boat Miss England on the Tempiiner Lake near, Potsdam, ho secured the German motorboat speed championship. Sir Henry’s victory followed a duel, in many ways remarkable, with Herr P. Seidler, the German banker, driving Parolo V. The result was signalised by astonishing scenes of enthusiasm, and after the ihird race, when it was clear that he could not be beaten, a German orchestra struck up the National Anthem. The crowd estimated at no fewer than 50,000 people cheered, and there were cries of “Hoeh Segrave” A German woman rushed up to him as he stepped off his boat and presented hint with a bouquet of oak leaves. 74.3 MILES AN HOUR. In addition to winning the • championship of Germany at an average speed of 68 miles an hour, Sir Henry covered one circuit of the course at a speed of 74.3 miles an hour. This speed is higher than the average covered by motor-cars' in some of the great Continental motor-car races. On the water it is astonishing, and it thrilled the spectators. Another notable triumph for British motor-boating was gained by Mr Bomford and his mechanic, the Hon. Jack Leith. Driving Sea hopper JTI., a little outboard motor, they won all tho premier awards for this class of boat in competition with the bestknown outboard motor-boat drivers of Italy, Belgium, Germany and America. They had trailed their little boat behind their car from the Belgian coast to Potsdam, and had met with incredible difficulties on the road—but 'they' arrived just in time for the races and carried all before them. They, too, received a great ovation. , During the two days Sir Henry Segrave had to race Herr Seidler five times for the championship. He won four of these events, and gave a walkover in one of them. The most dramatic race was the first. Owing to a misunderstanding. Sir Henry was not ready when iho starting gun was fired, and so l°st two minutes here. When he did start, his engine stopped before he crossed the starting line. His giant 1,000-h.p. engine requires to be started by an auxiliary motor, and Sir Henry, away from the land-ing-stage, had no engine starter, and all the time Parolo V. was careering round the course. The Germans rushed nobly to his assistance. They could not have done better for their own man in similar circumstances. A launch dashed out and towed Miss England back to ihe landing-stage, where German sailors raced about giving assistance.

“LET’S HAVE A SHOT!” Herr 'Seidler had bv now almost completed two laps of the four constituting the circuit. Sir Henry said : “Shall I give him a walk-over?” Mr Scott-Paine, tho designer of Miss (England, who acted as his mechanic, said; “No, let’s have a shot at it.” The engine was accordingly started up with a roar, and as Miss England shot across the starting line Herr Seidler. was beginning the third lap. Sir Henry opened up his engine, and the spectators gasped. Miss England left the German boat as though it was a tramp steamer, whereas, in fact, it is by normal standards a very fast boat. Even so it still seemed impossible for Miss England to make up the leeway. Even more so, without great care, there might have happened a disaster. A large tsteam. launch under-esti-mated the speed of Miss England, which was roaring in the fairway with the speed of a racing car, and crossed the line of approach Experts who realised the position were greatly alarmed, until they heard, just in time, the sudden softening of the drone of Miss England’s engines. Sir Henry had observed ’he danger and lie cleared the launch by a few yards. This episode lost Sir Henry further valuable time, but in spite of it, and the tremendous handicap, he overhauled Parolo V. and, with one tremendous spurt, passed her at the post. Herr Seidler took his defeat in the most sporting spirit. Although it was obvious that he stood no chance against Sir Henry, he decided to complete the five races so that the immense crowd could enjoy the tin ill of watching Miss England across the lake. “Miss England is ‘kolossal,’ ” said one German boat builder to mo. “She has taught us a lesson. Next, year we will try to produce something to equal her.”