The Washington times., 1929-01-02

lIOm Tic udEluS oIltlsH uEINOL'
weighs almost 1000 pounds. The
steel frame is enormously strong.
The car will be guided, whence its
name.
The springs are very stiff so that
they will not give should the car
leap on striking some slight irregu-
larity in the sand.
Aims Like Gun
Major Segrave has an aiming de-
vice to keep the car on straight
course. There Is a stream. lined pro
lection at the front Of the car, Joined
by a black band along the top of the
hood to the rear sight. which is inn
mediately in front of Major Segrave.
This should be tremendous help in
keeping the car on a true course
between the ocean, on the one hand,
and the sand dunes On the other.
Nerve impulses in the human
body travel almost too slowly for
modern high velocity drivers. By
the time a mans eyes told him he
was on the wrong course he might
be rs feet out OF line. 1T would be
too latei Hence, the modern driver
Hooks quarter of mile ahead, at
which distance, despite his speed, he
can clearly see the way he is going.
Some drivers have even proposed
to lock their steering gear. but Ma
jor Segrave's plan to aim his car as
one would aim a giant gun possesses
great advantages over the locked
gear. The car is cigar-shaped, and
with its long projecting tail has an
overall length of 26 feet. The wheel
base is 13 1.3 feet and the distance
between the wheels is feet. The
minimum clearance is inches.
AS already mentioned, the engine
is of the same type as that in the
Blue Bird, Captain Campbell's IA
NOUS racer. !, 1t was with an engine
of this type the Schneider air trophy
was won two years ago Withga speed
of 2S1 miles per hour. The IL
cylinders are arranged in three rows
of four each and at angles in the
crank case to give an even thrust.
The cylinders are s Is inch. bore and
5 " inch stroke, and therefore give
much greater power than the Lock
hart, car and probably greater power
than Major Segraye's Mystery S.
Lockhart's tiny cylinders had a
bore of only 23.1D inches and
stroke of only inches. Its entire
cylinder capacity was equal to about
three quarts liquid measure, being
smaller than a. single cylinder of
some of the earlier racing cars and
much smaller than q. Ford motor.
But it developed approximately 400
horsepower.
In Major Segrave's Golden Ar
row" we find a car of much greater
cylinder capacity, coupled with a
high turn over and many develop
ments equal or perhaps exceeding
that of Lockhart car, as a whole
on much larger and heavier
scale.
High Hope for Record
Also the rated horse power Is in
excess OF the rated power of the
Blue Bird which developed about
900 horse power. So the power OF
the Golden Arrow is presumably
greater than that of any other
racing car in the extreme velocity
class, except the Triplex. That
enormous power plant on wheels,
as readers may recall, was equipped
with three Liberty airplane engines,
one in front of the drivers seat
and two side by side behind. Each
of these engines rated 460 horse
power. They were stepped up by
adaptations OF the timing device
and carbnretor so 1t was thought
they would deliver about 500 horse.
power each at their maximum ca
pacity. but their actual power in
pulling a load was not definitely
tested.
The Triplex weighs 900 pounds.
The Mystery S weighed S 900 pounds.
The Golden Arrow weighs about
5000, but is very carefully designed
and calculated to keep on the ground
and has a tremendous reserve of
power in relation to her weight.
Major Segrave is one of the worlds
most skillfuI and experienced driv.
ers. 1t Is the car that best hangs
to the ground that stands the best
chance of winning,
The new car has been so care.
fully tested in wind tunnels, and
has been constructed with such
meticulous care, that hope Is high
that the gallant British sportsma n
will hang up a new worlds record.