Douglas daily dispatch., 1928-02-23
LOCKHART, GOING
225 MI. PER HOUR,
HURTLES INTO SEA

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla, Feb. % QP)
Frank Lockhart, internationally
known race driver of indianapolis,
narrowly escaped instant death late
today when he lost control Of his
powerful Stutz Blackhawk special
during an attempt TO set new world S
automobile speed record end hurtled
with it into the surf while travelling
at 225 miles an hour.
He was pinned in the drivers seat
of the machine by the steel frame OF
the side, which was stove in by the
violent impact of the waves, but a
fortunate circumstance landed the car
right side up after it had turned a
complete somersault from the beach
speedway and also kept the machine
from going beyond his depth.
Ills face and arms were lacerated
and he was thought to have suffered
b broken arm. and possible internal
injuries, but d superficial examine
ton revealed no serious hurts.
Observers who rushed into the sea
and pulled the wrecked machine back
to the beach found 1ockhart helpless
neck. 1t was necessary for mechanics
to cut away the side of the car to
release him. M
I'm all right" was his only ex-
preston after he was dragged from
the water His wife was among the
crowd of several thousand persons
who witnessed the accident and faint
ed when she saw he had been hurt,
and did not see him pass into semi
consciousness as ne was rushed away
in an ambulance.
Lockhart's car, speeding at a ter
rifle rate, was about to enter the
measured mile official clocking dis
tance for the speed trial-when 1t was
seen to careen sharply to the right,
strike an incoming wave and Use into
the air, turning a complete Zip and
landing SO feet out in the ocean ON
its wheels.
The visibility was extremely poor
because of low hanging clouds, but
Lockhart had decided late in the day
to essay the race against time due
to the short length of time remaining
for the trials, which, to receive Amer
ican automobile association sanction,
must be made before the present
speed carnival ends tomorrow after
noon.
After two trips over the measured
mile, up and down the beach, Lock
hart was making the first run, north
ward. He had a start OF several
miles before entering the official
stretch and was believed to have had
his racer virtuslly wide open. Timers
clocked him at the moment OF the
spill at 225 miles per hour.
Just what caused his machine TO
veer into the ocean was not I'M
n1ediately determined but it was con
sifiered probable that rough spot In
the beach or any slight obstruction
such as other drivers had encoun-
tered in previous tests was RESPONSE
BILE.
To those who witnessed it, Lock-
hart's escape alive WBs considered
miraculous, because of the double
threat of instant death in the crash
of the car and drowning. The little
car was dented and revealed defl-
mite sag in the middle of the frame,
but mechanics first estimates OF
damage 10 ~ 1911 1AO1AA 0ONSsAs NAS~A>.
to mot badly damaged"
At the hospital, araesthetics were
administered to Lockhart in prepara-
tfon for q thorough x-ray examina-
tion to determine whether an opera
tion was necessary He was SEMI
conscious and appeared to be suf-
fering little pain, physicians said.
Between 5000 and 5000 persons
were in the stands when the accident
occurred.
Lockhart was the cniy American
left in the running for chance at
the new record Of 2069 miles per
hour set here 3unday by Captain
Malcolm Campbell of England. Since
neither he nor his machine will be IN
rx9hdition to race again before the
a. A. AS time limit expires to-
ynorrow. the new mark thus will re-
main for the time at least in Eng
land. where the previous record OF
003.7 miles an hour also was held
bv Major H. O, D. Segrave.
i NJ. White, Philadelphia manu-
fact,lrer. who had entered his SO
cvlindered itriplex special in the speed
event. was barred from competing by
fhe American Automobile association
TODAY because an auxiliary reverse
Uear installed in his machine did no.
meet the official body's standards.
This will not prevent him from max
ING an unofficial run against tlne'
which he has announced ne propapiy
will essay