Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-03

ruary 3.-Why do thinl
~ can better the world lane
speed mark of 231263 miles
per hour over the Daytona sands?
I am invariably asked this ques-
ton, so it must be a logical one.
My reply is that given a prop
erly designed car and an ideal
course, land speed may be raised
indefinitely.
I always qualify this observation with
the one that, in my opinion, there is
no known course today where better
than 200 to 800 miles per hour may be
attained.
With perfect course and unlimited
capital to construct the proper car there
Is no limit to the speed man can make.
Why He May Better Record.
Here are my reasons for believing
shall succeed in my coming attempt:
NV present car, the Bluebird H. has
so per cent more power than any car I
have ever driven. 1t is built much closer
to the ground than any of my former
mounts There is clearance Of only
three and-one-h inches, which makes
it impossible to run it through the
streets, but gives it the stability that is
necessary for the high speeds hope to
achieve.
The Bluebird II is powered by IL
cylinder, supercharged Napier motor
developing 1,450 horsepower at $500 r.
p. M. In 1918, when I made the 207-
mile-per-hour record, the engine had
only 900 horsepower.
The engine itself weighs TIA pounds
and thus develops one horsepower for
every three-fourths pound.
The wheel base is IL feet inches and
the length of the car over all is rs feet
6 inches. The constant mesh gear box
gives the car three forward speeds and
one reverse. The tires are specially
made, with very thin rubber tread and
14-ply canvas. They have been tested
up to 800 miles an hour. The wheels,
fitted with discs, are SO inches in
diameter.
Car Like Giant Arrow.
The entire car weighs 212 tons. The
body is of 16-gauge aluminium, with
a heavy steel frame. The color is a
vivid blue, as was the 1923 entry.
From the side it resembles nothing so
much as a giant arrow. The tall di-
rectional fin at the back gives it. a
head-on appearance Of a great fish.
The radiator is in front on the hood.
There is a vent in back to permit the
escape Of air.
The wind resistance is reduced to
the very minimum in this design, and
when you pass 100 miles an hour the
air opposition is the thing your motor
must fight.
For over a year I have planned for
the present assault on the record
I have actually physically trained for
the attempt for months before leaving
England 1 forego all kinds Of stimu-
lants fer a month before eveA the trial
spins. My nerves must be just at the
proper pitch. A bit too fine drawn
they may react badly when at the
wheel and you can only make one
mistake at high speed. You never get
the second chance.
I eat what / like when training for
a big test, but eat only moderately.
have never followed any special diet
although I know of successful drivers
who do follow planned policy Of food
control.
Likes His Sleep.
I always manage to get eight hours
sleep and frankly enjoy my breakfast
read quite q bit and try in other ways
to keep my mind occupied. A study Of
beach birds here at Daytona is one
source of mental occupancy I find in
teresting and diyerting. All my racing
cars have been named "Bluebird," after
Maeterlinck's famous play of that name.
Another source Of relaxation for me
Is photography. have very good mo-
tion-picture camera with me this trip
and have snapped a great many inter-
esting scenes and personalities around
Daytona.
-, OF my experience as a racing auto
mobilist, I may say that, with the ex-
ception of the years 1 served with the
British Army in France during the
World War, I have been racing con-
tinuously since 1906. This, I am told
gives me the distinction of being the
oldest active racing motorist. both from
the point of age and the time l have
been actively engaged in the sport.
The highest speed have so far ac-
complished was made in South Africa
where, under very great difficulties, two
years ago, 1 achieved 22559 miles per
hour.
In conclusion. I will add that I am
in a better condition today than have
ever been and Bluebird II is working
fine.
(copyright, 1881. By North American News
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