MOTOR-CYCLE SPEEDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 May 1938, Page 9

MOTOR-CYCLE SPEEDS

AMAZING PERFORMANCES. The struggle for the world’s motorcycle speed records between Germany, Italy and Great Britain continues, the outcome being some most amazing performances. Thanks to some wonderful achievements by Ernst Henne, Germany has regained no less than 12 world’s records —most of them from Italy. Henne’s top speed for the flying kilometre (1039yds) was 173.6 miles per hour (12.285ec), as against the British-held record of 169.78 miles per hour to the credit of Eric Fernihough (Brough-Dunlop). Last April, Fernihough reached a speed of 175 miles per hour over the flying mile at Gyon, Hungary, but owing to mechanical trouble when he had almost completed the return ride at the same speed, his ride could not be officially recognised. The most astounding thing about Henne’s performances is that they are achieved on a supercharged 500 c.c. horizontally opposed twin engine "8.M.W.” made at the Bavarian Motor Works. To the lay mind, probably the most wonderful of Henne’s achievements on this encased superstreamlined machine, is the covering of 5 miles (from a flying start) on the road at 160.45 per hour, which is more than 10 miles per hour faster than the speed recently recorded by Italy’s crack motor-cyclist, P. Taruffi. Judging by the rapid advance in motor-cycle speed made possible by the wonderful motor roads of Germany and Italy, it is only a matter of time for a speed of 200 miles per hour to be attained by a 500 c.c. engined machine, which is only half the power permissible under the code of the International Records Association. Great Britain is handicapped in this battle for motor-cycle speed supremacy, as any British contender has to journey to the Continent to get the benefit of wonderful roads, whereas the German and Italian speedsters have all facilities at hand, plus Government approval and patronage. In Germany, even the military take a hand. While these records are being attempted troops are stationed along the course to keep it clear.