Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-12
AMERICAN DRIVER
TO TRY FOR RECORD
Novice Set for Attempt to
Shatter Speed Mark of
Maj. Segrave.
nr The Assnciated Press.

By the Associated FFsSs.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla, March l..
"A comparative novice at high-speed
automobile driving today awaited the
receding tide along the ocean beacn
race course for an attempt to bring back
to America the straightaway mile rae
ing record set by Maj. H. o. D. SegraVe
of England yesterday at 23l.36246 miles
n" hour. ~ &c
Ssesore taking the wheel of the 30
c.r,ler TripleX. owned by j, NJ Wnlte
nj Philadelphia however, Lee Biole, niue
known local mechanic, was reaoy ~
undergo tests by the American Auec-
roohile Association to determine MS
capability of driving the former Ute
holding car at high speeds. OtherWlSe'
any mark he might set would not De
recofnized as official by the natlonai
racing body.
Segrave who startled the automoti.e
world at the burning pace he set In MS
t-ir, etreamlined speed creation yester-
Gay still was not satisfied with his
mark. He said last night he believed
his Golden Arrow could attain a max
in1um speed of 240 miles per hour ana
indicated he wanted another cnance tc
"open her up"
Even Targets Arranged.
Never before was technical arrange
ment so perfected for speed trlal. MOI
only was the mechanical perfectlon OF
the machine taken into consideration
but the weather, tide, beach conoltioh
and even targets at which the car was
aimed bv its driver. all had place In
the arrangements which mace the lec-
ord-breaking run possible.
To be officially timed. driver must
make two runs. one north and one soutn
m the beach. with and against the Wlno,
to determine the average speed.
At the far ends of the beach speed
way we're set up two great bulls eye
The great targets swung suspended
between posts. while far down the
beach a human eye travelling at nearly
bullet speed. was glued on them during
the tests through a regular telescope
sighting arrangement similar to that
which might be found on o's gun
The second run was mite easier LOT
Seprave. as the driver not only had
the targets at which to eim his car,
but had his previous tracks to follow
if he lost momentarily in the mist the
sight of his targets.
White Hopes Record to FALL
Through all this co-ordinated effort
and Encouragement the new and
amazing world automobile speed record
went back to England at the hand OF
the first man who drove a car 200 miles
an hour in official trials.
White, however, hoped that it would
be record for but day. His TripleX,
a powerful creation of 1900 horsepower,
but with little thought at stream lining.
was ready. It remained for the A. A. A.
officials to sanction Bible as its driver
and today, some time shortly after 8
O'Clock in the afternoon, White expected |
the car to make its try. With ideal
weather and beach conditions, White |
said his car could make maximum
speed of 270 miles an hour.
White Confident.
There were numerous opinions eX-
pressed here today regarding the pos'
sibility of White breaking the record
with his Triplex White, of course, was
confident.
Ray Keech. who drove the car last
year to its 207 miles an hour record,
was certain it could never develop more
than 900 miles an hour at best, since
it is not streamhned vehicle.
Bible, who has never driven racing
cars except In track exhibitions, was
certain the Triplex could do the trick
and equally certain that he could drive
1t at that rate In any event, he was
willing to stake his life on it.
The general feeling In Daytona Beach, |
however. appeared to be that 1.-THE rec |
ord that will stand while was set yes
terday."