AT 240 M.P.H.

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 569, 23 January 1929, Page 9

AT 240 M.P.H.

Segrave May Race on Daytona Beach AMERICAN RIVAL’S PLANS (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright} (Australian and N.Z. Press Association} Reed. 9.5 a.m. LONDON, Tuesday. Major H. O. D. Segrave will have a rival at Daytona Beach, Florida, when, in March, he attempts the world’s speed record with his 450 horse-power car. According to private cables the famous “sky-rocket,’* Ralph de Palma, America’s former speed king, has persuaded J. A. Keech, the holder of the 207 miles an hour record, to let him drive his 1,500 horsepower car “Triplex.” Major Segrave is 30 years of age and de Palma is 42. The latter is trying, to get the American Racing Board to lay out two courses so that he and Major Segrave may race at 240 miles an hour or more. Daytona Beach is 20 miles long. Six miles of it is as level and smooth as asphalt. It is from 500 to 600 yards wide at low water, and there is room for two courses. There is a certain amount of American influence backing up the idea. Keech’s car has been unofficially timed to do 238 m.p.h. Since then it has been reconstructed, and three new Liberty aero engines have been installed. Its theoretical maximum is reported to be 250 m.p.h.

Major Segrave s machine will be called i, he . t i < .! lrten Arrow. The “Daily Mail” says that 18 months ago a millionaire who does not.want his name to be published visited .Major begrave and said: “I hear you want to get back your record. Go ahead and get a car built. Tell the designer tx> spend what he likes. Spare no money in making the car as safe as humanly possible. Major Segrave commissioned a motor engineer, Captain Irving, a North Countryman to carry out the commission Practically every component is of the best English steel. Even the small nuts ■ have been especially turned. The cockpit is armour-plated. Major Segrave will be strapped in. Even if tlie machine overturns, which is considered most unlikely owing to its low centre of gravity, the plating will take the shock. no e lhree f?ear speeds—the botthe top*24o 3an hour ’ the secon <l 166, and A portable engine provides the starting. A-e w..? a -v r ls finished in gold paint, hence name. Two propeller shafts drive the lTned S ' Every exposed part is streamThe car cost £15,000, and as it will not do more than one hour’s work (including its trials) and will probably not be used after the speed attempt, the cost works out at £250 a minute.