SPEED RECORD

Hokitika Guardian, 3 November 1931, Page 5

SPEED RECORD

“WIZARD” SMITH’S ATTEMPT

SECRET ' TRIAL OF CAR W -tn-vi*. * ****#>

SIDNEY, Oct. 22.

Interest is * quickening in Australia in Norman “Wizard” Smith’s projected attempt at Ninety Mile Beach, North Auckland, on the world’s land record. The car, the Fred EL Stew* y art Enterprise, valued at £42,060, has been completed ji imd is now waiting . shipment to Auckland. It will leave Sydney Ijefore y Novemer 10th, and the attempt,on the record will bo « made betwen December 6th and 19th. • The exact date will depend on * weather conditions. If possible a day will be chosen with a wind of less than five miles an .hour,' record has to be the mean-bet\veeW two mile runs in opposite directions. It has just been>• revealed that in a secret test on low gear, the car attained a speed of 90 miles an hour- -. During that test the £BOOO “Huslir'y hush” twelve-cylinder eng-ne. lent by the British Air Ministry recorded only 2800 revolutions a minute. Reviewing the test, an expert says -that, calculating on the high gear ratio and the fact that the engine develops maximum power (1750 h.p.) at 4200 revolutions, a maximum speed of 310 should be possible. The car-has less' wind resistance and turbulence suction than any previous record car. Smith is very confident .of lifting the record to 300 miles an hour, but the short t life of the special . tyres under such'a speed, and the 25-hour life limit of the Napier aeroplane engine, may limit the-, record, tp-2 5 0, . miles. Each of the tyre? cost . £125 .and twelve of 'tliespiwill bo shipped with the car, which now rests at the work s of Harkness ahd. Hillier, at Burwocd Sydney. The car has been designed throughout bv Mr Don Harkness, who is recognised as . the most brilliant automotive .enineer in Australia to-day. y/:.; - ' ••.-•VtVA •