SPEED KINGS MEET

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 195, 7 November 1927, Page 1

SPEED KINGS MEET

SEGRAVE AND WEBSTER EXCHANGE OF COMPLIMENTS By Cable.—Press Association. —Copyright LONDON, Saturday. The respective holders of the world's speed records for motoring and flying, Major Segrave and FlightLieutenant S. N. Webster, who won the Schneider Cup race, met as guests at the dinner of the Civil Service Motoring Association. They recognised each other at a glance and exchanged cheery greetings and mutual congratulations on their performances. Afterwards the diners sang “For They Are Jolly Good Fellows.” Major Segrave, responding to the toast of their health, said: “As a pilot myself in the war I admire every good pilot. Lieutenant Webster is the best the Air Force has produced, and I am the w-orst. I had a machine which was a ghastly affair. The engine was behind and the pilot was stuck out in front. I landed in an undignified manner at my first effort. I got another machine and when I was 20 feet up I fell like a stone. “Then 1 set off a third time, with instructions not to risk landing at Dover, but to go straight on to France. The propeller blade dropped off six miles from the Channel, for which reason I chose to drop into the sea m preference to gliding over a cliff. Lieutenant Webster said: Major Segrave’s record in motoring eclipses mine in flying, because he has tenfold worse elements to contend with. A. and N.Z