Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-14
DON OUT TO BREAK
|. SEGRAvE'S RECORD
American Car Also May Be
Tried on Famous Course
in Florida.
BY ALAN GOULD,
Associated Press Sports Editor.

Associated Press Sports Editor.
n AYTONA BEACH, Fla, Feb
ruary IA. Twenty Ave
- years ago Henry Ford, in
a f1ve-cylinder automobile
Of his own design, figured among
the earliest attempts to smash
speed records in the smooth,
packed sands forming the natural
speedway of Daytona Beach.
Eleven years ago Ralph de Pal
ma gambled with stakes OF $4,000
for the establishment OF a new
record and won as he roared over
the straightway at rate OF near
ly $50 miles an hour.
Last year as the climax Of q venture
costing upward Of SOC, 900, Sir Henry o.
D. Segrave streaked the measured
mile" in his Golden Arrow at the rate
Of 231 1853 miles per hour for new
world record by substantial margin.
Now, as the climax Of keen British
rivalry being fought out on American
shores, Kaye Don will attempt to sur
pass Segrave'S record with his "a
cylinder Sunbeam Silver Bullet In the
record trials scheduled March 1880, on
the stretch of sand that has become the
most famous battle-ground of speed in
the world.
Don, famous British driver, is bring
ing over machine designed especially
for the tests by Louis Coatelen, a
Frenchman, who has been in the mo-
tor car business In England for about
80 years. Behind this years attempt
Is a dramatic story of years of rivalry
IN the design and success Of speed ma
chimes.
British Make Trials.
The attack upon speed records on
Daytona Beach, scene of all successful
attempts since 1904 with exception of
one year, 1925, has been confined al
most exclusively to British drivers In
the last 10 years. Three of the last
four record-smashing performances
here have been registered by Mai.
Segrave and Capt. Malcolm Campbell
The fourth, by Ray Keech in the ILL
fated White Triplex, represents the only
American contribution. Keech now is
dead and the machine in which he set
the record was demolished in the fatal
crash Of Lee Bible last year.
With few exceptions, American
manufacturers have not manifested
interest in building the machines that
hurtle down this smooth-packed
opinions seems to be that the auto
mobile business has been too good to
permit this diversion.
Although not maker Of commercial
machines ]. M. White of Philadelphia
has remained in the field Despite the
disaster to his original 36-cylinder Tri-
pick, 1t Is understood by Daytona Beach
omcials that White plans construction
OF 4S-cylinder machine with which
to attempt record trials in 1881. The
record now is at a point where experts
consider the limit not far of, although
the advance ballyhoo for Don is that
he expects to reel of the mile at a
rate OF ESQ miles per hour.
Best Course to BE Had.
Under the direction this year of Val
Haresnape, former secretary Of the con-
test board Of the American Autonobil,
Association, the city Of Daytona Beach
has put its speed trials on basis de-
signed to make them an annual world
championship for at least 10 years.
The city has underwritten the YEN
ture, opened it to the public free and
removed any possibility of its becoming
commercial proposition.
The project is based upon the fact
that nowhere else Is so perfect natural
course provided for these daredevil,
dangerous performances. Haresnape
estimates that $4,000 was spent in a
vain attempt last year to make the
Verneukpan, South Africa, suitable for
the attempts Of Capt Campbell to set
new record. With the prohibitive