MOTOR RECORD BROKEN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2725, 26 April 1924, Page 4

MOTOR RECORD BROKEN.

FORD LOWERS OWN TRUE., 94 MILES AN HOUR, The five-mile Ndw Zealand and Australian motor beach record of 3min. 29sec. equal to BG.I miles per hour, established by Mr S. Andrew’s Ford at the Muriwai motor races on •March 22, was considerably reduced by the same car in tests carried nut on the Murawai Beach track recently. When the record was made last month the cars went over a five-mile course once from a flying start, but the Ford covered the distance twice once with the wind and once against flying starts being allowed in each case. A challenge had been received by the Auckland Automobile Association from Messrs Seabrook and Fowlds, who desired to attack the Ford’s original record with their Vauxhall racing car and the test was arranged for 7 a.in., at which time the low tide left a wide track for the attempt. Owing to the flooded state of the creek which runs across the course used last month, a new course, on the opposite side of the creek, was surveyed for the tests. The fact that there was no creek to cross, of course, favoured the making of faster times. Mr S. Andrew and his brother, Mr L. Andrew, who acts as his mechanic, took their car to the beach prepared to defend their title should the Vauxhall succeed in lowering the record. The Vauxhall, however, developed magneto trouble after covering two miles of the distance, and was compelled to retire, Mr Andrew therefore decided to make- an attack on his own record and driving against the wind covered the distance in 3 minutes 26 4-5 seconds, equal to approximately 88 miles per hour. Running up with the wind the five miles was traversed in 3 minutes 13 seconds, which works out at approximately 94 miles per hour. Un-. der the system which it has been suggested shall be followed in future the average time for the two laps in this ease, which is subject to official confirmation, is in the vicinity of 91 miles per hour. When the breakdown to the Vauxhall occurred steps were immediately taken to secure a new magneto from Auckland and shortly after six o’clock the Vauxhall lined up for a second attempt. The car running down the five-mile straight against the wind completed the distance in 3 minutes 21 seconds. The return with the wind was commenced immediately, but before the half distance had been covered trouble was experienced with the carburet toi. Tn spite of the efforts of the driver the speed dropped to little more than half of the maximum and the remainder of the course was completed without any recovery to normal. Upon examination it was found that moisture in the benzine bad been responsible for the trouble. The mean of the Vauxhall’s times was well below any of the speeds previously attained over the cour-

SC ’No difficulty was experienced by the car on the road to and from the beach. No chains were used and the return journey to the city, made in darkness was completed in 1 hour 35 minutes. Discussing the performances ox the Ford, Mr John Andrew said that there had bee some comment to the effect that there was little of the real Ford in the make-up of the machine used. He stoutly denied this and said that it was a standard four-cylinder model Ford, fitted with racing attachments and tuned up to racing pitch.