26-5-69 N.Z. SPEED RECORD TO OTAGO DRIVER L. Brownlie, four wheels in flying kilometre car • two runs in opposite of Kelso, on Saturday became New Zealand when he bro record with an average speed : directions of 178 m.p.h. the fastest man ke the national for the required The former record of 173.8 m.p.h. was set in November, 1958, by a Christchurch driver, M. F. Stanton. Brownlie, driving a Beggi Chevrolet sports-racing car built by G. of Drummond, Southland, , had to better Stanton's time by 1 per cent to take the record. Brownlie had never driven the Begg before the attempt Saturday was the first time he bad sat in the car. He made опіу two timed runs, averaging 173.4 m.p.h. through the electric timing gear on his first run west along South Eyre Road. and 181.6 m.p.h. on the return run. Although it was drizzling in Christchurch the meather at the South Eyre Road was fine. The very light wind dropped awar. as the record was set soon after! 8 a.m. D. Macdonald. of Matamaia.i driving the Ferrari G.T.O. 3-litre formerly owned by P. Hoare but now owned by L. Fow, of Hamilton, failed to break the 3.; litre Aying kilometre record of: 157.4 miles an hour. set in 1959: F. Shuter in Maserati: ECLT Macdonald's first two runs mere limed at 144.97 miles an hour and 155.1 miles an hour,: B'ell below the existing record plus 1 per cent. He later made run a: 149.6 miles an! hour. but then ran out of time.; for the road was closed until! anis 9.03 a.m. and runs had been delayed by timing gear faults The wind also started to rise about this time, so even if the road had been closed longer it is doubtful if further attempts would have been made. Brownlie said the Begg had been "flat out" on his record. breaking runs, and there wouid have been no use making further runs. Mr Begg said the car could probably have run five miles an hour faster with more suitable spark-plugs and different gear-ratios. But he was "very happy" with the re. sults. The Begg was the first car to arrive at the road. which was closed from 7.30 a.m. Before this time officials of the motor Racing Club and the Canterbury ¡Car Club had set up the timing gear. and Motorsport Association stewards were in attendance. The Begg made one practice run away from the timed strip. ¡reaching 140 miles an hour, but : Brownlie said the car jeit most unstable. Mr Begg then de- : cided to put more toe-in on the i rear wheels, and refit an aerodynamic spoiler to the rear of the bodywork. Practice Run The Ferrari arrived and Macdonald had a practice run at about 150 miles an nout, although he also aid not use the timed strip, with its three-mile run-in at each end. He said the 12-cylinder Ferrari felt "very good." There was then a considerable i delay while the timing gear. which had originally been linted the timing caravan by radio, was connected by wire : because of the weak radio 51g• nal. Brownlie made another run with the adjusted Beag, and ! reached 173 miles an hour. After this he was quite happy İwith the car's stability. but was : disturbed at inte number which were standing magpies timed праг the side of the strip, and ilying across the road The Ferrari then made its first timed run. To break the ге. cord plus 1 per селі. as required by regulations. it had to pass through the measured silometre in 12.145sec, an average of 175.538 miles an nour. Its time. however. tras 15,43sec ‹144.97 miles an hour). On the easterly return run it clocked 155.1 miles an hour, or 14.42sec. The Begg, running on very wide Firestone ! Formula I racing tyres, then made its runs. Brownlie clocked 12.83sec ‹ 174.4 miles an bout) on his westerly and slightly uphill and 12.32see 1181.6 miles an run hour on the return, the engine missing slightly at top speed. MCLAREN PARTS Mr Begg, #ho recently геturned New Zealand after spending some time with the McLaren racing organisation in Britain, said his car had McLaren parts, and the 5.9-litre engine waS basicaily Sartztuned unit. It was safe to 7000 r.p.m., but had been turning at 6500г.p.m. at 181 miles an hour The engine produced about 450 b.h.p. Begg has been involved in motor-racing for about years, and has been building With racing cars convey Fors. the introduction Formula A racing to New Zealand, which permits the use of 5 litre production push-rod V8 engines in single-seaters. he plans 111crease production to sell such cars to all whe want ihenz. His firin. Begg Engineering. Ltd. of Drumnond. wiil soon be joined by ur F. McLean, an expert on Formula A cars from the Charles Lucas racing oreanisation in Britain. 31c- Lean will assist in Formula A car production. A prototype Bezz Formula s car is expected to be raced by Brownlie at the Ruapuna Park race meeting at Templet on next month. Mir Few and Macdonald pere disappuinted that they had failed to break the 3 litre геcord. but said they might make another attempt. Brownlie's new record 1s pro. visional until oficially ratified the Intorsport Association hutt this expected to be THE RECORD-BREAKING DR (left), with Mr G. Begg, bu IVER, L. Brownlie ilder of the car. L. BROWNIE'S BEGG CAR at the end of the second run. The car reached 181.6 , miles 812