Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-13
LEE BIBLE IS KILLED
IN RECORD ATTEMPT
American in 36-Motored Car
Crashes-Cameraman Hit,
Also Meets Death.
BY the Associated Press.

DAYTONA BEACH, March l3.
Lee Bible, mechanic, was
killed instantly when the &C.
cylinder Triplex in which he
was attempting to break the
record of 231 miles an hour
crashed into the sand dunes at
202 miles an hour. A Pathe
News cameraman was struck
by the machine and also was
killed. The accident happened
at the far north end of the
course.
BY the Associated Press.
DAYTONA BEACH. Fla. March IS
Lee Bible, carefree jack of all trades
today has stepped out of the gr.my over
alls of garage owner mechanic into
the ranks of the worlds fastest racing
car drivers.
The 42-year-old mechanic was to be
given the golden opportunity of a
lifetime" to use his own words. as the
driver of the Triplex, powerful racing
car of j. NJ White of Philadelphia, and
he expected today to attempt to wrest
from Maj. H. o. D. Segrave of England
the title of speed king of the automo-
bile world
But not without struggle from Maj.
Segrave. He. too. was expected to try
to better his own mark. or that which
Bible believed he could set. II ideal
beach and weather conditions permitted.
Segrave hoped to step his Golden Ar
row up to 240 miles an hour In two
way test. He drove the machine Mon
day to an official record of more than
231 miles an hour.
Overnight, however, Bible had climbed
into the limelight of publicity, an OBJ
scure father of two children, who will
shoot the bolt" in an effort to ac-
quire fame and bring back to America
the racing title.
Starts as RailrOader.
Born on a farm. near the village of
Midway, Tenn, Bible became a rail-
road switchman and fireman at Knox
Vile, Tenn. He has since worked as a
telephone lineman, automobile factory
mechanic, lockwasher worker, taxi dri-
yer and mediocre automobile racer. He
has driven in county fair racing events
in Arkansas. Indiana, Michigan, Kansas
and other States. His first race was
at the county fair at Carlyle, Ark,
which was one of the few he ever won.
About five years ago Bible settled in
Daytona Beach. where he was employed
as mechanic. He owns his garage
now, but he still works as a mechanic
If he succeeds today he will be
employed for year by White to take
the Triplex around on an exhibition
tour at fairs and other racing meets.
Then In 1880 they will enter a car in
the indianapolis Speedway classic,
Bible said.
If ne doesn't succeed he still has his
garage business here.
Faces Another Obstacle.
Meanwhile there was another obsta-
Gle for Bible to Surmount. The races
here are timed and sanctioned by the
American Automobile Association. Bible
does not belong and has not been quail
if1ed by 1t to race. but he drove the
Triplex yesterday at the rate of 1879
miles an hour while A. A. A. officials
looked on, and while they did not give
him their sanction to drive today. they
were to time the race and indicated he
would be granted membership If he
made the grade. Otherwise he does not
even want II.
II Bible should step down and out.
his berth probably will be given to Bob
McDonough of indianapolis. protege of
Tommy Milton. White said.
White said he thought Bible deserved
the try, anyway. and he believed he
could make the grade. Bible was one
of the conditioners last year of the
Triplex when 1t broke the record with
speed of 207 miles an hour. Bibles
work for White then gave him his big
chance and he planned to make the
most OF 1t today.
Another feature of the meet today
was the expected attempt of H. A. Pat
terson. Daytona Beach policeman. to
lower the worlds record of l31 miles
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