LONG PREPARATION

Hokitika Guardian, 23 December 1931, Page 6

LONG PREPARATION

“WIZARD” SMITH’S VENTURE. WATCHING THE TIDES. ATTEMPT ON WORLD’S RECORD. Alongside Lonsdown Bridge, the oldest stung bridge in Sydney, in the heat of a quite Sunday afternoon, two men stood mending a punctuie, and as they worked they talked speeds and records, says the “Auckland Star.” It was on that sweltering Sunday, over two years ago, while cars went by in endless procession and left the men in. a- cloud of dust that the idea of .“Wizard” Smith’s attempt on the ‘ land speed record was born. One of the men was Australia’s crack racing driver, the other Mr J. H. Mostyn, manager of the speed party which will soon go to Ninety Mile Beach to prepare the Fred H. Stewart Enterprise to travel a mile in twelve seconds. Two years have gone by, two years of concentrated work, of negotiations, l of tests and trials, and now the great ' car is ready. And when “Wizard” 'Smith and his party come back from the north, whether clley break the record or »«t, close on £20,000 will have ' been spent on a great Australian venture. i LAUNCHING A SCHEME, j The day following that roadside chat , “Wizard” Smith and his friend, Jack Mostyn, launched their scheme. On the advice of a big Sydney bnsiness- | man the partner decided to build a car capable of touching about 150 miles an hour. It was Howard Nattrass, himself a well-known New Zealand racing driver, winner of trophies on Muriwai Beach, who suggested that Smith’s first big racing car be tried on Ninety Mile Beach. So it was agreed.

An engine was decided on. Then came the problem of designing and building the car. / It could not be decided who would be the best man For the job. Smith and Mostyn took a gamble. The names of five leading Sydney engineers were written on bits of paper and placed in a hat. “Wizard” Smith drew from the hat a slip with the name of Don Harkness. So Hark ness, ,o‘ne pf\ the' greatest engineers in Australia to-day, was offered and accepted the job of building Smith’s first car, the Anzac. It was with the idea of trying the beach and letting people see that Smith was a- man who could break records—not that his capabilities were doubted in Australia, for he was then the holder of many records —that the Anzac was brought to New Zealand, and in the summer of 1930 Smith touched 164 miles an hour on Ninety Mile Beach, and thus broke the tenmile world record. He was satisfied; the car was a great success.

LOAN OF SCHNEIDER ENGINE. Back to Australia. , Smith and his party went, and the preliminary work for the bigger venture started. The Prime Minster, Mr Scullin, was persuaded to approach the ' British Government and ask for the loan of a secret Schneider Cup engine, and after a deposit of several thousand pounds had been made by Mr Fred H. Stewart with the British Air Ministry, the huge engine was shipped from England, arrived in Sydney last" December. This time there was no dipping in hats to see who would design the car. Don Harkness got to work and designed and built what Smith calls “the greatest car that has ever attempted the record.” Now Smith and'his party u.. v waiting for the tides, to suit. They will go up to the beach at the end of the month, and trials will be carried out. They are at present a restless little party. There is not a great deal to bo done until they reach the beach. This morning Mrs Smith sat in the lounge at Hotel Gargen addressing dozens of Christmas cards to her Sydney friends. Don Harkness and Ludwig Nudl, who also has played a part in this great venture, smoked cigarettes and talked of magnetos. Smith, quiet and reserved, told his story. At times he was silent, and even forgot his surroundings, then told a little bit- more. There is a superficially casual air about the party, but when they talk of the car :i nd the attempt there is confidence in every word they say. “Wizard” Smith is 40 years of age. He was married when he was 20, and has a daughter, Iris, aged 18, who is in Sydney. Unlike most ' racing drivers, Smith does not train. When Sydney learned that he was to make an attempt on the mile land speed record, every physical culture expert in the city wanted the job of training him. But he is naturally fib He never smokes. Occasionally he will drink a shandy—-but nothing more. KEEN CRICKETER.

This quiet racing driver is a keen cricketer. He has played a good deal in Sydney competitions, as a member of the Paddington club. He was out at Fd'Mi Park watching the game last Saturday, and will be out again to-morrow. Snooker and billiards are among his hobbies, and he- handles a cue well. There is a good deal of rivalry between Smith and his manager, Mostyn. Smith general wins. At night time the party play cards, poker, 500 or bridge. And people ask, “What makes these racing drivers try to break lecoids when there is so much risk?" And Smith smiles, and replies: “Oh. just the urge to beat the other fellow.