MOTOR CAR RECORDS.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 March 1921, Page 4

MOTOR CAR RECORDS.

AUCKLAND-WELLING TON JOURNEY. STOP AT NEW PLYMOUTH. What is claimed to be the fastest motor car in New Zealand, winner of the New Zealand Cup and other speed contests at Auckland on Saturday, passed through New Plymouth yesterday on its way from Auckland to Wellington. Stripped of its limousine body and all the other comforts that grace it in its private life, and covered with mud fresh from its climb over Mount Messenger, the car looked a giant of speed, and during its short stay in New Plymouth it was the centre of lively interest. The car has a great record to its credit. On the Muriwai beach, Auckland, on Saturday, it won the New Zealand Cup of 25 miles in 17 minutes, an average of over 88 miles per hour. The highest average speed for 1 mile during the race was 95 per hour, while for 3 miles an average of 93 miles per hour was maintained. At the same race meeting the car won the II mile sprint against all comers, and at the end of this short run had a lead of a quarter of a mile. During a private trial the car attained a speed of 'lOO miles per hour on the sand. Mr. Nattrass, of Wellington, who owns and drives the car, left Auckland on Monday for Wellington, via Mount Messenger and New Plymouth. Bidding good-bye to his friends on the Weilington express train at Auckland on Monday night, he was at Hamilton to welcome ,them. Thereafter he ran into drenching rain and heavy roads, camping on the road near Te Kuiti on Monday night. Mr. Nattrass resumed the journey shortly before 9 o’clock yesterday morning and arrived at New Plymouth at about 1.40 p.m. He, states that the road Mount Messeirtger is in a bad state from the recent heavy nuns, two cars being passed on the hill axle deep and stuck in the mud. He spoke, however, in enthusiastic terms of the scenery en route, saying that the panorama as viewed from the top of the kill was magnificent. Mr. Nattrass left New Plymouth during the afternoon for Wellington, expecting to arrive there last night.