Sprite Does 12 Hours at 139.75 M.P.H.

Whether one agrees with speed records obtained by special cars as compared with track successes, the records set up so far by the aerodynamic-bodied Austin-Healey Sprite (EX 219) at Bonneville Salt Flats are worthy of mention.

In bare facts the car has run for 12 hours at an average speed of 138.75 m.p.h., covering a distance of 1,665 miles and establishing nine international Class G records (750-1,100 c.c.) and forty American class records. The supercharged Sprite engine produces 86 b.h.p. at 6,000 r.p.m. and B.M.C. maintain that similar special engine parts are available from B.M.C. Service Ltd. for competition tuning of production Sprites.

The run has not been without incident — Gus Ehrman, the American member of the team had an enormous spin when the engine cover came open at 135 m.p.h. and spun the car a mile off course. Ed. Leavens the Canadian driver, also spun for a quarter of a mile when the car’s wheels ran over a two-inch crack in the salt. He managed to get under control and continue with the run.