AUSTRALIA: MIRAGE JET BEATS LAMBORGHINI IN 400-METRE GROUND RACE

Record ID: 1049599

  • Title: AUSTRALIA: MIRAGE JET BEATS LAMBORGHINI IN 400-METRE GROUND RACE
  • Date: 4th October 1979
  • Summary: 1. GV AND CU Lamborghini Contarch (3 shots) 0.16 2. GV People examining engine (3 shots) 0.30 3. GV Mirage jet 0.34 4. GV Transporter and spectators and spectators 0.37 5. GV Mirage and car on tarmac with spectators watching (2 shots) 0.43 6. SV Driver and pilot shake hands 0.46 7. CU Man putting on ear plugs as pilot and driver start engines (4 shots) 1.00 8. SV Car and plane line up on starting line up on starting line and take off (10 shots) 1.36 SULLIVAN:"Even in an environment where supersonic machinery is pretty commonplace the super sleak lines of the Lamborghini Contarch caused quite a stir. And even though it can't quite break the sound barrier like the other machinery around, it wasn't short of envious admirers. While the 110,000 dollar (GPB 52,000) ground-bound projectile may have been a little on the cheap side compared to a three million dollar (GBP 1.2 million) Mirage, it was obviously capable of going very fast and hearing its 365 horse-power V-12 engine growl, no one was quite sure which machine would be faster over a 400-metre (436 yard) standing start. The Lamborghini was driven by its owner Paul Halstead, while the R.A.A.F. looking for an advantage nominated one of its lightest pilots, Squadron Leader Reg Meisner, to steer the Mirage. Then it was time. Gentlemen, start your engines. V-12-six carburettors, five speed versus one jet with after burning. Get ready, get set and go. Off the line things looked really good for the Lamborghini, but then half way down the 400 metre (436 yard) course, the Mirage got its after burner firing and suddenly it was over with the jet rocketing away to wing by over a second, vanquish the V-12 and uphold the RAAF (Royal Aust Air Force) Honour." Initials IW/ TELERECORDING REPORTER: JIM SULLIVAN Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 18th October 1979 13:00
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  • Location: WILLIAMTOWN AIR BASE, AUSTRALIA
  • Country: Australia
  • Reuters ID: LVA5AEKQR2J87NSUBXPE1HFBXGDD
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  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS - SOURCE TO BE VERIFIED
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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