WIZARD SMITH'S CAR AFIRE DURING RUN

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 212, 2 May 1932, Page 5

WIZARD SMITH'S CAR AFIRE DURING RUN

(Press. Assn.-

RACE . ABANDONED - NO FURTHER ATTEMPT ON RECORDS UNTIL NEXT SUMMER WATER REACHES MAGNETO

-By Telegraph — Copyrlght).

KAITAIA, Sunday. Mr. Norman ("Wizard") .Smith has met with another set-baclc, causing him to abandon further attempts until next year. s While actually attacking the five mile record to-day the Enterprise caught fire and forced Mr. Smith to abandon the race. It is announced that he will leave for Sydney shortly and return next summer. The beach was smooth and wet, but Mr. Smith decided to go on and arrangements were started early. The course was flagged and several freshwater streams were dammed with sacks and sand. Everything was ready at 11.30 when the Enterprise was towed from the garage and started beautifully from a rolling start. All went well for over two miles and then the engine began to eough, eventually cutting out. The bottom carburettor then burst into flames, but they were extinguished before much damage was done. That finished the attempt, and with its paint blistered, the car was towed back to the garage. Trouble Due To Water Mr. Smith attributed the trouble to^ water splashing through the apertures on to the magneto. "I was doing 170 miles," he said, "when the ignition began to cut out owing to water, the engine missed, eventually cutting out after 21 miles. When the roar of the exhaust stopped, I could hear sparks through the* engine and the bottom carburettor burst into flames. I tried to put the fire ,.out with the extinguisher that I carried, but £ could not get to the seat of the trouble. I then used water and fortunately extinguished the fire." The car has not yet been examined, but Mr. Smith saicl that the trouble was not serious. The fire left a visible mark, the paint being blistered for some distance just behind the radiator cowling. "No Use Going On" "Although no damage was done to the car," said Mr. Smith, "it is no use going on. It is impossible to get a dry beach until the middle of next summer, and I am forced to postpone the project. I will come back and try again next season. Definitely I am not -going to Daytona, for I am still of the opinion that the Ninety Mile Beach is the best in the world when there are westerlies blowing." Mr. Smith said that the revolving wind screen was a great success. It had worlced beautifully and although water was pelting on it like heavy rain, he had perfect vision. When the car returned to the garage the screen was perfectly clear and clean. Before the crowd dispersed, Mr. Alan Bell, on behalf of Mt. Smith, thanked those who had given assistance in flagging the course on the several occasions that Mr. Smith had attempted the record or had made trial runs. He called for three cheers for Mr and Mrs Smith.