Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-20
CAMPBELL TO TRY
FOR FASTER SPEED
Racer Not to Rest on 2O7.
MiIe-an-Hour Mark; Awaits
Better Weather.
by CAPT. MALCOLM CAMPBELL.

Written Exclusiveiy for The star and North
American Newspaper Alliance.
DAYTONA, Fla, February 90
Providence was with me yesterday when,
travelling PA miles per hour. hit that
soft sand. For moment / thought the
whole thing was over.
Coming out Of the mile stretch just
ns / shut off the motor my car hit a
terrific bump. Thrown broadSide, /
shot nearly half out of the cockpit. As
my head went above the windshield the
wind caught my goggles, and reached
with one hand to save them. MOmen-
tarily the car was out Of control. Rae
ing at the speed OF nearly 300 feet per
second before I could right the Blue
bird, she was In soft sand She re-
sponded marvelously to a turn of the
wheel. and straight on down the course
we rode.
A neeting glance at my counter told
me that had the fastest time ever re-
corded on earth. so as rolled on down
over the 4 miles required TO stop the
Bluebird had In mind my return trip
north Two trips, you know In opposite
directions are required to establish o
record.
Car Under Strain.
Slowing down to about 140 miles per
hour. began to think about my en-
CINE and my tires. which had suffered
the tremendous strain of my 2l2 ton
car being thrown about Everything
seemed in perfect condition.
I slowed up at the end OF 8 miles
which had been driven in about three
and a third minutes. My mechanics,
who had been waiting to examine the
car, drove nearby. Having In mind the
35-mile-an-hour wind which would be
against me on the return trip. sig
nailed that I would continue right on.
Turning north. put my foot down
With a heavy car like my Blue Bird
the great problem is getting up speed.
Once heavy car gets going, weight
makes little difference. My motor had
20 be pushed
Coming into the wind brought an
almost smothering torrent OF sand up
through the cockpit. Sighting down
along marker flags. began TO get set
for battle with both the wind and
sand
The storm Of Saturday evening had
left the beach uneven. AS approach
ed $50 miles per hour the car began
% snake. Under these conditions, and
fighting a head wind, the airplane tall
like construction Of my car helped to
hold me on the curves.
His Fastest Trip.
Tossed by wind and thrown by the
rough beach sand. on rushed and
settled down to another four mile coast.
I had travelled IS miles faster than I
had ever done before. or at the rate
Of nearly 207 miles an hour. Never In
my % years Of racing in Europe had
/ ever felt that was so much in the
hands Of the gods
Although my flying experiences were
limited during the war. when machines
were not capable Of the speeds which
they are today. my impression Is that
there is no comparison between 100
miles per hour in the air and driving
an automobile at the same speed.
It Is my opinion that we have not
yet reached by long way the limit OF
speed OF an automobile. but feel more
convinced than ever the greatest es-
sential TO be studied Is In getting per-
feet conditions both as regards the
surface of the track used and quiet
atmospheric conditions. am not even
satisfied that ! have yet secured the
greatest possible speed with my Blue
Bird The car is in perfect condition
Now I am standing by awaiting more
favorable conditions on the beach and
the weather. With these advantages ]
shall certainly try again for another
world record within the next few days.
tCopyrigh, 1928 IN All Countries by the
North American Newspaper Aliianoe.l