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Henry SegraveAnglo-American car and boat racer
Date of Birth: 22.09.1896
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
- Henry Segrave: Legendary Land and Water Speed Record Holder
- Early Life and Military Career
- Racing Career and Land Speed Records
- Water Speed Records and Tragic Accident
- Legacy
Henry Segrave: Legendary Land and Water Speed Record Holder
Sir Henry O'Neal de Hane Segrave, an Anglo-American automobile and boat racer, holds the distinction of setting three land speed records and one water speed record, becoming the first person to achieve such feats on both land and water.
Early Life and Military Career
Born on September 22, 1896, in Baltimore, Maryland, Segrave was raised in Ireland. He attended the prestigious Eton College in England. In 1914, he joined the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and later served as a fighter pilot in the Royal Flying Corps, while maintaining his rank in the Warwickshire Regiment. Segrave was wounded twice, in 1915 and 1916. By July 1916, he had become a flight commander, holding the rank of temporary captain. He was assigned to the administrative branch of the Royal Air Force in 1919 but resigned shortly after due to the effects of his injuries.
Racing Career and Land Speed Records
Despite his injuries, Segrave's prowess as an automotive racer became evident early on. In 1921, he won the Junior Car Club's 200-mile race at Brooklands in a Talbot-Darracq. The following year, he joined the Sunbeam Works team and participated in the French Grand Prix. Segrave's performance on the treacherous track attracted the attention of Louis Coatalen, chief engineer at Sunbeam, who offered him a drive. Segrave went on to become the first Briton to win a Grand Prix in a British car, taking victories at the 1923 French Grand Prix and the 1924 San Sebastián Grand Prix.
Determined to break land speed records, Segrave set his first record on March 16, 1926, in the "Ladybird," a 4-liter Sunbeam Tiger. He achieved a speed of 152.33 miles per hour (245.149 kilometers per hour). This record was short-lived, but on March 29, 1927, Segrave reclaimed it in the 1000-horsepower Sunbeam Mystery, reaching 203.79 miles per hour (327.97 kilometers per hour) on the Daytona Beach Road Course. He became the first person to exceed the 200-mile-per-hour (320-kilometer-per-hour) barrier. On March 11, 1929, Segrave set his final land speed record, reaching 231.45 miles per hour (372.46 kilometers per hour) in the "Golden Arrow" on the Daytona Beach Road Course.
Water Speed Records and Tragic Accident
Segrave's interest in water speed records ignited after witnessing the fatal accident of Lee Bible, a mechanic and racer, during an attempt to break the land speed record on Daytona Beach. He acquired the Golden Arrow and converted it into a boat, showcasing his versatility as a racer. In 1929, he defeated Garfield Wood, the reigning water speed record holder, in a race in Miami. Upon returning to England, Segrave was knighted for his accomplishments.
On June 13, 1930, Segrave unknowingly set a new water speed record while piloting the speedboat Miss England II on Windermere, England's largest natural lake. In his next water race, Miss England II overturned after colliding with a submerged log. Segrave's mechanic, Victor Halliwell, was killed instantly, while Segrave was unconscious when pulled from the water. He later died from a pulmonary embolism.
Legacy
Segrave's legacy as a fearless and innovative racer continues to inspire generations. The Segrave Trophy was established in 1930 in his memory. The Golden Arrow, Sunbeam 350HP, and Sunbeam 1000HP are on display at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, commemorating Segrave's extraordinary achievements.
