1905:Napier driven by A. MacDonald |
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Napier |
1905 |
Country: |
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Engine: |
6 cyl. Petrol |
Power: |
90 bhp |
Capacity: |
14,934 cc |
Bore x Stroke: |
159 x 127 mm |
Transmission |
3 spd. Cardan shaft |
Weight: |
980 kg (approx) |
Top Speed: |
104.65 mph |
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MacDonald is described in contemporary accounts
as a young Englishman, in spite of his Scottish name.
And while he was not the very first to have traveled
at over 100 miles per hour, he was certainly one
of the few brave souls that dared repeat the feat
in the early part of last century.
MacDonald made his
run during the annual speed week at Daytona Beach,
Florida, driving the famous 90 horse-power Rapier
belonging to the pioneer motorist and record-breaker
S. F. Edge.
Macdonald achieved 104.65 mph over the
measured mile. Edge had already made a great name
for himself and stirred up much controversy in the
motoring world by his challenges to rivals of his
favoured Rapier cars.
It was Edge who made the first
24-hour run to celebrate the opening of Brooklands
Motor Course. Driving a 60 horse-power Rapier he covered
1,581 miles at an average speed of 65 mph.
When Macdonald
took Edge's 90 horse-power Rapier over to America for
the speed week, Daytona Beach was in very bad condition
for a car as fast as the six-cylinder 15 litre Rapier,
and Macdonald was unable to put in many practice
runs.
The car was an orthodox three-speed shaft-driven
vehicle and curiously enough the only Rapier to figure
in the record lists, although a make of car which
made a great name in road racing and other forms
of competition in the early days of motor racing.
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