PAST IMPERFECT:John Cobb died tragically, trying to break the world water speed record back in 1952, writes Bob Montgomery
BORN IN Esher, Surrey, in 1899, John Cobb grew up near the Brooklands race circuit. As his interest in motor racing developed he specialised in large-capacity racing cars, eventually holding the outright lap record of Brooklands at an average speed of 143.44 mph driving a 24-litre Napier Railton.
This 31cwt monster had a W12 engine, leaf springs and rather suspect handling, and to put his achievement into perspective the fastest lap at the Indianapolis Speedway at that time was the 1935 pole-position lap of Rex Mays at 120.73 mph. Of his record-breaking lap, Cobb commented dryly: "If it [the entry to the Home Banking] were taken too slowly time was lost; if taken too fast the resultant skid toward the top of the banking caused one to have to slow down - to say nothing of scaring one stiff."
A director of a fur brokers, John Cobb soon turned his attention to the World Land Speed Record and working in partnership with the brilliant engineer, Reid Railton, he captured the record at Bonneville on August 23rd 1939 with a speed of 367.91 mph. This record stood until 1947 when Cobb raised it again to 394.19 mph, a record which was unbroken until 1963 when it was narrowly beaten by the jet-powered car, Spirit of America, driven by Craig Breedlove.
Cobb's bravery in setting these records was to be marveled at for the Railton's engine produced 2,600 bhp and although it had four-wheel-drive it had no tail fin to counter any tendency of its 28 ft long body to yaw.
To cap it all, Cobb sat at the front of the streamlined aluminum body with the massive engine and drive-train behind him. The consequences of any accident would have been instantly final and tragic.
Having set the Land Speed Record, he turned his attention to the Water Speed Record and designed a boat powered by a De Havilland Ghost engine producing some 5,000lb of static thrust. The new boat, named Crusader, was constructed of aluminum and marine ply and was some 31 ft long. For the record attempt, John chose the long straight waters of Loch Ness in Scotland.
Throughout September 1952, Cobb gradually increased the test speeds of Crusader, getting closer to the record and declaring with a quiet confidence that the record was attainable. During this period he endeared himself to the people of the Glen who followed his every move with keen interest.
The fact that Crusader's jet engine produced an ear-shattering whine that could be heard for many miles made it easy for them to know when he was on the waters of the loch.
The current record holder was an American, Stanley Sayers, at a speed of 178.4 mph and John Cobb conducted several test runs at 140 mph during which Crusader handled superbly.
On the morning of September 29th conditions on the loch were perfect: an absolutely calm surface and no wind to speak of. At 11.55am the official timekeepers were in place, and Crusader's engine was started. From his starting point, Cobb took the engine to full power, and skimmed over the course at a speed of 200 mph.
Eyewitness accounts said that Crusader was hardly touching the water as she completed the measured mile. As Crusader began to decelerate, she was seen to hit a small wave which caused her to bounce and then disintegrate in a ball of spray and foam. The yellow light attached to John's life jacket was seen in the water some 50 yards ahead of where the boat had broken up and rescue crews sped to the spot.
Despite being removed from the water without delay, John Cobb, one of the bravest men ever to sit in a racing car, was dead, killed instantly in the break-up of his boat.