Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-12
DON GIVES Up HOPE
TILL LATE SUMMER
Will Return to England and
Await Better Climatic
Conditions.
BY KAYE DON.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
DAYTONA BEACH. Fla, April
IL (N.A.NA).-It is no use barking
my shins against a brick wall. For
five weeks have waited here for q
good beach to make an attempt in
the Silver Bullet to break the world
automobile speed record and, except
for two occasions during early days,
this has not been vouchsafed me.
feel that the dice are loaded
against me and that am faced with
the alternative of waiting an indefi-
mite period for suitable conditions or
of abandoning present arrangements
with a view to returning here at a
later date.
Many runors have gained currency
and, though these have been disturb
ing and grossly unfair, they have
not in any way influenced me. The
position Is this: Daytona Beach is
contrary. 1t is as tickle as a woman
and I cannot spare the time to wait
on Dame Fortune. have engagements
in England. and If wait now it means
sacrificing participation in British and
European motoring events.
Not Affected by Rumors.
1t seems to me that contrary winds
have set in and that there is little
likelihood of the beach being in con-
d1tion for attacking the world record
until the end of the Summer. There
fore I think am doing the right
thing in returning to England and
waiting better climatic conditions.
I should like to say that I have
no complaint to make with the more
responsible authorities at Daytona and
that the unfounded rumors have not
affected me other than to tend to give
me wrong impression of American
fair play.
But, honestly, think that the only
people who have given voice to and
believed these rumors are those people
who are common to every nation and
who are disappointed at being deprived
OF a Roman holiday.
1t is not my place to deny my
detractors. My reputation stands for
what it is and am not concerned with
any calumnies as to my personal cour-
age, because only those people who do
not matter can possibly give credence
to them.
OF course, I am disappointed and
beach. The car may have been little
too experimental, but that can be
remedied.
New Arrangement Urged.
Ny point is that a more seasonable
period should be arranged by the Day.
tona authorities for the record trials
and that those questing for records
should not be regarded as circus per-
formers, who serve the purpose of ex-
tending the holiday season, but as indi-
viduals who are engaged in interna-
tional sport.
The world land speed record Is some
thing which transcends parochial in
terests. would suggest that the Of
f1cials at Daytona Beach permit the
use of the beach during season which
is more likely to offer a suitable track,
and not during season which is in
effect an extension of the holiday sea-
son. then the beach is not so well
suited to prime considerations as other
periods, which, though they might not
assist local interests so we'll, certainly
would be better disposed toward the
required conditions for beating the land
speed record.
In my opinion Daytona Beach is. at
its best, the finest avenue in the world
for this purpose, but if a season is
chosen when the likelihood of a good
beach is very small. then Daytona is
gambling away its finest asset for the
sake of parochial interests.
(Copyright, 1e3o)