The Way of Things

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The New Zealand Record Attempt.

AT the time of going to press, preparations have been completed for the attempt to break the world’s land speed record on 90-mile Beach, New Zealand. The ” rred H. Stewart Special,” as Mr. Norman Smith’s car is designated, has now been completed, and an attempt on Sir Malcolm Campbell’s record of 246.09 m.p.h. is to be made as soon as circumstances are favourable. The design of this machine is largely based on the famous “Golden Arrow” in which the late Sir Henry Segrave raised the record to over 231 m.p.h., and as the latest car is powered with the fam

ous supercharged Schneider Trophy-type Napier engine, as used in’ Bluebird,’ there seems every chance of a good speed being put up. Whether the attempt will be successful depends on so many factors that it would be rash to hazard an opinion, and we can only wish Mr. Smith and his hardworking supporters the best of hick, and freedom from untoward incidents.

The Big Car Classes. A of the lists

entry for the first classic of the season, the J.C.C. Double Twelve hour race, shows that the classes for large Sports cars are distressingly void of competition. With

the withdrawal of Bentleys from official participation in racing, the big class lost one of its chief supporters, and it seems as if newcomers to racing are shy to enter in this category. On the other hand the 750 c.c. class is now fuller than it has ever been. This seems to show a tendency for the fading out of the larger cars from the sports car world, but we cannot really believe that this is a true indication of the trend of affairs. To the newcomer to racing the smaller classes are attractive from many points of view, especially when one considers the wonderful performances recently put small To

many the low cost of these cars will appeal, and it is obvious that the small classes will always be the greatest numerically. To the average owner, however, the medium sized car is always popular for general road work, while the man who has once experienced the feeling of unlimited power and speed which only the car of six to eight litres can give, will, whatever his means, maintain that life can hold no greater joy than a turn at the wheel of such a motor car. Therefore, though, entries in the main events may be short of giants, this class will never pass out of existence.