Evening star., 1938-07-31

His preparations for an attempt
TO break his oDn automobile speed
record at Bonneville Salt Flats,
Utah. are described here BY the
famous English racing n,otorist
Uho last year at the same place
established a World mark of 31142
miles per hour. His huge car,
Thunderbolt, has tWo 12?cylinder
motors developing $500 horse
power.
BY CAPT. GEORGE E. T. EYSTON.
BONNEVILLE SALT FLATS, Utah,
July 30 (N.ANA).-We are here at
the Bonneville Salt Flats to prepare
once more for the record of records
the worlds fastest speed on land over
the mile and kilometer.
The course is completely flooded at
present, and it is impossible to drain
it, so We just have to wait until the
hot sun evaporates the salt brine and
hope for the best. Evaporation is
slow 1t will probably be another week
before We can make our first run.
I am particularly anxious that get
the full length of the course-some
13 miles. Without this cannot show
off "Thunderbolt." 1t is all a great
"toss-up' and nothing we can do will
advance matters. Mother Nature must
come to our aid.
We have arranged large wooden
ramps to stage the car at either end
of the course. For it is an immense
machine, the largest in the world, and
in the soft salt We must have some
provision of this kind.
Will Use Radio.
Radio equipment has come to our
aid in providing stations at either end
of the course and one in the middle
near the timekeeper's tower. This
will make it possible for communica-
tion to be kept up during the run, as
We have to travel both ways at speed
in very short interval of time. AS a
matter of fact. for record-breaking
purposes, the northvard run and the
southwark run must be completed
within one hours time.
In addition to this, telephone lines
have to be laid on the salt to cover
connection with the ends of the
measured distance and our timing
stand, which is manned by the Amer
Nl,i1 io1e
The officials need long time warning
to come to the fats, as they have to
travel from Indianapolis and Los An
geles. When they come, further prepa-
rations have to be made to see that
the electrical timing apparatus, accu-
rate to the one-hundredth of second,
is functioning satisfactorily. The acid
test is when the car flies over the
course. But this year the electric
"eyes" by which We are timed have
been duplicated at no small expense,
in order to insure against failure
Electrical engineers will accompany
the A. A. A. officials to see that there
is no hitch, for at the tremendous
speed Thunderbolt is to travel even
the slightest hesitation in the timing
apparatus would result in a consid-
cradle difference in our actual speed
and compilation for records purposes.
Lauds American Friends.
We have wonderful cooperation
from our friends in America who are
ell so splendidly efficient.
Meanwhile the Thunderbolt is
being prepared to the last nut and
bolt in the Western Service Station
at the little village of Wendover, Utah,
on the border of Nevada We have not
been idle in England over the winter,
where We have profited by our ex-
perience of last summer in making
some considerable changes to the car.
Our main concern has been in light
ening the weight of the car. We have
been able to do this and at the same
time improve the streamlining Of the
exterior. so that I now think the
Thunderbolt is ready for its 1888
test.
Another vital improvement has to
do with the cockpit 1t is now COM
pletely enclosed, with a respirator
that fits like mask over my face.
Last year I was exposed to the wind,
which, at 3l2 miles per hour, is of
almost unimaginable intensity.
All these changes must, of course,
be most carefully checked over be-
fore we take the car to the salt course,
and it is at Wendover that we have
been engaged in this work ever since
We unpacked the car. 1t is tedious
task, but one which is most essential.
All of us are consuming a lot Of ice
beverages to combat the terrific heat
in our tin garage. The boys, coming
from England, are not accustomed to
these hot desert temperatures, for
we are in truth in the midst of a
great barren waste.
(Copyrisht. 1898, by the North American
Newspaper Alliance, Inc)